At fairs and festivals, women used to say that they should vote in elections, that voting was a religious act, like giving alms. At that time, the head of the house, the husband, would decide who to vote for. We would vote for whoever he said, ”Give it to.”
चुनाव एक नेताको जित–हारको विवरण मात्रै होइन
What you should know
– Durgadevi Bogati (93 years old) Khalanga, Dadeldhura
Times were different back then. I got married at the age of 11. Our ancestral home is Khalanga, the headquarters of Dadeldhura. My mother’s house is in Doti Solpari village near Khalanga. I was born in 1989 – I don’t remember the month, date or time.
I remember the first election in 2015 well. Our family had a hotel business in Dadeldhura Bazaar at that time. There were a lot of guests coming to the house and customers at the hotel. I voted as the elders of the family told me. But which party? Who was the candidate? Who won or lost? I don’t remember anything about that. They used to come to ask for votes, we would talk to the men of the house more than the women and return. There was a lot of excitement in Dadeldhura for a few months during the elections.
When the first elections were held, we were illiterate, so we did not understand what elections were. At fairs and fairs, women were told that they should vote in elections, that voting was called voting, that voting was a religious act like giving alms. There were no schools like there are now. Even though men went to study far and wide, we women were mostly illiterate. I remember wearing a lapel when we collected our ballots during the elections.
My husband, Bir Bahadur Bogati, and I were about 10 years apart in age. He passed away in 2058. We had a large family. My husband's 4 brothers and 2 sisters have all passed away. My family has 2 brothers and 4 sisters. 2 sisters and 1 brother are still alive. I have 3 sons and 2 daughters. The eldest son has passed away. My youngest and 1 other son are at home. When their children, 5 great-grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren, including our family's children, gather for the festival, the house and courtyard fill up. It is heartwarming to see everyone engaged in their respective work and studies.
After that first election in 2015, there was no election for a long time. A few years later, we also came down from the hills to Kanchanpur in the Terai. It must have been around 2020/22, when the heat started to come to the Terai in winter, it was customary to return to the hills in Falgun. After the fairs were over along with Dashain-Tihar, people would reach the Terai. At that time, people would travel between the hills and the Terai on foot. Gradually, we settled here in Kanchanpur.
My husband and his brothers and relatives all started living here for twelve months. At that time, land was cheap, we bought some public land and started farming. When my youngest son was 3/4 years old, we moved to the Terai. At that time, there was forest everywhere in the Terai, there were no roads, no electricity. Wherever we had to go, we had to walk and go by camel cart. But, everything was cheaper than in the mountains.
The place we live is in Ultakham, ward number 2 of Bhimdatta Municipality, near the Kanchanpur district headquarters. After moving to Kanchanpur from Dadeldhura, I have always voted in all elections. At that time, Panchayat elections were held for many years. There were no big elections like now. There were elections for ward members, presidents, vice-presidents and presidents. We would get ready in the morning to reach the polling station because it would be crowded in the afternoon. At that time, there was an arrangement to walk to the polling station near the village and stand in line, and one woman and one man would go to vote in turn.
At that time, the head of the house would say, "Give it to whomever you want," and we would vote for that person. Relatives from our Bogati family also became ward and Pradhan Panch candidates. After the votes were counted, it was very fun to come home after winning the election. Even though we women were illiterate, our brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law were very aware of politics.
In the post-panchayat elections, the number of voters has started to increase compared to before. There was an arrangement to go to the village school to vote closer to home. In recent years, the lines for women and men have been arranged separately. Voter ID cards were also made by our sons and grandsons. I used to go to vote with my sons and grandsons on a motorcycle. It is fun to remember all the past elections. When elections start, the villages that used to be deserted become very lively. Where is it like before? You don't have to walk to ask for votes. Now, they come in cars and motorcycles waving party flags. They keep going from morning to late evening, playing songs on their microphones.
In the past, there were very few women candidates in elections. Now, the number of women has also increased every year. Where is it like before! After the advent of multi-party politics, elections themselves have become different. The men who come to ask for votes were very smart, now women also understand politics a lot. They talk a lot of good things. Everyone talks about development. Development has also taken place. Everywhere you look - roads, schools and health institutions have been built. Moreover, I have a mobile phone in my hand. Even though I don't know how to use it myself, my grandchildren can talk on the phone. What a wonderful time it seems when I remember the old days.
I feel satisfied that I have lived to such a long age and have seen so many things. I feel like voting in the elections. I can't see my eyes well now. My son got a scar in the previous election too. I can't walk, my legs hurt. Let's see if I can't go to vote this time. However, since voting is like giving a donation, I feel like I have to go to the polling station even if it is the last time.
(Based on a conversation with Chitrang Thapa in Kanchanpur Mahendranagar)
