What did Shambhavi experience in Delhi, as she traveled to Berlin to attend a prestigious conference with over 4,000 participants, 400 speakers, dozens of sessions, and thousands of online participants?
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It was a memorable moment for Shambhavi Adhikari, who is pursuing her master's degree in public health at the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Dharan, when she was selected to represent Nepal at the World Health Summit.
The opportunity to reach this forum where the world's top health experts, from policymakers to researchers, will gather in one place was the greatest achievement of her life. Moreover, the fact that she was the only one among the 10-12 people who applied for a visa increased her excitement even more.
The event (World Health Summit) to be held in Berlin, Germany on October 12-14, 2025 (Asho 26-28) is considered a major global forum for global health. It is difficult to get a visa and being selected as a participant is an even rarer achievement!
But the travel expenses were on her shoulders. After the ticket from Nepal to Berlin via Doha was about one lakh rupees more expensive, she chose the Kathmandu-Delhi-Berlin route, believing it would be relatively cheaper. On Asho 24, she flew to Delhi from Air India to catch a connecting flight on Qatar Airways. This was also her first international trip.
After Dashain, with a heart full of excitement, she flew to Berlin to attend a prestigious conference with more than 4,000 participants, 400 speakers, dozens of sessions and thousands of online participants, but when she reached Delhi airport, she was deported from Delhi despite having a ticket to Berlin, a valid visa, and all travel documents. She also faced mistreatment. After a frustrating 8-hour wait, she bought a ticket at her own expense and returned to Kathmandu on an evening flight.
However, Shambhavi did not let her desire to go to Berlin die. The very next day, she stood at the same Qatar Airways counter again. This time, instead of reaching Delhi, she flew directly to Berlin via Doha. Finally, she fulfilled her dream of participating in the World Health Summit in the name of Nepal.
