This chef doesn’t have hands and yet he cooks delicious food, why his compelling story needs to be told

Life often throws hardships and obstacles in the journey, but it all depends on us, whether we let such hurdles bow us down or we fight back every time with much energy. While many of us bow down to circumstances, only a few fight back with the same energy and become champions of life. Today, we are going to tell you a story of resilience, commitment, and persistence of a young chef, who cooks without both his hands and aims to build a holistic space for others as well.The story of Ratna Bahadur TamangMeet Ratna Bahadur Tamang, a native of Pachmure village, Sindhupalchok district, Nepal. At an early age he left his remote village and walked alone to Kathmandu to build a better and bigger life. From working in a rice mill to working in a hotel as a helper he has done it all. At 15, he moved to India to work at stalls and dhabas, learnt South Indian cooking, and eventually became a kitchen cook in Mumbai. Later, he worked in Malaysia, Qatar, UAE, and Iraq as a 6G MIG welder. But in 2015, life changed forever.How and when did things change for Ratna TamangIt was an unfortunate day in 2015 during the devastating earthquake in Nepal, when he was temporarily working as a welder in Kathmandu and a high-tension electric current struck him, causing him to lose both of his hands. What followed were multiple surgeries that could only save portions of his arms. His head and body were covered in wounds, and the pain was unbearable. It was only after the accident he had three choices: begging, suicide or taking it in his stride, moving ahead with dignity and passion. And as an optimistic person, he chose the latter and decided to follow his dreams. He believes that his life is a precious gift from God. He taught himself to cook again.How did he keep moving?For a time, he sold clothing by hand in Kathmandu. Later, Ratna says he started earning a living for his family through his cooking videos on social media with a following of 137K on Instagram and 118K subscribers on YouTube. Later on January 5, 2026, he was featured in MasterChef India Season 10 and things changed for the better and brighter. Chef Ranveer Brar not only gave him a signed knife but also held his arms- as simple qite touch that broke open something inside him and became one of the most unforgettable moments of his life.What is his motive?Ratna is cooking with a dream of helping others dealing with similar struggles of life. He is running a crowdfunding campaign along with his social media cooking classes, called Ratna Tamang Kitchen Studio, where he aims to turn struggle into service through his talent of cooking. He says, “If I can cook without hands, you can do whatever you dream.” Through his community feeding programmes he will cook fresh meals and distribute them to hospital patients’ families and people in need across Kathmandu. He also aims to collaborate with existing cooking schools, culinary programmes, and community education initiatives — not just in Kathmandu, but anywhere in Nepal and beyond. He affirms, “My role is not to replicate what others do well — but to amplify it, and to open doors for those who might not otherwise find their way in.”