TEAM
Diwas Raja KC
Head of Research and Archives, Nepal Picture Library
Diwas Raja Kc is a researcher, writer, and curator based in Kathmandu. He pursued graduate studies in visual culture and history in Sarah Lawrence College, New York, and University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. At Nepal Picture Library, he works on building visual archives and presenting documentary images of historically obscured subjects. His curatorial show Dalit: A Quest for Dignity (2016) explored ways of witnessing assertions and obfuscations about Dalit past in Nepal. He also works as a documentary film editor and has worked with several renowned artists and visual anthropologists. Kc gives workshops on visual storytelling and has taught courses on social history and historiographical methods.
Follow Diwas on Instagram: @diwasraja
NayanTara Gurung Kakshapati
Co-founder & Director
NayanTara Gurung Kakshapati enjoys working across platforms to weave together visual narratives with research, pedagogy, and collective action to create public discourse around themes such as patriarchy, power and justice. In 2007, she co-founded photo.circle; a photography platform that has facilitated learning, exhibition making, and publishing opportunities for Nepali photographers. In 2010, she co-founded the Nepal Picture Library; a digital photo archive that documents and creates engagement with a public history of the Nepali people. NayanTara is also the co-founder and Festival Director of Photo Kathmandu, an international festival that takes place in Kathmandu every two years.
Rama KC
Admin and Accounts Manager
Rama KC works as an accountant at photo.circle. With a strong background in financial management, she oversees all the operational financial activities and ensures the fiscal well-being of photo.circle. Her commitment to excellence and proficiency in financial operations make her an invaluable asset to the team.
Outside the profession, her interests take her on adventures to new places, capturing moments through the lens of her camera, hillside landscapes, and reflecting her love for nature.
Follow Rama on Instagram: @kc.rama
Sagar Chhetri
Coordinator – Education Initiatives, photo.circle
Sagar Chhetri is a Kathmandu based photographer. He explores the narratives of politics, identity, and representation in his works. In 2018 he received the Magnum Foundation Fund for his work “Eclipse”. He was a visiting artist fellow 2019-2020 at the South Asia Institute, Harvard University. He is a participant of Joop Swart Masterclass 2020 organized by World Press Photo.
Follow Sagar on Instagram: @saagarchhetri
Samjhana Nepali
Outreach Coordinator
Samjhana Nepali is a passionate theater artist and works as an Outreach Coordinator at photo.circle, where she leads various outreach programs. As the youngest team member, she cherishes the invaluable opportunity to learn from her experienced seniors.
She is also actively involved in research and annotation drives for the Nepal Picture Library. Since embarking on her stage-acting journey in 2015, Samjhana has developed a deep love for poetry and children’s storytelling. Growing up in the majestic mountains of Mugu, she overcame limited career opportunities by taking a leap of faith and moving to Kathmandu to pursue her dreams. Living independently in the bustling city has been a transformative experience, offering her both challenges and opportunities for growth.
Samjhana sees her work at photo.circle as a unique opportunity to expand her knowledge and skills while contributing to Nepal’s cultural heritage. Looking ahead, she aspires to engage in social work, using her creativity and compassion to make a meaningful impact on society.
Follow Samjhana on Instagram: @samjhananepali65
Sandhya Shrestha
Documentation and Archive Assistant, Nepal Picture Library
Sandhya Shrestha is a photographer based in Kathmandu who has worked with various media houses over the years. Her work focuses on social and women’s issues, with a passion for capturing the beauty of daily life. With a love for traveling and documenting new experiences, Sandhya finds inspiration in every journey and every story, sharing them through her photography.
Currently, she works at photo.circle/Nepal Picture Library as a digital archiving assistant.
Follow Sandhya on Instagram: @saanjh_diya
Sarita Singh
Library Manager
Sarita Singh is the Library Manager at photo.circle, where she oversees the cataloging and database management of the PC Library. She is also actively involved in research and annotation drives for the Nepal Picture Library (NPL) and collaborates closely with the team on outreach programs for both photo.circle and NPL. Her role enables her to connect with diverse people and communities, particularly through her involvement in exhibitions.
Outside of work, Sarita enjoys listening to music, hiking, and embracing the simplicity of life.
Follow Sarita on Instagram: @iamsinghsarita
Shanti Lama
Housekeeper
Shanti has been with photo.circle from the beginning. She and her daughter Sushma are the beating hearts of the office. Her famous dal-bhat-tarkari makes a lot of visitors and friends stick around for lunch time. On the side, she operates a local eatery famed for its momo’s.
Shikhar Bhattarai
Head of Collections, Nepal Picture Library
Shikhar is a Kathmandu-based photographer and image editor. His role at PC/NPL encompasses managing the organization’s image database, designing and supporting exhibition-making and curation, and managing PC/NPL web platforms.
He loves to travel, hike, cook, garden, and according to his peers, reminisce about his youthful days in the valley. He is also a member of Stocksy, a stock photography cooperative based in Canada.
Follow Shikhar on Instagram: @shikharbhattarai