Owner of Funky Buddha, The Himalayan Beans and Sky Lounge shares his entrepreneurial journey
Ruukuonuo Liegise
Dimapur | June 11
In the last few years, Dimapur the commercial hub of Nagaland has seen rise in the number of restaurants. Among the many entrepreneurs who joined the growing dining-out industry in Dimapur, Tushar Shrestha runs one of the best known restaurants called ‘Funky Buddha.’
Since its launch in August 2016, Tushar Shrestha, originally from Nepal, has added two more enterprises, The Himalayan Beans and The Sky Lounge. Today, Tushar is instrumental in providing employment to around 48 workforces here in Dimapur.
The Morung Express caught up with Tushar Shrestha to know about his entrepreneurial journey, and what makes him the successful entrepreneur he is.
From Nepal to Nagaland
In 2016, Tushar moved from Nepal to Nagaland with his wife and launched their first venture, Funky Buddha. The name was inspired by his wife’s ethnicity that is half Angami and half Buddhist. With a variety of Chinese and pan Asian food in their menu, the place has been consistently popular.
After his schooling in Nepal, Tushar completed his Master’s degree in Computer Application in Delhi. He worked with the IT sector of banks and other companies both in Nepal and Delhi but eventually settled in Nagaland after marriage.
“I was interested in hosting events and managing restaurants. After managing a couple of restaurants in Nepal, I became even more interested in opening my own restaurant,” confesses Tushar.
In 2017, the couple expanded their business and opened a coffee shop ‘The Himalayan Beans’. Following the success of both the ventures, they took the dealership of Lavazza, an Italian brand which deals with coffee machine and coffee beans. Recently, they started another venture, ‘Sky Lounge’ in Circular Road, Dimapur.
Sense of accomplishment above challenges
Even with the success of Funky Buddha, Tushar recalls that the major issue they faced were insincere employees and interference from Naga Political Groups and other taxations.
Nevertheless, when his work contributes to making a difference in the society, he finds it absolutely rewarding. Tushar feels that the opportunity to learn and grow professionally is often a rewarding aspect of work.
“Feeling recognised and appreciated for your work can be a significant motivator. It can come in the form of praise from colleagues, promotions, awards, or simply knowing that your contributions are valued,” he stated.
“The sense of accomplishment that comes from tackling and overcoming difficult challenges or achieving long-term goals can be incredibly rewarding and serve as motivation to keep pushing forward,” he added.
As a restaurant owner, Tushar says the proudest moments for a restaurant owner might be receiving recognition or an award for their establishment.
“Receiving such an honour would not only bring a sense of pride to the owner but also serve as motivation to continue striving for culinary excellence, providing exceptional service, and creating memorable experiences for their guests,” he observes.
‘Trust is the foundation of a strong team’
Managing around 48 staff can be challenging and would require skills. Here Tushar underscores that open and transparent communication is vital for a good team.
“Aligning the team around a common purpose and shared goals is crucial,” he asserts adding, “When everyone is working towards a common vision, it fosters unity and enhances team cohesion. Trust is the foundation of a strong team.”
On the value of trust, he elaborates that one should “encourage an atmosphere of trust by fostering open and honest communication, providing support and feedback, and allowing team members to take risks without fear of retribution.”
He also adds that it is crucial to have “establishing psychological safety, where team members feel safe to share their opinions and take calculated risks, promotes innovation and collaboration.”
Despite the efforts for developing the team, Tushar says they have to let go of employees when they consistently fail to meet job expectations or performance standards despite receiving adequate support and feedback.
“Instances of severe misconduct, such as harassment, theft, dishonesty, or violation of company policies, can result in termination. Sometimes, an employee may struggle to align with the company's values, work culture, or team dynamics, which can lead to difficulties in collaboration and integration,” he added.
When hiring new employees, Tushar seeks candidates who possess the necessary qualifications, technical skills, and knowledge required to excel in the specific role they are applying for. He mentioned that he highly valued qualities such as reliability, punctuality, and a strong work ethic in potential employees.
Be true to oneself, be resilience
Relaying some of his life’s values and principles, Tushar said that acting with honesty in all aspects of life, and treating others with dignity, empathy, and consideration are necessary for working in this industry.
“Being true to oneself, embracing individuality, and acting in alignment with personal values,” he added.
He also mentioned the significance of taking ownership of one's actions, being accountable, and fulfilling obligations. Fostering teamwork, and valuing diverse perspectives, building trust and adapting to change are other important values, he shared.
Drawing lessons from his experience and knowledge, for those wanting to follow his footstep, Tushar says, “Success rarely comes without setbacks and challenges.”
His advice is to develop ‘resilience to bounce back from failures, learn from them, and keep moving forward.’
“Perseverance will enable you to stay committed to your goals despite obstacles along the way. Embrace creativity to generate innovative ideas and solutions. Cultivate critical thinking skills to analyze problems from different angles, question assumptions, and make well-informed decisions,” he added.
“As you progress in your journey, remember to give back to your community and help others along the way,” Tushar advised.
Looking ahead in five years, Tushar hopes to branch out within and even outside Nagaland.
The writer is a student of BA-Media and Public Affairs Honours at Christ (Deemed to be University) Delhi, NCR. She is currently an intern in The Morung Express.
