Kathmandu. Every person has his own dream in life. And a goal to fulfill that dream. To achieve that goal, he has to face many challenges and struggle at every moment. However, that person succeeds in achieving his goal only when he has the strength to face many ups and downs. That strength comes as courage for his life. Ram Bahadur Khatri is the person who has climbed the ladder of a successful life by converting many obstacles and challenges into courage.
Born in 2042 BS in Arun Rural Municipality of Bhojpur, Khatri spent his childhood in an ordinary farming family. Khatri, who grew up in a farming family, collecting firewood and hay, did housework in the morning and evening. He studied until graduation in his native Bhojpur. After that, he went to Itahari to study for his MA. Khatri’s family migrated to Itahari Sub-metropolitan City from Bhojpur in 2069 BS.
Currently, Khatri is holding the responsibility of the Koshi Province Head of Citizen Life. He has earned this success today after a long struggle and sacrifice. He is currently supervising the branches in his province as the Province Head. He has been implementing the insurance policy and legal provisions under his province by himself, ensuring that employees, agents and his team follow the instructions of the regulatory body, reporting, conducting training in various branches of the province from time to time to develop the capacity of agents and employees, striving to fulfill the company’s business objectives, and making work plans. Not only this, he has been organizing programs to increase insurance education and insurance awareness by visiting various areas of his province to expand access to insurance for everyone.
Even though he grew up in a farming family, Khatri had to struggle to study. He was not only forced to study but also had to help at home in the morning and evening. Even then, he was not weak in studies. He always managed to be first or second in school. He felt that education was his life from a young age. His goal since childhood was to study and obtain a master’s degree. Khatri’s dream was to make his family happy by studying well. He has realized his dream today through hard work and struggle. Even at a time when his friends were migrating abroad, Khatri continued to pursue his studies with the courage and determination to do something in Nepal. As a result, today his determination has taken shape.
After passing LLC, Khatri lost his father at a young age. That was the saddest moment of his life. After losing his father, he could not go to college. He was forced to work and farm. Taking on his father’s responsibilities, he could not go to college even if he wanted to. Then he self-studied for 2 years and passed his 2nd year.
Khatri joined the teaching profession in 2065 BS. Then, due to his family situation, an environment was created where he had to work and study for his master’s degree. Despite all the obstacles, he continued his studies. Even while studying for his master’s, he taught school and also studied. He had to struggle a lot for his studies. He kept himself busy in the teaching field for about a year and a half. His dream was to become a college professor. Nothing is as it seems in a person’s life. Dreams are on one side and compulsions are on the other. Due to his family situation, Khatri was forced to do the field where he made the most money.
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## His friend Kishore Dahal, who taught accounting at the same school, suggested that Khatri work in the insurance sector. At that time, Khatri had general knowledge about the insurance sector, but he did not understand insurance well. Ram’s friend Kishore said, ‘A job has opened up at the former Prime Life Insurance Company. Should I take a job? It earns better than in the teaching profession. It is also good socially. There is a good career in the insurance sector.’ And what his friend said gave Khatri confidence that it would be good and he said okay, saying that he would try for the job and do whatever it takes.
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## Then Pushkar Bhattarai, the then branch manager of the former Prime Life Insurance Company, interviewed Khatri. He passed. Finally, Khatri left his teaching career in 2066 BS and entered the insurance sector. He had advanced his journey from junior assistant to insurance sector. Although the insurance sector was new to Khatri, who was enjoying his teaching career, he worked hard. He reached the position of senior assistant in that company. While working, he was attracted to underwriting and sales. He felt like doing something in insurance. After that, he decided to work there for 3 and a half years after working in his previous company Prime Life. Khatri, who had been attracted to sales, wanted to change the company and work. Suddenly, a vacancy opened in his previous company Surya Life. And he applied for the position of Branch Manager. There too, he passed the interview and got the responsibility of the Itahari branch office and started working. Khatri left that company after working for about 3 years. Even when he was in the previous Surya Life, Khatri had fulfilled the responsibility of the branch head well.
