Our Journey to Ghale Gaun Lamjung : Tuka Chhetri-Sandwell

There are many places in Nepal with full of natural wonders which is not appreciated while you are young and seen it every day. It is experience of maturing and travelling around world makes one realize the true value of those wonders one grew up with.

I was born and brought up in Duradanda, Lamjung and had a privileged to study at Sarbodaya High School established in 2009. Radha Paudel a Nurse, Peace maker, social worker  and winner of international peace award and most prestigious Nepali award ‘Madan Puraskar’ 3^rd women to receive in history has strong root to Lamjung had desire to visit Ghale Gaun for last decade and we decided to put our plan to implement.

We, my brother, nephews, Radha and I started our journey to Ghale Gaun on 27^th October 2014. Journey to Besi Sahar, District headquartor of Lamjung was smooth and comfortable in the context of Nepali Road.

                                             Road to Ghale Gaun (photo from above)

Our Journey began at 3pm local time and road condition appeared worse than Jumla which I experienced in our last trip. My nephews had knowledge of driving in different road conditions and they were very helpful to clear the road as we go and directing the driver, despite all this the driver was grumpy to the extreme and to some extent we started regretting our travel plan we thought we were in danger too. Eventually we arrived to our destination at 7 pm without major incidence despite the dangerous road and unhappy driver.

                                       

We were welcomed at Ghale Gaun and accommodated in several house. We all enjoyed the locally grown home cooked meal (cooked in agena) by sitting and eating around it on Gundri.

Radha started to interview the daughter of land lord, young girl visiting her parents in Tihar. I was amazed by Radha’s question very private in nature and young girl’s answer in such innocent/shy expression which sunk in my heart. We, Radha, Girl and I had good laugh at the time but I still have that innocent face fresh in my memory.

On 28^th morning we started at 6am to view the sun rise, we were able to see Annapurna range, Lamjung Himal, Manaslu, Ganesh and only a tip of Machhapuchre on the left. It might be breath taking for many people but to me It was little disappointment because I was spoilt by the childhood memory of snowy mountain surrounded 90 degree from our Aagan. We all (my family) thought Turlungkot in Duradanda would have been the better tourist spot than Ghale Gaun.

                                                             Sunrise at 6 am Ghale Gaun

            

Duradanda my birth place in Lamjung has changed a lot because of being the pioneer in education after the independence in 2007. The education brings changes for better I guess.

Ghale Gaun in other hand I found unchanged, they still have the house build by their great grand parent, traditional style of farming, traditional costume which makes Ghale Gaun unique.

People from ghale Gaun are self sufficient economically according to the locals we chat with, they grow rice, millet, corn, soya beans, mas, local seasonal vegetable, even their own tea.

The houses who meet the criteria (modern toilet, shower, running water and separate beds in sharing room) to accommodate tourist have another source of income and are better off than others

                            My brother trying to pick the tea in Ghale Gaun Tea Garden.

                           Our Landlord’s house Radha peeping out from the window.

Radha - A Nurse, Peacemaker, Great social worker, Author, True Volunteer and little Ghale girl. Whatever you do, you do it very passionately as well as selflessly from the bottom of your heart and I have great respect for you for your compassion, dedication and true determination. People like you are far and few between in the universe.

I would like to wish you very best of everything to continue your journey to fulfil the dream you created which you shared on our way to Kathmandu in a car during 2 hrs traffic jam and I rejoiced  in pretension of  ‘Bhanu Bhakta and Ghanshi’.

                          Local man, Radha and Master wearing traditional Bakhhu.

                      Our Landlord with Khurpeto and Aansi ready to go to ghas katna.

                    My family in front of Bhedigotha and mountain at the back ground.

Other thing brought my childhood memory back is ‘Bhedigotha’ when people used to bring all their Bheda (sheep herd) to the warmer place when the winter sets in and sheep do not get any grass.

We had a privileged to see the Bhedigotha and meet some of their sheep dogs and shepherd.

When the sun was rising high then the cloud took over to cover the magnificent snowy mountains we enjoyed few minutes ago.

Then it was time to say good bye to Ghale Gaun and start the difficult journey back to Besisahar and to Kathmandu.

We were bid traditional farewell by our land lady by putting tika on our forehead and mala from the local flowers.

            Landlady putting tika to bid farewell to their guest which is their tradition.

