Balendra Shah, commonly known as Balen Shah or simply Balen, is a multifaceted Nepalese rapper, structural engineer, and politician. Born on April 27, 1990, in Naradevi, Kathmandu, he is the youngest son of Ram Narayan Shah, an Ayurvedic practitioner, and Dhruv Devi Shah. His family hails from Mahottari District in the Madhesh Province of Nepal.
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Education and Early Career
Balen completed his higher secondary education at V.S. Niketan Higher Secondary School. He earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Himalayan Whitehouse International College and pursued a master's degree in structural engineering from Visvesvaraya Technological University in Karnataka, India.
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Music Career
From an early age, Balen was passionate about music and poetry. He released his first single, "Sadak Balak," in 2012, a song he wrote while in the ninth grade. He gained prominence in the Nepalese hip-hop scene in 2013 after participating in the YouTube battle rap series Raw Barz.
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Political Career
In December 2021, Balen announced his candidacy for the mayoral position of Kathmandu Metropolitan City as an independent candidate. His campaign focused on issues such as waste management, traffic control, public service delivery, anti-corruption measures, and the preservation of cultural heritage. On May 26, 2022, he was elected as the 15th mayor of Kathmandu, securing 38.6% of the votes and defeating candidates from major political parties.
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Recognition
In 2023, TIME magazine included Balen Shah in its list of "The 100 emerging leaders who are shaping the future," acknowledging his innovative approach to leadership and his impact on Kathmandu's urban development.
TIME
Personal Life
Balen is married to Sabina Kafle, a public health professional. The couple resides in Gairigaun, Tinkune, Kathmandu.
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Balen Shah's journey from a rapper and engineer to the mayor of Kathmandu exemplifies a new wave of leadership in Nepal, characterized by a focus on transparency, efficiency, and cultural pre
servation.
