From New York Frontliner to Nepal’s Ballot: Giving Up the American Dream, Anand Bist Enters Nepal’s Electoral Race

After years of community service and political involvement in the United States, Anand Bist has reached a turning point in his public life. Giving up his U.S. green card, Bist is now contesting the upcoming federal election in Nepal as a Nepali Congress candidate from Kailali Constituency No. 4.

Known in New York for leading community aid drives during the COVID-19 pandemic and providing relief to Nepal during natural disasters, Bist’s decision has rekindled interest in his long journey—from the diaspora frontline to the rural heartlands of far-western Nepal.

From Pandemic Frontliner to Grassroots Campaigner

When New York City went into lockdown at the peak of the COVID-19 crisis, many remained confined in fear and uncertainty. Bist stepped forward to coordinate community support. He founded the “Awareness and Support Against COVID-19” group, which brought together more than 30 organizations and individuals from diverse political and social backgrounds.

At a time when pharmacies lacked basic supplies such as sanitizers, masks, gloves, and thermometers, Bist’s group sourced and distributed them to hundreds of Nepali families across New York. Fourteen local distribution points were set up, and volunteers personally delivered medicines and groceries to seniors, patients, and families in quarantine. Later, they also conducted food drives and support campaigns for F-1 visa students facing economic hardship.

Recalling those difficult nights, Bist says some of his most painful moments involved answering midnight phone calls from isolated Nepalis struggling to breathe or comforting hospitalized patients who feared they would not survive to say goodbye to their families.

A Childhood Dream Redirected Toward Service

Born in Doti, Bist once dreamed of becoming a movie hero. Growing up fascinated by films, he even imitated actors and styled his appearance like them. His path shifted dramatically after he joined the Nepal Student Union while studying in Dehradun, India.

During the 1990 People’s Movement, he joined protests and participated in student-led marches around the Nepali Embassy in Delhi. That experience reshaped his ambitions—he cut his long hair and turned his focus toward politics and social service.

Serving Society Through Politics

For Bist, politics became a platform for service rather than self-advancement. Even while living in the U.S., his connection to the villages of Doti and Kailali never faded. He prioritized support for health and education, helping provide two ambulances to rural municipalities in Doti after hearing reports of mothers dying on their way to hospitals.

He has contributed both personally and collectively to schools, community buildings, and scholarships for economically disadvantaged students. Bist also participated in educational aid programs for children affected by earthquakes and helped many continue their studies through higher education.

Always at the Forefront During Crises

Bist has repeatedly traveled to Nepal during disaster relief efforts, notably after the 2015 earthquake, when he helped raise about 7.5 million rupees for the national fund and personally distributed food and supplies in damaged areas.

“I have always believed in asking what I can do for society, not what society can give me,” he says.

From Gadsera to the USA—and Back Again

Born in 2030 BS (1973 AD) in Gadsera, Doti, as the seventh child of Dan Bahadur Bist and Kamala Devi Bist, Anand moved with his family to Kailali in 2036 BS. After completing his SLC in Dhangadhi and higher secondary studies in Dehradun, he earned an MBA from Shanker Dev Campus in Kathmandu before moving to the USA in 1998.

Bist lived in the USA for 27 years but never sought U.S. citizenship. “I always wanted to serve my country as a Nepali citizen,” he says.

During the 2006 People’s Movement for democracy, he helped organize protests in front of the Nepali Embassy in Washington, delaying his U.S. immigration process and keeping him separated from his wife and son for nine years. He recalls receiving threats and living under constant worry for their safety in Nepal.

A New Political Chapter

Having led the Public Relations Committee and served as an invited central member of the Nepali Congress, Bist is now entering Nepal’s electoral field for the first time. His campaign message is simple and consistent: politics should not be a path to personal gain but a responsibility of public service.

“Politics is not about positions—it’s about transformation,” he says. The trust of those who once called him from hospital beds in New York or from remote villages in Doti and Kailali remains his greatest asset as he begins this new chapter in Nepal’s political landscape.