The 14th edition of the Kolkata Literary Meet at Alipore Museum has been a confluence of ideas, art, and experiences, where writers, filmmakers, actors, and scholars came together to engage in conversations that effortlessly traversed the realms of literature, cinema, and culture.
News Ei Samay had an exclusive conversation with Prabal Gurung, the Nepalese American fashion designer whose creations and words have always defied the notion of who gets to be seen. In a free-flowing conversation, Gurung spoke about identity, freedom, empathy, and the lessons that have continued to shape his life.
'It is who I am': Prabal Gurung
Asked how consciously South Asian identity shapes his design language today, Gurung spoke without hesitation. “It is who I am,” he said, describing heritage as something he carries openly rather than something to be distanced from. For him, centuries-old stories, teachings and lived histories are sources of strength. They have not only shaped his sense of self but also given him the tools to question dominant ideas of beauty and redefine what is considered chic.
Also Read | ‘Research itself is a thriller for me’: Srijit Mukherji spills why unanswered pasts excite him
'If someone can’t see you, you have to see yourself first'
On the subject of discrimination and the struggles faced by those whose identities or passions are often questioned, Gurung returned to the idea of self-recognition. “If you can live a life free from needing validation from the outside world, that is freedom,” he said.
He spoke about impermanence and purpose, urging people to use their time to create something meaningful. "Use the time we have here to create something meaningful that can live and leave an effect and impact, even 1%', he said, grounding his words in gratitude and humanity rather than achievement alone.
'Grace under pressure'
Some of Gurung’s most enduring lessons, he shared, come from his mother. "Ambition without empathy is very hollow", he recalled his mother saying. She taught him that access to power or influence must come with responsibility, not only to take a seat at the table, but to create space for others as well. And a principle she passed on that still anchors him through pressure and uncertainty: “Grace under pressure.”
Walk like a girl: A memoir
These values are further embedded deeply in Walk Like a Girl, Gurung’s memoir that was released in May 2025. The memoir chronicles Gurung’s life from being a queer boy in Nepal to a renowned global fashion designer.
