”Nobody listens to our voice except Bhirpakha”

It is not so sad because there has been no hail since 10/15 years. Earlier, after the corn grew, hail would blow everything away

जेष्ठ २, २०८२

रत्नबहादुर चेपाङ 

”Nobody listens to our voice except Bhirpakha”

He lives in Kanda Mizar village of Rapti Municipality-13. This place is the head of Chitwan. Our ancestors were born, raised and died here. Parents passed away. He has two daughters and five sons. Daughters are married. The eldest son got married last January. It has now become a municipality through Lothar Panchayat and Gavis.

The municipality has been built, but electricity has not reached our village yet. There are scattered houses on the steep land. You have to go downhill for two hours to reach Kalitar. Bhir only listens to the robbers. There is no one else to hear our voice . 

Now I am 61 years old . There is 32 ropani land in the village . What is the meaning of the land in Bhir ? There is no irrigation, corn and millet will be planted after soaking with rainwater. I add a little dal, gedaguri and pindalu . After suffering, it will grow well in turn. If you don't eat rice, you won't have a problem to get rid of it. Somehow, if there is hail, there will be famine . And you have to eat it. I don't feel that sad because it hasn't hailed for 10/15 years. Earlier, when the corn grew, it was damaged by hail. If it was sown again, the corn would not grow and the problem would be that it would not bear grain due to the fall rain. Hail also destroys goat grass . 

When it hails, we used to get up . Now the hail has stopped . Even if you eat homemade flour, you have to buy salt, chili, and oil spices. Clothes, shoes and sandals also had to be added. There is no custom of keeping account. Goats should be sold. Two to more than 10/12 goats are sold in a year . I understand from five to 15 thousand rupees at the most. This will cover the household expenses. Whenever I want to eat meat, I keep at least a month's supply and bring it.

It's during Dashain and a lot of meat is needed. Sometimes we eat our own chickens. Ishtamitra comes because the children are married. They had to be welcomed. When a guest comes, it is said to eat sweets . Otherwise, there is nothing like other desires and big expenses. Last August, one of the cows in the barn died. Since there is no money, I have not been able to buy a bull.

The eldest son was married by taking a loan . Now the loan has reached one lakh rupees. Eldest son Mission passed class 12 . In the beginning, he studied in a dormitory in the village. Lakshmi Pratishthan runs a free hostel . After passing class 7, he went to Kavre and studied till class 12. He was also taught there by Lakshmi Pratishthan.

The eldest son Mission is now in charge of the village dormitory. His job has made it easy to manage household expenses. Daughters did not study more than fifth grade . Our ability to teach far away is not enough . This time Milo's son is giving his 12th class exam . Sylo 11 and Kylo are in 10th grade. 

After finishing eating, we had to go to the forest and collect the greens of githa, vakur and sisno . Still searching. When there was a lack of food, a big incident happened in our village in May 15 years ago . There were nine people in the family of our neighbor Baburam Chepang, including a nine-month-old baby. One day they brought mushrooms from the forest and ate them.

is about May 2067. Everyone ate the mushroom except for that little nine-month-old baby. All those who ate mushrooms got sick . Balkrishna Thapalia, the headmaster of our school, carried the sick people on his back to Bharatpur and one person to Kathmandu. But eight people who ate mushrooms died. After the news was published, Lakshmi Pratishthan came to the village.

Mrs. Dhanmaya and I have a lot in common. We advise the elders on how to raise expenses, where and with whom to deal with. We also advise on how to pay when due, which goats to sell, and how much to get. There is no such great sorrow-sickness . If we are hungry, we will eat buti in the village . Now the municipality has also opened a clinic. You can get medicine there for free, you don't have to pay money to buy it . I keep praying for no complications . 

Presentation: Ramesh Kumar Paudel

रत्नबहादुर चेपाङ 

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