Balendra Shah

About

Nepalese musician, structural engineer, and politician who became the first independent candidate to have been elected as the mayor of Kathmandu, Nepal's capital city, in 2022. Prior to announcing his candidacy, he had been a prominent figure in the Nepalese Hip-Hop music scene for over a decade, after having competed on the YouTube battle rap series Raw Barz in the year 2013.

Before Fame

He earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Himalayan Whitehouse International College. After graduating, he went on to obtain a master's degree in structural engineering from Visvesvaraya Technological University in India. 

Trivia

As Mayor of Kathmandu, he received widespread praise for having introduced live telecasts of municipal council meetings for the first time in the city. He has also prioritized initiatives involving waste management, demolition of illegally built structures, and the safeguarding of Newa heritage. 

Family Life

He is the youngest son born to Ayurvedic practitioner Ram Narayan Sah and his wife Dhruvadevi Sah. He married public health official Sabina Kafle in 2018, and they welcomed a daughter in 2023. 

Associated With

He was named in the Leaders category on the prestigious Time100 Next list of 2023, along with Victor Glover, Humza Yousaf, and Roberta Metsola.