Govinda grew up in a remote village in Nepal before moving to the capital city, where he pursued his education and worked in the tourism and hospitality industry. Growing up amid civil unrest, Govinda experienced firsthand the injustices of the political system. On one occasion, he was left with two broken wrists and thirty-three stitches after being beaten by the police. Since then, he has worked with USIP and other organizations, facilitating dialogue between police and civil society.