Awadhesh Kushwaha
Kathmandu
-
Nepal
"I am engaged in this movement because of illegal meter interest all the victims have been forced to lose their houses and land. There are also various forms of exploitation of women and sisters. Due to all these reasons, I am standing against meter interest."
"Our movement is against the illegal meter interest, debt exploitation, and injustice done to the poor and vulnerable sections of society."
"Our movement is against the illegal meter interest, debt exploitation, and injustice done to the poor and vulnerable sections of society."
I became an activist through the Meter Interest [Loan Shark] Protest Movement after seeing victims’ homes and land confiscated, arrests made, and women exploited because of meter interest.
My activism focuses on fighting for justice for these victims and building a society free from financial exploitation.
The biggest challenges are the slow pace of government legal processes, pressure from moneylenders, and the fear that victims carry.
What keeps me going is the hope for justice I see in their eyes and the courage within them. We are the 99%, and we will continue to fight against illegal meter interest and exploitation.
Meet The Photographer
Prabin Ranabhat
Prabin Ranabhat (born 1994, Tanahun, Nepal) is a photojournalist whose work focuses on politics, culture, social issues, and the everyday lives of people. His interest in visual storytelling began at a young age, and after receiving his first camera, he began documenting daily life in Kathmandu, capturing both beauty and complexity in everyday moments. With over eight years of professional experience, his career in photojournalism began in Nepal’s mainstream media. Since 2018, he has regularly worked on assignments for Pahilopost and Bizmandu, and he is also the founder of Nepal Photo Library, a Nepal-based photo agency.
His photographs have been widely published in international outlets such as National Geographic, The Guardian, CNN, CGTN, The Times, DW, and Al Jazeera. His recent coverage of Nepal’s Gen Z–led political movement drew global attention, with his images appearing prominently, including on the front page of The New York Times, as well as across BBC and other major international media.
Prabin has worked with Agence France-Presse, European Pressphoto Agency, UNDP, the U.S. Embassy Nepal, SOPA Images, and Pacific Press. His awards include the National Photojournalism Award (Political Category, 2019), winner of the UNESCO World Press Freedom Day Photography Competition (2024), and First Place in the Nepal Army Photo Competition (2024). He has also worked at the International Youth Forum on SDGs & Human Rights at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok.
His work is frequently characterized by its impact on society, his storytelling abilities, and the lasting impressions made by his images. As he said, “as a photojournalist I am the mediator to show what is going on in the society. If I don't do it, who will? That motivates me to take pictures every day”.
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