This was our second day at Ghale Gaun and we were preparing to leave with very heavy heart. We were so much like family with this girl third from the right partly because we were Lamjunge and she goes to Turlungkot Kalika Mela (my village) every year in Chaitra Dashain where many people from Lamjung gather to celebrate the festival.

Another interesting thing worth looking is their museum which depicts very traditional Gurung/Ghale Costume, jewellery, Dhiki/Jato, Banduk, Shyakhu, khurpeto, Theki, Hukka/chilim,Bhangra for man and , Ghalek for women, Doko, Soli, Nanglo, Chhatri including Thal/Kachhaura, Ankhara still use.

This museum made me realise we, Bahun/Chhetri have nothing to be proud of our tradition.

I hope the road to Ghale Gaun attracts government’s attention to progress tourism.

Our journey back appear better because the driver was in pleasent mood perhaps Ghale Gaun was his jurney of a life time.

Sadly all the good things must come to an end but our memory is fresh of that most relaxing two days we had.

It was purely relaxing break for couple days with good view, innocent people but soon I realesed the word RELAXATION in Radha’s dictionary is underconsidered.

October 2014

मेरो पहिलो भाषा

मेरो पहिलो भाषा 
पहिलो सास फेरेको भाषा
मन्छे जस्तै भएर पाएको भाषा
फेरी पनि पहिलो हुन्न किन
म दुख्दा रुन हुन्न किन
मैले चिच्याएर पाउन्न रुन किन


Dedicated to Shranshila 

May be this is manhood

शायद,
लोग्ने,
हुनुको मत्लब येहि होला,
पर्दा अगाडि अर्कै,
पर्दा पछाडि बेग्लै ।
सकेको कसरी हास्न,
अरुलाई रुआएर बेसरी?
प्रश्न उठ्छ मनमा,
रुवाएर एउटा मान्छे,
बस्छ कसरी फेरी उस्तै सँग ।
हेर्दो हो कसरी,
अनुहारमा उन्को,
अनी उस्तै सानीको ।
भन्नेहरु भन्छन,
महिल हरु पनि के कम् ?
तर,
देख्छु धेरै लोग्नेहरुको ।
पल पल,
शब्द शब्द बिर्सिएर,
फेरी ,
तिनै
पल पल,
शब्द शब्द कसरी बच्दहोलान?
अनी
फेरी
उस्तै उस्तै
सपना कसरी बडदहोलन .
शायद
लोग्ने हुनुको अर्थ नै येहि होला ।

Fake email and life

मेरी प्यारी भन्दै,
तिमी आएऊ ।
बाडेउ ठुला ठुला,
प्रोजेक्ट र स्किम्हरु .
डिलिट नगरेर,
पछाइरहे ,
तिमीले
जहाँ जहाँ जे जे भनी रहेउ
पठाइरहे जे जे मागिबस्छौ
जब म सकिये,
उज्यालो थियो,
म नागै पनि ,
न छोप्न मिल्छ,
न सकिन्छ भाग्न नै
तिमी त
फेयेक् ईमेल रहेछौ,
न समाउने हाङ्यो
न टेक्ने रुख ।
जान्छ र सास पनि भन्ने बितिक्कै,
हत्केलाले मुख छोपेको भान गरेर,
छेकिदै छेकिदै बिजुलिका खम्बामा,
मरेर, सत प्रतिशत मरेर
जिएको नक्कल गर्दै छु ,
म पनि फेयेक् जिन्दगी
फगत बाचिरहेछु ।

New year 2015

खै कता हो,
किन हो
हराएको हरायै छ
नयाँ बर्ष केही बर्ष यता ।

लाएर मीत,
शितलहर सित,
सेताम्मे हिउसँगै,
कहिले चिप्लिएर,
कहिले पौडिएर,
भाग्दै भाग्दै,
हिंडेको छु खोज्दै,
नयाँ बर्ष केही बर्ष यता ।

हल्ला स्वार सुर,
दिएर जान्छ कतै ,
दम्म बिनाको,
कसी बिनाको,
हुर हुरे नयाँ बर्ष,
नौतन्की खोलमा,
पुरानो देखिएको छ ,
नयाँ बर्ष केही बर्ष यता

