1990
Early Life
Born in the Heart of Kathmandu
Balendra Shah is born in Naradevi, Kathmandu — the ancient core of Nepal's capital — to a Madheshi family that had migrated from Mahottari.
Apr 1990Naradevi, Kathmandu
Balen Shah
From the streets of Naradevi to the halls of Singha Durbar
Rapper · Engineer · Mayor · Prime Minister
The story of how a hip-hop artist from Kathmandu's ancient lanes became the voice of a generation — and then its leader.
Nephop PioneerKathmandu Mayor 2022–26PM-Designate 2026
Timeline
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Events
21 events found
2002
Early Life
School Days at V.S. Niketan
Young Balen attends V.S. Niketan Higher Secondary School in Kathmandu, developing early interests in science, mathematics, and poetry.
Mar 2002Kathmandu, Nepal
2012
Music & Nephop
"Sadak Balak" — A Street Kid Finds His Voice
While still in ninth grade, Balen releases his debut single "Sadak Balak" (Street Kid), entering Nepal's underground hip-hop scene with raw lyrics about life on the margins.
Dec 2011Kathmandu, Nepal
2014
Engineering
Engineering Degree — Building Knowledge
Balen earns his Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering from Himalayan WhiteHouse International College, Kathmandu.
Dec 2013Kathmandu, Nepal
2015
Music & Nephop
Raw Barz Champion — The Battle Rapper
Balen wins the second season of Raw Barz, Nepal's premier rap battle league, cementing his reputation as one of Nephop's fiercest lyricists.
Dec 2014Kathmandu, Nepal
2015
Engineering
The 2015 Earthquake — An Engineer Responds
When the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake strikes Nepal, Balen joins rebuilding efforts as a structural engineer, witnessing firsthand the cost of poor construction.
Apr 2015Kathmandu Valley, Nepal
2017
Engineering
Master's in Structural Engineering — India
Balen completes his MTech in Structural Engineering from Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology (VTU), Karnataka, India, deepening his technical expertise.
Dec 2016Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
2019
Music & Nephop
"Balidan" — Sacrifice Becomes an Anthem
Balen releases "Balidan" (Sacrifice), a politically charged track that becomes a rallying cry for Nepal's frustrated youth.
Dec 2018Kathmandu, Nepal
2021
Music & Nephop
"Nepal Haseko" — Nepal Smiling
"Nepal Haseko" (Nepal Smiling) becomes Balen's most viral track, amassing over 10 million views and becoming an anthem of hope and protest.
Dec 2020Kathmandu, Nepal
2022
Political Rise
The Announcement — Running for Mayor
Balen Shah announces his independent candidacy for Mayor of Kathmandu, shocking the political establishment and electrifying Nepal's youth.
Feb 2022Kathmandu, Nepal
2022
Political Rise
Mayor of Kathmandu — The Earthquake Election
Balen Shah wins the Kathmandu mayoral election as an independent, defeating candidates from Nepal's two largest parties in a political earthquake.
May 2022Kathmandu, Nepal
2022
Mayor of Kathmandu
Cleaning Kathmandu — The Waste War
Within weeks of taking office, Balen tackles Kathmandu's chronic garbage crisis, deploying sanitation workers and equipment across the city.
Jun 2022Kathmandu, Nepal
2022
Mayor of Kathmandu
The Bulldozer Mayor — Demolishing Illegal Structures
Balen launches a controversial campaign to demolish illegal constructions and reclaim encroached public spaces, earning both praise and fierce criticism.
Aug 2022Kathmandu, Nepal
2022
Mayor of Kathmandu
Free Ambulances, Public Toilets & Education Reform
Balen's administration rolls out free ambulance services, public toilets, healthcare centers, and sweeping education reforms across Kathmandu.
Nov 2022Kathmandu, Nepal
2023
Mayor of Kathmandu
The Greater Nepal Map — Controversy & Conviction
Balen places a map of "Greater Nepal" in his office, asserting historical territorial claims and sparking international controversy.
May 2023Kathmandu, Nepal
2024
Mayor of Kathmandu
Protecting the Rivers — Bagmati & Beyond
Balen enforces a 20-meter construction ban along Kathmandu's riverbanks, fighting to protect the Bagmati and Bishnumati rivers from encroachment.
Dec 2023Kathmandu, Nepal
2025
Gen Z Movement
The Gen Z Uprising — September 2025
Youth-led protests erupt across Nepal after PM Oli bans social media. Dozens are killed. Balen emerges as the movement's most prominent political ally.
Aug 2025Kathmandu & across Nepal
2026
National Leader
Resigning as Mayor — Eyes on the Nation
Balen resigns as Mayor of Kathmandu to contest the national parliamentary election, joining the Rastriya Swatantra Party as their PM candidate.
Jan 2026Kathmandu, Nepal
2026
National Leader
The Campaign — Taking on Oli in Jhapa
In a bold move, Balen contests from Jhapa-5 — directly challenging four-time PM K.P. Sharma Oli in his own constituency.
Feb 2026Jhapa, Nepal
2026
National Leader
Landslide — RSP Sweeps Nepal
The RSP wins a historic two-thirds majority. Balen defeats former PM Oli by a landslide in Jhapa-5. Nepal chooses a new generation.
Mar 2026Jhapa & across Nepal
2026
National Leader
Prime Minister-Designate — A New Nepal Begins
Balen Shah is named Prime Minister-designate of Nepal, set to become the youngest and first Madheshi PM in the nation's history.
Mar 2026Kathmandu, Nepal
The Balen Shah Story: From Rapper to Prime Minister
Balendra "Balen" Shah (born April 27, 1990) is a Nepali rapper, structural engineer, and politician who rose from the underground hip-hop scene of Kathmandu to become Nepal's Prime Minister-designate in March 2026. Born in Naradevi, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Kathmandu, to a Madheshi family from Mahottari, Balen became the first independent Mayor of Kathmandu in 2022 and the first Madheshi Prime Minister in Nepal's history.
His music career began in 2012 with the track "Sadak Balak" (Street Kid), followed by winning Raw Barz Season 2, Nepal's premier rap battle league. His politically charged tracks "Balidan" (Sacrifice, 2019) and "Nepal Haseko" (Nepal Smiling, 2021) became anthems for a generation frustrated with political corruption, with Nepal Haseko amassing over 10 million views on YouTube.
As Mayor of Kathmandu from 2022 to 2026, Balen launched sweeping reforms including demolition of illegal structures, free ambulance services, 32 urban health centers, scholarships for over 30,000 students, river protection policies, and heritage restoration. After the September 2025 Gen Z protests that toppled PM Oli, Balen joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and led them to a historic landslide victory in the March 2026 general election, defeating former PM K.P. Sharma Oli in his own constituency of Jhapa-5.