The founder of the resort, Jitu Gurung, claims that his resort was burnt down because of the rumor that Prachanda has invested in Bar People Report, so it should be burnt down.
Bar People Resort of Pokhara, where you can always hear the laughter, chatter and melodious music of foreign guests, looked different on 24th of August. The flames, the smell of smoke, the sound of vandalism and the cries of tourists fleeing in fear.
A rumor was behind the arson and vandalism of Lakeside's Bur People by protestors in the 'Zen-G' movement - the report has Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal's involvement.
rumors made the mob violent . Three tourist buses, three guest cars were burnt. The bar, spa, lobby, guest room were set arson and vandalized . Cash and alcohol were looted . Tourists were forced to flee to save their lives.
"It was heartbreaking to see the guests running around the resort screaming," said an employee, "We were more concerned about the safety of the guests staying here than our jobs". Fortunately, everyone's lives were saved .'' Jitu Gurung, the founder of
resort, says that his resort was burnt due to the rumor that Prachanda has invested in Bar People Report, so it should be burnt down. This false propaganda was completely baseless. Apart from me and my family, no one has invested even a single rupee,' he says, 'if anyone has proof, I am ready to show it . I am a pure tourism businessman, not a party worker .' The sky of Pokhara was covered with flames. Tourists were horrified. Gurung's heart is still heavy when he remembers that moment, 'The dream we built through three decades of struggle was turned into ashes in a moment.'
His life story itself is a wonderful journey of struggle . Born in Dordi Srimanjyang village of Lamjung, he decided to come to Pokhara about 30 years ago. Goji had a total of one thousand rupees, countless dreams in his mind . He started his job as a hotel cleaner with a monthly salary of 500 rupees. ``At that time, it was a big challenge for me to pay house rent, take care of my stomach, and educate my children . But, I never gave up,' he remembered.
After the job of cleaning, he took up the profession of a guide . He saw the potential of the tourism business up close while making the foreigners walk and travel. This experience pushed him towards hotels and restaurants. However, the journey was not easy.
While going abroad, he encountered all these challenges time and again - fraud from agents, heavy debt, insecurity of Maoist war, shadow of palace massacre, earthquake, blockade and the latest corona epidemic. Sometimes I thought - can it be done now? But the next day, he had the courage to get up again. Perhaps this courage has brought me here,' he says .
Around 2066, he operated the Silver Box Inn. This gave him professional stability for the first time. He reached the stage where he could dream even bigger . That success led him to purchase a desolate-looking piece of land on the slopes of Mani Marg seven years ago .
At that time, many people said - a resort in this place? No one pays attention,' he recalls, 'but, I believed - if good design and good service can be provided, tourists can be attracted.' Thus, Bur People Resort was born .
Bur People Resort was not just a resort. It was the employment base of about 120 people . This resort, which is paying annual tax of two million rupees, was becoming a bright name in the tourism of Pokhara. Gurung said that in the four-star report opened by taking a loan from Siddharth Bank, there was a loss of 3 to 40 million due to arson and vandalism.
For him, it was not just a business loss, it was a wound in the soul . But he is not in favor of giving up . "There has been material damage in the Bar People Report, not in our enthusiasm and determination," he says, "The employees are standing like a family." The customer trust . With good luck . We will wake up even stronger.'
The resort has been operating again since Sunday . Out of 45 rooms damaged during vandalism and arson have been repaired and put into operation. None of the resort's employees have had to leave their jobs . The guest has arrived in the report .
The attack on the People's Resort was not just an attack on a private enterprise. It was a blow to hard work, sweat and dreams. However, Jitu Gurung has made it a symbol of determination and not defeat. "We fell, we got up again with courage." They have demolished the physical structure, not our dreams and enthusiasm,' he says, 'Our journey continues - shaking ashes and dust, standing still like a seven-year-old.'
