KATHMANDU, JANUARY 12
Passang Nuru Sherpa, a Nepali-American author based in New York, has earned critical acclaim from Kirkus Reviews for his pandemic memoir Behind the Mask: A Pandemic Memoir, marking another milestone for the immigrant storyteller whose work chronicles the COVID-19 crisis through the lens of his Jackson Heights community.
The endorsement from Kirkus Reviews, a literary publication founded in 1933 and considered among the authoritative voices in book criticism, adds to Sherpa's growing reputation as a documentarian of immigrant experiences. He was previously recognized as a finalist in the 22nd Annual American Book Fest Awards.
In its review, Kirkus praised the memoir as "an intimate, heartfelt portrait of one New York City community's struggles and resilience," commending Sherpa's "passion for storytelling" and his authentic rendering of life under lockdown. The publication particularly noted the book's exploration of social isolation's psychological impact while celebrating the "generosity and compassion of the Nepali community-a light that shines brightly throughout these pages."
The 449-page work, originally composed in Nepali and translated into English by Mahesh Paudyal and Peter Gill, offers a ground-level account of Jackson Heights during the height of the pandemic-one of New York City's hardest-hit neighborhoods.
"This recognition represents the voices of immigrant communities and the lived realities of the pandemic that deserve to be documented and remembered," Sherpa said.
Sherpa's journey to authorship is unconventional. A salon owner who immigrated to the United States in 2004, he operates Pasang Striking Style in Jackson Heights. When New York entered lockdown in March 2020, Sherpa transformed his role from hairstylist to community humanitarian.
"After fifteen days of isolation, I ventured out... I bought groceries for my neighbor and soon became involved with a group of Nepali expatriates," Sherpa writes in the book's foreword. "My days were spent delivering relief materials."
His work with the Coronavirus Awareness and Support Group became the foundation for the memoir, which he compiled from personal diary entries. The narrative weaves together philosophical reflections, details of Nepali cultural traditions adapted to American life, and intimate accounts of loss and hardship within the immigrant community.
Before coming to America, Sherpa worked as a tourist guide in Nepal. His background in hospitality and natural storytelling ability positioned him uniquely to capture the human dimensions of the crisis unfolding around him.
Beyond his literary work, Sherpa is known in Nepali circles as a lyricist, with his song "Narou Timi" garnering over seven million views on YouTube. He also volunteers regularly, providing free haircuts at senior care facilities-an extension of his belief in service as a fundamental obligation.
Editor Peter Gill writes in the book's introduction: "This book is about the people of Jackson Heights-before, during, and after the darkest days of the pandemic-told by one man who could tell this story like no other."
Behind the Mask: A Pandemic Memoir, which includes color photographs of Sherpa's family and community, is available in paperback and hardcover through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and 55 online platforms worldwide.
