I was born in Dhampus, Kaski, Gandaki, Nepal, in 1963. I studied at the local school, and just like my fathers and uncles, I joined the British army at the age of 17, and came to Hong Kong in 1980 as a Gurkha soldier. After serving in the army for 13 years, I voluntarily retired in 1993 and went back to Nepal for a brief time before I got a job offer from a local company. I returned to Hong Kong and never left. My job required me to visit China on a regular basis. China was just opening up, and I had the rare opportunity to see it firsthand from the very beginning.
My wife and children joined me in Hong Kong two years after my return. We were lucky enough to be able to setup our small home here, and we have been here almost twenty years. While I was busy raising my family and earning a livelihood, I had no time to think about other things in life.
Since I started working at 17, I had no chance of going to the university, and I have learned everything from living my life. I worked really hard, earned enough to provide a comfortable life for my family and was lucky enough to be able to make choices in life. I had always wanted to do something different after I turned fifty, something more important and meaningful that came directly from my heart, and would eventually make me happy. I never wanted to work for money after I reached a certain age in life. I wanted to spend the last half of my life following my heart, and that is precisely what I am doing now.
Writing has always been in me; the joy and satisfaction I get from writing are not possible from anything else. I genuinely feel at home only when I am writing; it is an excellent gift the Almighty bestowed upon me and I cannot waste it. I needed to use it for good and I have no intention whatsoever to write for fame or fortune. I write for good, for society and for the people. Writers should write for global readers, not limiting or restricting themselves within certain boundaries or societies. They should write about global problems. I, for one, am going to try my best to do just, God willing, and I sincerely hope I can make progress toward change. As planned, I have already established a charity foundation on my family's behalf, ISSLCARE FOUNDATION LTD. The money I get from selling my books will be used to run my charity, and henceforth, I will spend the rest of my life helping the weak, the poor and the needy. This promise was not done in a fit of emotions, nor is it some sort of gimmick to sell more books, but a commitment of a lifetime, which I will fulfill at any cost. Please keep visiting us on a regular basis and see the progress being made. You won't be disappointed.
Yours truly,
TIM I GURUNG
