NKD:  Shiva how did boxing happen?
Shiva: Initially like any other guy, I too played soccer and I need to admit that I was good at soccer too. Later at one stage I tried out taekwondo also and I excelled in it too. But finally under my father I took up an individual game as my brother Gobind Thapa is also a boxer. I was only 7 years old when I donned the boxing gloves.

NKD: Where were you trained initially?
Shiva: Initially I was trained in this room (We are in the drawing room of Mr. Padam Thapa’s residence where medals, citations, trophies, jhapis and other felicitated decorative items were displayed) by my father. I should say that my father Padam Thapa is a cultured sportsman and has this spirit even today. He was my first coach. It was he who took me to the Sports Authority of India (SAI), Guwahati and got me admitted there to nurture my talent. At that time I was barely 7 years old.

NKD: Technically boxing is known to be a power game. How does Shiva generate that power?
Shiva: I as a boxer totally disagree with the concept that boxing is a power game. Boxing is more a mind game. More than a healthy person, an intelligent man with good fitness can take up this game. It is not that the hard hit gets points. Today, boxing is more a mind game than a power game. I work out everyday in the gym, go for a morning walk early every morning, eat lots of salad and drink adequate water. I avoid junk food and oily food in general. I take a total balanced diet as suggested by my coach and federation. And the important part is that I practice every day.

NKD: Then Shiva idolises Mike Tyson? What do you like about him? How would you react on meeting him?
Shiva: Yes Mike Tyson has been my idol before I donned the boxing gloves. I saw him playing this game on television when I was 6 as my boxer brother used to watch it. I like Tyson’s respect and love for the game. He executes each punch so skillfully that he always tries to gain a point from every punch he throws. His techniques are fabulous I wish I can learn his techniques in future. His will power and fitness is also enviable.
Meeting Tyson would be a part of my dream coming true. However my one true aim is to bag a gold medal at the Olympics donning the tri-colour for my country. I would love to meet him in any of the international events or at the 2012 Olympics. On meeting him, as per the tradition of my nation and Gorkha community, I would bow before him and seek his blessing.

NKD: I wish all your dreams come true. The nation’s blessings and best wishes are always with you.
Shiva: Thank you. I would love to make my countrymen proud and I seek their prayers and blessings. I thank all my countrymen for their support till date I hope the shower of love and blessing will continue on me till I answer them with a gold medal at the Olympics and even there after….

NKD- What are you doing as of now other than boxing?
Shiva: I am a class 12 student in Poona College. Academically too I am not a crammer and I secured 1st division in my SSLC exam. Also I have several times topped my class. Recently I passed my 10+1 exam and enrolled for the 12th standard. I stay in Pune and am getting trained at the Army Sports Institute (ASI), Pune under Mission Olympics. However my interests are 80% on boxing and 20% on studies. I skip a lot of classes following my practice session and events. Before my induction into the institute, I learnt to trade punches at the Sports Authority of India Centre in Guwahati under Coach Amar Deka. While representing the state, I won my first the Sub-Junior Nationals three years ago. It was at the ASI Pune where they selected me for the boys scouts programme,

NKD: You were noticed as a amateur boxer by Assam when you bagged Gold in Titabor Jorhat at the All Assam Invitational Junior/ Sub Junior tournament in 2004. When was Shiva noticed as a pugilist by the country?
Shiva: It was at the 21st Sub- Junior National Boxing Championship 2005 in Noida UP where I ended up with a gold medal after beating a services boxer who has a very good record. It was my first national appearance. Assam recognised me as a boxer the day I joined SAI Guwahati and donned the gloves.

NKD: How does it feel now that the country recognises Shiva Thapa as an international boxer whose family has a record of serving the nation in defense?
Shiva: My ancestor has served the nation as defense personnel and I got the opportunity to serve the nation as a pugilists. It really is a proud moment when I am wrapped the tri-colour while standing in front of the world. My first international appearance for my country was at the Hyder Aliyeve Cup at Azarbaizan in Russia in 2008 where I won a gold medal.  My country erupted with joy and cheered for me. Out of love and encouragement they nicknamed me “SHIVA ALI” after Mohammad Ali.

NKD: How do you feel to be known as a Gorkha from Assam in a national side?
Shiva: Many veteran Gorkhas have represented this country such as ace shooter Jaspal Rana, Arjuna awardee Jaslal Pradhan, sensational footballer Sunil Chetri to name a few. I am one just Indian citizen. It does not make me feel different as a Gorkha but I am proud to have donned the tri - colour. I as a Gorkha of Assam have been an integral part of Assamese society. My community has been a mainstream ethnic community of Assam as I have learnt. Assam applauds my success and encourages me. It is a really great feeling. Not only the Gorkhas, the people of the entire North East have extended huge support for me at the national events. I am pleased to have represented the North East. I am indeed grateful to all of them.

NKD: What about writing “Gorkhali” as your mother tongue in your International profile?
Shiva:  Everyone knows about an Independent nation Nepal which is our closed neighbour.  The citizen of Nepal writes Nepali under citizenship and mother tongue. If I use Nepali anywhere in my profile I could be taken as a represent of Nepal. My mentors in Pune tell me that the Indian Constitution recognises Nepali language as Gorkhali. So, in order to avoid confusion in the international arena I recognise myself as a Gorkha. My grandfather was a Gorkha soldier and I am a Gorkha boxer certainly not Nepali.

NKD: What is your happiest moment?
Shiva: To be honest with you. The gold medal at Hyder Aliyeve Cup at Baku in Azerbaijan in Russia was my happiest moment. I am the 1st Indian ever till date to have won a gold medal in this tournament. My gold came in the 50kg category against Azerbaijan’s Gurbanzade Saikhan.

NKD: Apart from boxing what does Shiva love to do in his leisure time?
Shiva: I listen to a lot of music. I listen to scores of English, Nepali, Hindi and Assamese music. I am more in tune with the music than the lyrics. It energises me as it gives me relaxation after practice. Whenever I have sufficient leisure time I love to swim. I like all activities like any guy of my age does.

NKD: How does this golden boxer handle success?
Shiva:  I am never carried away by success. Fame coming by the way of my success is a morale booster. Organisations from different background have felicitated me. I thank them all through you.

NKD: If not a boxer, what would Shiva Thapa be?
Shiva: (After a pause, with a sweet innocent smile) ...….. Sir, I was born to be a Boxer.

Nanda Kirati Dewan