Scranton Stories is an oral history video series featuring 33 individuals who have lived or worked in the city of Scranton. These videos are part of the larger project, Scranton’s Story, Our Nation’s Story, which is a community-wide exploration of themes such as history, belonging, and identity. DiscoverNEPA will share these unique, personal “Scranton Stories” in the lead-up to the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026.
From Displacement to Community Leadership
After being forced from their home in Bhutan into a refugee camp in Nepal, Chandra Sitaula Sharma and his family tried relentlessly to return home. When it became clear that they would be unable to, they were resettled to the Bronx, NY, where Chandra’s daughter Smriti was shocked by the dazzling lights, unaccustomed to consistent electricity.
They moved to Scranton two years later, where the natural elements of the Lackawanna Valley remind them of their country. Rejecting characterizations of refugees as people who are helpless – they had been landowners in Bhutan – Chandra revels in his opportunity to give back and began work immediately to strengthen ties among the local Bhutanese community.
Having lacked a national identity, Smriti is grateful for her U.S. citizenship, noting how broad the world feels now. Since the opening of the Bhutanese Cultural Foundation of Scranton Assoc., they have offered ESL, dance, and other classes free to everyone in the community, and also make efforts to help those in need, including local unhoused people.
Resham Band
