Another question for Pala

prn

prn

Joined
Apr 26, 1999
Messages
481
Namaskar Kami Sherpa!

This has probably been asked before, but not in my memory. I am curious about how you came to start Himalayan Imports.

I am certainly happy that you did. I am new to khukuris -- I now have two -- so I am not as able as some members of this forum to properly appreciate the qualities of HI khukuris in comparison to others, but it is obvious even to me that yours are excellent. I am very glad that you have given us the opportunity to support these proud, honorable and skillful kamis by buying their fine tools from you.


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Paul Neubauer
prn@bsu.edu

 
Namaste Paulji:

As most know, Bill Jwai first came to Nepal as a Peace Corps volunteer quite a few years ago. He came as a school teacher to teach but also as a student to learn more of Buddhism. A serious health problem (Bill Jwai was going to die if he didn't get surgery) caused him to cut short his Peace Corps service.

After surgery and recovery Bill Jwai returned to Nepal and lived there as a private citizen to continue his studies and to try to find a way to help the poor of Nepal which are many. He met and married my daughter Yangdu with my approval. Together we tried to find a way to provide work for Nepali workers. We tried several things and finally settled in on khukuris.

We first went to villages and selected the best village khukuris we could find and sold these but this gave us no product line and the legwork involved was simply too great. We eventually entered into a manufacturing agreement with shop 1 to make the Himalayan Imports khukuris. Now I have my own shop and employ people directly.

It was always our goal to provide the best khukuris being made in Nepal and I think we have done this.

Dheri dhanyabad for your interest.

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Pala (Kami Sherpa)
Owner, Himalayan Imports
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
 
Thank you, Pala. I think I must have understood many of those points from some things that had been said before, but it's good to see them together.

So, shop 1 is not your shop? I had thought it was. That is at least one thing that I thought I knew but was wrong about. (among so many others
wink.gif
) I also thought I understood that helping the poor was a primary goal and am glad to see that I was not wrong about that one. You have made much merit in this endeavor. My admiration and respect for you and Bill continues to grow.


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Paul Neubauer
prn@bsu.edu

 
Shop 1 and our family had what might be called a cooperative effort to produce the Himalayan Imports khukuris. Years ago when they were struggling to survive we tried to help them in any way we could. They dedicated their best effort to making the best khukuris they could for us to our specifications. It worked to both of our advantages. One of those win-win situations Bill Jwai speaks of.

I have mixed emotions about shop 2 now producing better khukuris than shop 1 but truth is truth and it is the customer who benefits.

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Pala (Kami Sherpa)
Owner, Himalayan Imports
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
 
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