मेरा डोबहरु खोजे, रबी संगसँगै पुगे

खुशी हुँदैमा हास्न नसकिने पल,
दुखी रहदैमा रुन नस्किने छण,
मान्छे बाच्नै पर्छ मरेर पल पल ।
धड्कन् उर्लिरहेछ गती नागेर,
टाउको चाडकेइन्छ फुट्नै नसकेर,
आशु बग्दैन, निलिन्छ घुटुकै,
लुकाएर पिडा टाढा टाढा पहाडसंगै  ।
मात्री बात्सल्य फक्रेको छ,
आमा,फेरी आमा बनेर ।
पुल्न्कित छु, शिखर चुमेको छु
छोरी, छोरी  तिमी  पाएर ।
सङ्रशिला तिमी नथाके कहिलै पनि ,
नसुके हिउ बनेर, माटोमा नबिलाये,
अडे सङ्रश गर्दै, हिमाल झै उठे ।
मेरा डोबहरु खोजे, रबी संगसँगै पुगे  

रित्ता खामहरु पठाएउ ।

तिमी आउने दिनहरु कुर्दै बसे,
तिमी आएछौ, मलाई थाहा दिएनौ ।
तिमी हिंड्ने बाटोहरु दुक्दै बसे,
तिमी हिंडेछौ तर आँखा जुदाएनौ ।
जबाफ कुरी बसे पहिले झै,
खाली खाली रित्ता खामहरु पठाएउ ।
म बिना तिमी बाँच्न सक्ने भये,
तिमी बिना म पनि बचेँ जस्तो गर्नै पर्‍यो ।
भागी भागी हिंड्नु पर्दैन, तिमी स्वतन्त्र छौ
आफुसंगै स्वतन्त्र रहनु, बाच्नु निस्फिक्री चरा झै ।
नरोज्नु त्यो बाटो ग्ल्यानी मेटाउनलाई,
युद त तेतिखेर जितिन्छ, जतिखेर बाअछौ रमाइ रमाइ ।

Dedicated to GBV Survivor woman , Thank you for trusting me and sharing

Cultivate Peace Culture through Sorry and Thank you :)

Unless you don't practice of THANK YOU and SORRY,
You really not cultivating PEACE
THANK YOU never lessens your height and
SORRY increases your height forever
Do you ASK to yourself,
Where and how are you there ?
Say SORRY or THANK YOU,
If you undermine or overconfident or forget,
Still, it is NOT late.
SORRY whom I hurt
Am grateful  with all of you who push and pull me to date :)

Miteri Recycle Center: a means of Peace, Prosperity of Nepal

मैले द्वन्दलाई पुरकापुर १० बर्ष नै जान्ने भएर, भुज्ने भएर भुजे। दव्न्द प्रभाबित जिल्लाहरुमा काम गरे महिलहरुको, युवाहरुको अनी उप्पेछित बर्ग, क्षेत्र का लागि। जिल्लामा बसेर आफुले इमन्दारिता पूर्वक काम गर्दा  केन्द्रमा पनि तेस्ताइ सकी नसकी काम गरिरहेक हुन्छन र गर्छन् भन्ने लगो रहेछ। तेसैले शान्ती सम्झौता भये पछी सबै कुरा फटाफत् हुन्छन भनी सोझो  भुजाइ थियो । तेसैले सन २०१० मा फिलिपिन्नेस बाट फर्केर आउँदा देशमा धेरै परिवर्तन भयो होला भन्ने थियो। मनिला बाट फर्केर मैले पहिलो भर्मन गरे जुम्ला को, साथमा थिए पपुलर जेन्टल । p4]Zo गरीबहरुमा जल्बयु परिवर्तनको प्रभाब sf] laZn]ifg । जब गौउ पुगियो, गाउ त परिवर्तन भएको रहेनछ । हुन्त हामी धेरै टाढा गएका थिएनौ मात्रै लाम्राको हिया खोला जहाँ ८० घर दलित बस्ती छ । बच्चाहरु नगै, भोकै, स्कुल पनि थिएन, नजिक्को स्कुल जन करीब १ घण्टा लाग्थ्यो । काठमाडौंमा त ठुला ठुला परिवर्तन भएको थियो तर जुम्लामा .......

