An MTech student in structural engineering at Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology (NMIT) in Bengaluru between 2016 and 2018, Balen was known among lecturers and fellow students as a rapper due to his popularity on YouTube. (Express Photo)After Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli stepped down amid the student-led ‘Gen Z’ protests, online campaigns have been promoting Balendra Shah, a rapper-turned-politician, as the country’s next leader. Popularly known as Balen, the 35-year-old has been serving as Kathmandu’s 15th mayor since May 2022.At this moment, it is hard to look past his Bengaluru connection as he completed postgraduation in engineering in the city.An MTech student in structural engineering at Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology (NMIT) in Bengaluru between 2016 and 2018, Balen was known among lecturers and fellow students as a rapper due to his popularity on YouTube. His tutors in Bengaluru said they had been unaware of his political aspirations before he became the mayor of Kathmandu.Professor Bharathi Ganesh was one of Balen’s lecturers during his time at NMIT. Currently, the vice principal of Sir M Visvesvaraya Institute of Technology, Bharathi Ganesh, recalled knowing him as both a student and a rapper. “Generally, the Nepalese students I have taught have learned to play various musical instruments, and Balen was a rapper. We used to see some YouTube videos of his performances,” she said.Although his rap music was popular, his peers in Bengaluru were unaware of the social messages it conveyed, she said.“He was consistent in attending classes and remained highly focused. In fact, even after completing his studies, he would message me and other faculty members. I recall congratulating him in 2022 when he was elected as the Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Nepal. After that, I playfully referred to him as ‘Mayor Saab’,” recalled Bhrathi Ganesh.She said she even invited him to an alumni meet at NMIT, but he was unable to attend. “Despite his role as a politician, he was always responsive to calls and messages,” she said.Story continues below this adSpeaking about the present situation in Nepal, Bharathi said that she is concerned about Balen and that she will be happy to see him leading the country as the prime minister.Shreyas, A V, who is now deputy registrar at NMIT, said Balen stayed in the college hostel, and no one thought he would make it to politics. “It was just 24 students and the first batch of the autonomous course of structural engineering,” he said.Shreyas recalled that Balen had two other friends, one of whom is now settled in the United States. “The two other Nepalese students were named Praveen Shreshta and Sunil Lansal. The three of them were always together, attended classes regularly, and excelled in their studies. If I remember correctly, he also secured good marks in the final exam,” he added.Shreyas also remembered that Balen worked on a project related to earthquake dynamic analysis during his final year. This project was presented three years after Nepal experienced one of the deadliest earthquakes in Asia, which claimed more than 8,000 lives in the country.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© IE Online Media Services Pvt LtdTags:Nepal protest