Citation 2025: Nepal Toastmasters annual conference concludes; Tikaram Yatri honoured

KATHMANDU: Citation 2025, the annual conference of Toastmasters in Nepal, concluded successfully in Kathmandu on Saturday, drawing about 300 members from across the country, including professionals, corporate leaders, entrepreneurs, students and educators.

The conference’s keynote speaker was international trainer and author Mihir Koltharkar, a TEDx speaker with more than two decades of experience and over 2,500 sessions to his name. Koltharkar delivered practical leadership insights in an engaging, interactive style that left a strong impression on attendees.

A major highlight of the event was the presentation of the Communicator Award, given annually to a non-Toastmaster for excellence in communication. This year’s recipient was veteran TV personality Tikaram Yatri, honoured for his role in promoting fearless, unbiased and ethical journalism. In his remarks, Yatri underlined the responsibility that comes with choosing words carefully to create a meaningful impact.

The programme also featured a humorous and reflective session by Distinguished Toastmaster Ravin Lama, one of Nepal’s earliest Toastmasters and a pioneer of the movement in the country. Attendees were further engaged by evaluation segments and tall-tale speeches from experienced members, reinforcing Toastmasters’ emphasis on experiential learning.

Citation 2025 welcomed several leaders from Toastmasters District 41, including Distinguished Toastmasters Shwetank Sharma and Diptee Chettri Acharya, along with district officers such as Euden Koirala, Ankit Goenka, Moon Pradhan and Ranjit Acharya. The conference was chaired by Toastmaster Dipesh Chalise, Coordinator of the Nepal Toastmasters Country Office.

Toastmasters International, headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, is a not-for-profit educational organisation that helps people develop public speaking and leadership skills. The movement in Nepal began in 1992 and has grown to more than 1,400 members across 68 clubs organised under Divisions A, B, C and D within District 41, which covers North India and Nepal.

Participants said Citation 2025 strengthened local networks, renewed focus on practical leadership development and highlighted the importance of responsible communication in Nepal’s media and civic life.