जाडो बदिरेह्यो, बड्दा बददै एती धेरै बद्यो कि -२० पुग्यो, बच्चाहरु सबै नाङै जिउ र नगै खुटा । घाम नलगिन्जेल घरभित्र आगो तापेर् बस्यो, घाम लागेपछि छत्मा घाम तापेर् बस्यो, करीब २-३ बजे बाट घाम फेरी हराउछ अनी फेरी भित्रै बस्यो । महिनबारि भ्एकी महिला र केटी छन भने त तेही पनि का पै ?  of] b'v x]g{ yfn]sf] klg bzsf} ePsf] lyof] . मैले केही साथी / सस्थ्लाई कुरा गरे तर जाडो छल्ने बिसएमा कस्को प्रोजेक्ट बन्न सक्छ ? तेसो त तराइमा शित लहर लाग्यो भने त पत्रीकामा आउछ दाउरा , कम्मल बितरन हुन्छ तर कर्णाली वा १४ वटा हिमालि जिल्लाको जाडो र सास्ती कुन पत्रीकाको बिषय बनोस, कसरी बनोस , कसरी प्राप्त होस् कम्मल र दाउरा । मैले मनिलामा सेकेन्ड हन्ड् कपडाको पसल देखेको थिए । मैले तेसै गरी सेकेन्ड ह्यन्ड् कपडाको सकलन र बितरन गर्न yfn]. एक्सन वोर्क्स नेपाल का साथीहरुमा सुरु सुरुमा आसजीलो माने पनि जुम्लामा नै गएर थोरै भये पनि  अनुभब  गरेका सस्थका उपधाछेय पपुलर जेन्टलको पूर्ण सह्मति रह्यो / la:tf/}  zflGt cleofgsf] Pp6f cleGg c+u g} aGof] .

मैले सानो अध्ययन गरे, महिलाहरुसँग छलफल गरे । झन्डै पण्चनब्बे परतिशत् महिलाहरु सेकेन्ड  ह्यन्ड् लुगा  अर्थात् लुगा पुन प्रयोग गर्न सहमत् भए। तर मलाई जुम्ला लगायेत् दूर्गम् जिल्लाहरुमा दात्रि निकायहरुले विभिन बहनामा पैसा बाडेर झन पर्जिबी बनाएको पटकै मन परेको थिएन । तर सेकेन्ड ह्यन्ड् लुगा लाई पैसा तिर्न सजिलो नि थिएन । पहिले त चुनौती आफ्नै टिममा कोही बोलेन दोस्रो गाउमा सबैले भने - हामीन जुम्लाका गरीब मन्ठा के गद्दा हाउ ? म एक्लै भये तैपनी हिमत हरिन। किन भने मैले देखेको थिए बादी पीडितलाई बाड्ने लुगा फलिदिएको अर्थात् बगाइदियेको । एस्बाट स्पस्ट के थियो भने गरीब , बादी पीडित सबैमा आत्मा सम्मान हुन्छ जुन कसैले नि सम्झौता गर्न सक्दैन । पुरनो, दान नै गरेको लुगा भएनी गाउ गाउ पुरौन कम्तिमा पनि ४-१५ दिन लाग्छ अनी यातायातका सबै साधन अर्थात् ट्याक्सी , बस, जहाज, भरिया, गधा सबै प्रयोग हुन्छन कुनै निसुल्क गरिदिन्छु भन्ने भेतिन्न । यि दुबै अवस्थामा पैसा लिनु अर्थात् बेच्नु नै अन्तिम वा राम्रो उपाय हो जहाँ जनताले आत्मा सम्मान पाउछ अनी यातायातको पैसा पनि केही भएनी सहयोग हुन्छ ।   

मैले छलफलमा स्विकर गरे हो तपाईंहरु सँग लुगा किन्ने पैसा छैन तर म सित्तैमा दिन पनि सक्दिन तर मलाई पैसा दिनु पर्दैन । तपाईंहरु सँग जे छ तेही दिनु। दाउरा बेच्नेले दौर, डुंगा फोर्नेले ढुङ्गा जो सित जे छ तेही दिनु। केही सिप नलगे पछी महिलहरुले (एक्सन वोर्क्स नेपाल ले बनाएको मितेरी महिला समुहहरु) हरेक कपड्को रु ५ बाट बेच्न सुरु गरे , हुँदा हुँदा करीब एक बर्षमा कपडा दुई सएमा बेचोको पनि देखे । म खुशीले रोये । दलित गैर दलित महिलाहरु मेलबाट आएर बैठक बसेक, अनी आफु आफुले काम बिभाजन गरेर कपडा बितरन गरेका , हिसाब राखेका, साइज् र रङक लागि आफु आफु मिलेर शन्तिपुर्बक मिलएका । बाटोमा हिद्डा गौउमा जादा आफुले बोकेर लागेका लुगा लगाएक । एक बर्ष एसरी नै बित्यो तर धेरै सिकियो काठमाडौं र गौउ दुबै ठाउमा। 

