Amar Timalsina - TLM Hero

“With God’s help, one man can change the world, and that man is Amar,” reads a quote on the cover of Amar Tamalsina’s biography, from BBC Broadcaster and TLM Vice President, Pam Rhodes.

Amar’s commitment to improving the lives of persons affected by leprosy stems from painful experiences of his own. Diagnosed with leprosy early in his life, Amar was ostracised from his rural community in Nepal, excluded from education and made to divorce his wife under a discriminatory law in Nepal.

Since the challenging days of his youth, Amar's journey has taken a dramatic turn. After finding odd jobs in a few countries across Asia, Amar gained an M.A. in English Literature and served as a school principle for over 20 years.

The experience Amar had at TLM's Anandaban Hospital and the discrimination he faced in his life have inspired him to serve persons affected by leprosy as an advocate and campaigner. He has served on ILEP's Panel for Persons Affected by Leprosy, on the Board of TLM International and is currently the Global Network Coordinator of IDEA International, a global network of Organisations of Persons Affected by Leprosy.

Amar's work as a campaigner has seem him attend and speak at many national and international events, including in New York at the UN's CRPD Conference.

Tim Burton from The Leprosy Mission International's office had this to say about Amar,

"I had already worked with Amar on-and-off for a few years when the International Leprosy Congress 2022 happened, but it was whilst working with Amar for this Congress that I had the opportunity to really see him at work. Together we were trying to ensure good representation from Nepal at the Global Forum for Organisations of Persons Affected by Leprosy, which happened in Hyderabad immediately prior to the Congress. Amar did everything he could to bring his Nepali colleagues from IDEA to Hyderabad.

"He hustled, he found funds and resources, and he took on all the the complexities of organising this large contingent to ensure that they would have a chance to have their voices heard. When we were together in Hyderabad I saw just how much respect he had amongst those in attendance, but it was his hard work behind the scenes that is the real testament to the man. Rather than being the centre of attention, he wanted to bring his team - particularly the women - into the spotlight."