A Fight for a Cup of Chai: A Journey Through Labor, Loss, and Hope
By Sanman Thapa | March, 29, 2025 | 11:00 am
Have you ever felt a quiet tug—that ticking urge to share your story with the world—only to be silenced by a voice that says, Who would care?
You’re not alone. I was one of those people, too.
Reaching middle age brought with it a wave of self-reflection and, with it, a deep desire to finally own my story. I’ve always loved to write. While digging through the attic one day, I stumbled upon a box of old notebooks filled with poems, essays, and even early attempts at romantic novels. But for years, I never had the courage—or the platform—to share any of it.
That changed about a year and a half ago when I finally decided to start a blog.
If you believe in the power of storytelling, I think you’ll connect with A Fight for a Cup of Chai—a short but powerful memoir about one young man’s journey from the factory floors of Kathmandu to a classroom in New York City. When I wrote it, I never imagined it would be taught in high schools as part of literacy, civic, and global history lessons. I was simply sharing my truth.
You never know who your story will touch.
But here’s what I’ve come to learn: Stories matter.
Your story matters.
Have you ever wondered how small acts of courage can spark change?
Or how unity and perseverance can shape not just individual lives, but entire communities?
These are the questions at the heart of A Fight for a Cup of Chai.
Inspired by my lived experiences, this book invites readers into the world of factory workers in 1990s Nepal—ordinary people fighting for their rights during a time of sweeping economic and political change. It’s a story of resilience, solidarity, and dignity, told through characters who reflect both personal truths and broader collective struggles.
Writing this book was more than a creative project—it was a labor of love, an act of healing, and a bridge between my past in Nepal and my present life as a school counselor in New York. The lessons I learned—about courage, community, and the power of collective action—are ones I carry with me every day. And I believe they’ll resonate with you, too.
Inside A Fight for a Cup of Chai, you’ll discover:
- The untold struggles of factory workers during a pivotal time in Nepal’s history
- An homage to the unsung heroes—workers, neighbors, friends—who taught me what resilience and hope really mean
- Themes of personal growth, advocacy, and the pursuit of justice
- A heartfelt journey that weaves together culture, identity, and the enduring strength of the human spirit
Whether you love stories of triumph over adversity, want to better understand global labor struggles, or simply enjoy a good read with your tea, this book has something for you.
You can find A Fight for a Cup of Chai on:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Google Play | IngramSpark | and at The Next Chapter, LI (a local independent bookstore).
Or visit www.sanmanthapa.com to learn more.
Here’s the direct Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/author/sanman.thapa
Let’s Meet in Person!
If you’ll be in California this spring, I’d love to connect in person:
📍 Meet Sanman Thapa at the LA Times Festival of Books
📅 April 26–27, 2025
📍 University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
📖 Book signing, author Q&A, and conversations about the themes of A Fight for a Cup of Chai
Thank you for being here. Thank you for caring about stories like this. And maybe, just maybe, this is your sign to start telling your own.
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Sanman Thapa 
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