गाउ गाउमा कपडा पुग्दा कपडा कुचिने, बोरा च्यतिने, बर्खाको बेला कपडा भिजेको, कतै कपडाको साइज् नमिलेको त कतै कपडाको प्रकारनै नमिलेको  आदी म आँफैले देखे । गाउमा भन्दा काठमाडौंमा हामीले चुनौती महसुस गरेउ। कपडा सक्लन गर्नै गाह्रो, धेरै जसो हुन्छ हुन्छ, राम्रो राम्रो भने पनि केहीले मात्र लेउने, लेउनेहरुमा पनि धेरैले हेपेर च्यतिएको, महिनवरिको रगत,सुत्केरिको  तेल,  बर्खको  हिलो आदिसंगै ल्यैदिएको पाइयो। तर हामीले हिम्म्त हरेनाउ ।  गाउ र काठमाडौंका समस्याहरुलाई सम्बोधन गर्ने गरेर मितेरी रेसाईकल सेन्टर आचार् सहिता बनायेउ र प्रयोग गर्न थालेउ ।

आचार् सहिताले भन्छ; हामी सबै सन्जोग्ले भिविन्न जात लिङ क्षेत्र मा जन्मिएको हो कसैले पनि चाहेर रोजेर जन्मेको हैन तेसैले कसैलाई पनि हेप्ने अधिकार छैन तर हामी सबै मानब र नेपाली भएकोले सम्मान गर्ने, माया गर्ने कर्तब्य हुन्छ । अरुले शान्ती ल्याइदिने हैन हामी सबै मिली मिली शान्तिको सस्करको निर्माण गर्नु पर्दछ । जुन कुरालाई बेबहार्मा उतार्न एक्सन वोर्क्स नेपाल ले मितेरी गाउ सँग संगै बाचौ लाई मुल रणनितीको रुपमा स्विकर गरेको छ । एस रणनितीलाई अङिकार गर्दा  रगत र विवाहको सम्बन्ध भन्दा माथि उठेर कुनै पनि जात , लिङ, क्षेत्र, धर्म, धनी गरीब आधी केही नभनी  पर्स्पर  माया र सम्मान गर्नु हो । तेसैले जुन लुगा आफुले लगाउन् सकिन्छ तेही लुगा मात्र मितेरी रेसाईकल सेन्टर लाई दिने हो । मित लाई दिने लुगा च्यतिएको, मैलो, फोहोरी दिनु हुँदैन । हामी सबै शुभ चिन्तकहरुलाई भन्छौ कि हामी सित हामीले सोछे जसती सबै काम सम्पन्न गर्न प्रशस्त साधन स्रोत छैन । खास्मा तत्कल चहिने, लुगा धुने मेशिन, मानब स्रोत र ठाउको अभाब भएकोले कपडा दिने बेला कम्तिमा सफा गरेर दिनुस् । साइज् मिलौने, लेबल गर्ने, इरोन गर्ने, डिजाईन निकल्ने, प्रयोग हुने भये प्रयोग गर्ने नभये झोल लगायेत् अन्य सामाग्री गराउने, बिक्री बितरन हामी गर्छौ ।