Khatri started liking this field very much because there are always new opportunities in the insurance sector. Khatri was well acquainted with Kavi Phuyal, who had previously worked together in the previous Surya Life and is currently the CEO of IME Life. Phuyal said, ‘Come to Citizen Life. There is a new company and a new way of working.’ Khatri readily accepted what Phuyal said and decided to come to Citizen. And then he took a long interview with Khatri. Finally, he passed. After that, Khatri took the responsibility of the branch head in the Itahari branch office.
Khatri liked Citizen Life in search of new opportunities and a good company. He was attracted to Citizen Life’s working style, new methods in a new company, new innovations, new plans, management team, positive behavior of upper management towards employees, encouragement given to workers, professional environment and various other things that attracted Khatri to Citizen Life. ‘Every company has its own system, style’, said Khatri, ‘I liked all the management of Citizen Life. I have been associated with this company since 2074 BS, i.e. from the inception of the company. It never occurred to me to call it a new company. Because Citizen Life has never lagged behind in terms of business and professionalism. The company has already made an impression on the customers. It has been imprinted in the minds of the customers. I am very happy to see this. I have done the work with pleasure.’
In the beginning, it was a challenge for Khatri to get used to the new market. ‘No matter how many challenges came, I kept fighting that challenge,’ said Khatri, ‘If I had run away from that challenge, I would not have reached this place today. I should have left for another field. I am where I am today because of my struggle and sacrifice.’
Giving advice to new employees in the insurance sector, Khatri said, ‘When you come to the insurance sector, come with the courage to accept the challenge. It is neither easy nor uncomfortable like in other fields. The way and style of working are different, but come with the idea that you will survive in the long term.’
‘Working in the life insurance sector is a joy. It is difficult to get insurance, but it is a joy after getting it. You also benefit to some extent and the life of the insured is also secured. It is easy to face problems that may arise in the future. The insurance sector is such that working as an agent creates employment. You can also adopt this profession by doing other jobs. Being an agent is really a much better profession.’
Khatri says that people are more positive about life insurance than before. ‘People today understand insurance. Now, if insurance education is provided and insurance can be explained, it is not difficult to get insurance,’ he has experienced, ‘People have become aware of insurance even due to Covid, earthquakes and epidemics.’
Khatri has experienced that Citizen Life’s digital concept has made it easier to get and do insurance. ‘After going digital, people’s trust has increased,’ Ram said, ‘Most of the transactions in Citizen Life are done through digital means. This makes it easier for the customer and the insurance company as well.’
Ram says that the situation of life insurance in Koshi Province is moderate. ‘There has been a good response,’ he said, ‘Many people do not have insurance, but there is a good response from those who do. We have gone to villages to raise insurance awareness. We have gathered people from remote areas and provided insurance education. Now we have set out with a plan to bring everyone in Koshi Province under the insurance umbrella. For this, the entire insurance market and regulatory body, rather than a single company, need to take the initiative for insurance awareness.’
Khatri says that people of all levels and classes need life insurance, regardless of which community life insurance is best for. ‘Rather than insisting on insuring large amounts, we should try to bring even small insurance policies under the scope of insurance. In this recession, it is not possible to insulate large amounts,’ he said, ‘and the agent should also explain that.’
Khatri suggests that agents should go to the market strong and competent. He emphasizes that the company should make agents competent by providing capacity-building training from time to time. ‘There should be agents in the insurance market who can accept challenges. If there are such agents, the insurance market will benefit,’ Citizen Life has been providing capacity building training to agents from time to time. He said.
Khatri, who left his teaching career and came to insurance, says that he is now happily working in the insurance sector. ‘Even though I am outside the field of my dreams, I have got the opportunity to work happily in the insurance sector. Although my dream was to become a professor, now the insurance sector has become my choice,’ he said, ‘I always get the opportunity to do new things and face new challenges, which I gladly accept. Because I am doing this not only for my work, but also for my dreams.’
‘Life insurance is also the basis of every person’s savings,’ Khatri added, ‘Insurance guarantees savings. The current situation may not be the same tomorrow. That is why insurance is indispensable for everyone, as it provides protection not only for today but also for tomorrow.’
Khatri suggests that everyone should understand and explain when taking out insurance.
Finally, Khatri expressed his gratitude to the company, saying that his success is the success of the company. He thanked the management team, Chief Marketing Officer, employees and agents.