चिने जानेका अनुरोध गर्ने, स्कुल कलेज् हरुमा अनुरोध गर्ने , जती सक्दो मित हरु को सन्ख्या बिर्दी गर्दै गर्दै लग्न का लागि सहयोगी साथीहरुलाई यातायात खर्च, रेसाईकल गर्दा आबस्येक् सामाग्री, संचार, काठमाडौं बाट निर्धरित ठाऊमा पुराउन लग्ने जहाज, बस, गधा, भरिया आधी दुवानी खर्छ का लागि हामी पैसा लिन्छौ। पैसा कपडा प्याक गर्दा नै कपडाको गुन्स्तर मिलएर रखिएको हुन्छ जुन सालखल २०० रुपैयाँ पर्न आउछ भने रु १० बाट सुरु भएर रु ४०० सम्मा रखिएको छ। बस्तबमा मितेरी रेसाईकल सेन्टरले  बङलदेशी नोबेल  पुरस्कार बिजेता डाक्तर मोहमद युनुस् ले सुरुवात गरेको सामाजिक बेबसाएका सिदन्तमा आधरित् छ ।जुन सिदन्तमा मिस्र्तित मोडेल अर्थात् एन्जिओ र बेपार्को बिच्मा अर्थात् सामाजिक काममा बेपार्को सिदान्त प्रयोग गर्दछ । हालसम्म हामीले सामाजिक बेब्साएको नाफा कमाउने बाहेक सबै सिदान्त लागु वैएसकेको छ ।एक्सन वोर्क्स नेपाल ले आजको दिनमा महिनामा १००० प्रती कपडा बिविन्न ८ जिल्लामा पठाएको छ भने नाफा भने प्राप्त गर्न अझै धेरै दानी मितहरुको सहयोगको अपेछा गरेको छ ।  गाउमा माग भएजस्तो कपडा पनि पुराउन पनि सकिएको छैन त्यो सक्लन नै कम् भएर हो । काठमाडौं मा कपडा सकलन सोचे जस्तो हुन सकेन, बिदेशमा नेपाली र बिदेशी साथीहरु तयार हुनुहुन्छ तर लेउने सस्तो माध्यम पनि भेटिएको छैन । तेसै गरी काठमाडौं मा भएको कपडलाई जिल्ला जिल्ला पठाउन पनि सस्तो माध्येम् भेतिएन । 

बस्तबमा मितेरी रेसाईकल सेन्टरले मन्कारीहरुलाई मन फुकौने, मित लगौदै आफ्न नेपाली दिदी बहिनिहरुलाई, 5f]/f5f]/Lहरुलाई, आमाबौ हरुलाई सेवा गर्ने अबसर सिर्जन गरेको छ भने गाउ गाउ बस्ती बस्ती हरुमा बिना कुनै बिवेद शान्ले लुगा किनेर लगाउने, मित्को लुगा लगाउदा आत्मियता झन बद्डै जाने सस्किर्तिको बिकास हुन्छ । म् आँफै पनि यो सेन्टरमा आउने लुगा चलन्चल्ती अनुसार किनेर लगाऊछु। मैले लगाउने लुगा प्राय सबै एही सेन्टरको हो।

आजको दुनियाँमा यो सस्किर्तिको धेरै नै महत्व छ साथै बैज्ञानीक पनि। जाडो भएर दाउरा बाल्दा , बातावरण प्रदुशन हुनुको साथै बन बिनाश्मा टेवा पुराउछ जुन बेक्ति समाजको लागि अतिनै हनिकरक हो । अर्कोतिर लुगा जता ततै फाल्दा नराम्रा् पनि हुन्छ . जल्बायु परिवर्तनलाई gs/fTds ?kdf थप् मदत् गर्दछ। येदी हामी सबैले बेलैमा होसियार पूर्वक काम गरेऊभने लौरी पनि नभाचिने सर्प पनि मर्ने हुन्छ तर सबैमा कुरा भन्दा माथि उठेर काम् नै गर्नु पर्द्छ अर्थात् मित्ले लगाउन् मिल्ने , हुने लुगा दान गर्नु पर्दछ । एही बिचार लाई लिएर एकसन वोर्क्स नेपालले अगस्त २०१३ मा युवा दिबस्को अबसर्को दिन्मा मुख्य राजनीतिक kf6Lsf  मुख्ये बेक्तित्व, भुत्पुर्ब प्रधानमन्त्री, एन्जिओ महसङ्को अध्छ्य आधिको अगाडि पेस गरिएको थियो किन्की नेपाललाई शान्ती र सम्ब्रिदी बनाउने १५ वटा प्रोजेक्ट मा यो पनि छानिएको थियो ।

यो लेख लेखिरहदा मितेरी रेसाईकल सेन्टर बेक्ति बाट उठेर सस्थगत रुपमा सुरु भएको पनि चार बर्ष हुँदैछ। पुरना कपडा बेचेर पैसा कमाइ भन्नेहरु हुँदाहुँदै पनि यो फैलिदै छ, हुर्कदै छ, शुभचिन्तकहरु अर्थात् मित हरु बड्दै हुनुहुन्छ । प्रबिधी र सीप भित्रिदै छ । सबै भन्दा खुशी त जब केटाकेटिहरु नयाँ कपडामा रमौछन, खुशी हुन्छन तेतिखेर हामी सबै खुशी हुन्छौ र सबै दु:ख बिर्सन्छौ । अझै खुशी त तेतिखेर लाग्छ जब बर्षउ हेपिएर बसेका महिलाहरु बेपारी महिला भएर लुगा बेच्न थाल्छन् तेतिखेर हामीले आकाश चुम्छौ र उत्सहित हुन्छउ फेरी । आउनुहोस् सबै मिली हासौ खुशी हौ र शान्तिको सस्कार निर्माण गरौ ।

Very poor tying though like to post here 

Younger Generation Can Redefine the identity of Nepal

The nursing is not my choice of education due to ignorance and my family socio-economic background in 1990 at Chitwan. My dad enrolled me in Staff Nurse at Nursing Campus Pokhara because he didn’t want to see me to encounter with men foresters, policemen and struggles with wild animals and of course climbing ups and downs of mountains. I never regret on his choice.

That 3 years nursing course gave me many things in many ways. I got to know more in Nepal. In first and third year, I encountered with many head injuries, fracture and other surgical patients  who were come from the hilly regions such as Lamjung, Tanhun, Kaski, Parbat, Syanja, Baglung etc. I asked myself what about the people from other districts like from Manag, Mustang, Jumla etc. They injured while they were in foddering, firewood and other household chores. Likewise, many patients were came at last minute of their life who were suffered from acute, respiratory tract infections, tuberculosis, chronic asthma and other associated diseases and conditions. Of course, there were other diseases though they represented poor, marginalized communities and areas. I loved to take care of any kinds of bed ridden patients as my parents, because my parents had Tuberculosis, Chronic Asthma and they were very poor with large family. I started to think that I was lucky enough, because I had the health post in 45 minutes walking distance and hospital in 90 minutes walking distance where I survived even from tetanus.

The second year of my staff nurse course was given me more energy in my life which taught to be  proud me as woman by letting me know all anatomy and physiology of reproductive life and its importance in society rather an individual benefit at narrow sense. I always dying to hold the baby first while childbirth and hurry to make first breath or cry. I know why does the first cry is very important for baby externally and internally. Unfortunately, I also observed many life threatening cases including ruptured uterus, hand prolapsed, retained placenta with hanging KUTO, bleeding, neonatal deaths, septicemia etc. I really wondered on how my asthmatic mom gave six births alone on farm. 

I worked in Bharatpur hospital for 7/24 as Anesthetic Assistant nurse for 4 years.  I experienced the same level of disease and conditions like in Pokhara. In addition, I also experienced first time rape case in town. I was shocked and asked myself about my role and keen to away from `comfort zone’ of hospital. But it was not easy because my family background was poor and I had government permanent job along with 25 % extra allowance of anesthetic allowance, 25 % allowance from hospital support committee, extra income from teaching in private medical institutes. More importantly, I was uplifting social status of my family and parents by assisting in treatment of family, relatives, friends and all.

I was determined to work in the community since childhood in order to fight with hunger and gender discrimination as my parents guided but struggling to find the way. Finally, I gave up my powerful and luxury job at Bharatpur and went to Kathmandu for Bachelor in Community Health Nursing. At the meantime, I also continued my Master’s in Health education and felt bit more confident to step beyond the four walls of hospital. Finally, I landed on fire of poverty, discrimination and war in 2001 at Jumla.

The journey was so tough; each day was gift from god and mobility restrictly prohibited. There was no telephone, electricity, roads and no services for basic needs. As a result, many infants and mother were dying in front of me. For instance, a retained placenta case was died due to excessive bleeding where no intravenous fluid, no injection e.g. oxytocin and blood, operation theater and timely referral practice were out of imagination.  That case changed my mind again. I mobilize local people or stakeholders through `Miteri’ approach and finally able to found the blood bank, C-Section and emergency obstetric fund for referral system though there were many depressive and furious moments.

Today, I work independently by founding organization called Action Works Nepal www.actionworksnepal.org in empowerment, human right and peace building through various programs by mobilizing the individuals/private institutions and others through Miteri approach in rural and marginalized areas e.g. Karnali. Because of in rural areas, even today, women and children are dying with same conditions and diseases. We have long way to go, but possible by collective positive mindset of young generations from different walks of life. It is crucially important to change the identity of rural Nepal for redefining the identity of Nepal. Moreover, the birthplace of all us is not by choice, we, none of us have right to discriminate and we, all of us obligate to cultivate the culture of peace by small, simple, spontaneous and sustainable AcTiOnS.

(This article is prepared for BPKIH as asked by bhai Ankit Ghimire)