Kathmandu Through My Eyes
Kathmandu through My Eyes
As I look outside from my window seat of the
Kabhre-Kathamndu Nagar Bus, I see pavements of Jadibuti crowded with people
dashing each other who wouldn’t hold on for a second to reach their
destinations. There are some, like me, on the flyover not too far from the
office of Herb Production and Processing Company, staring downwards and
wondering where these people might disappear during the festivals or in times
of pandemic like Covid-19. As usual I look at the digital display of time,
temperature and Air Quality Index (AQI) of the major cities of the country
placed in front of the office. The AQI today reads slightly over 300 and
I try to visualize more than10,000 lives lost to the poisoned air in Kathmandu
alone and wonder why so many people accumulate here leaving everything
behind.
I then ask myself the same question: why was I here,
living a much more compromised life than what I could back in my hometown,
Ilam. I then try to relate my circumstances with these bunch of individuals who
are somehow convinced to pay the price for opportunities here at
Kathmandu. The price includes the air having nearly twice the level of safe PM
2.5, hiked living expenses and a much reduced standard of living. Often the
things as basic as drinking water and washing become a luxury for the
struggling class and yet we are free but chained everywhere to accept this
lifestyle due to our obligations.
Despite being connected to the mainstream highway network
as early as 1980s, Ilam, yet fails to have a residential doctor in its
hospitals capable enough of performing a suture on a simple wound. It feels
like yesterday, I travelled almost 90 kilometers with my baby sister for her
treatment in Jhapa, a year ago when she was injured while playing. You could imagine
what might be the condition of health services in relatively rural areas of the
country that are yet to be connected to the mainstream highways. Kathmandu, on
the other hand at least ensures you have access to health services if you can
pay for it. The capital city boasts a wide range of career options for higher
education but doesn’t have a job market enough to absorb the graduates. Lucky
are you if you’ve got a job and luckier if you have got the pay you deserve
here. If it were not for higher education, jobs and health service, Kathmandu
would retain millions of people leaving the valley for their homes at difficult
periods such as during the lockdown and post-earthquake.
The number of people leaving Kathmandu for foreign
countries is not less either. Every day, thousands of Nepalese are leaving
Kathmandu for a better future via the Tribhuwan International Airport. Through
my eyes, Kathmandu is like a port for people, where millions come to load and
leave when they are full. We, as general people are happy to use this port and
the authority is not sad either to see its people using this port to later send
in remittance that sustains the nation’s economy. The trend seems to continue
unless the nation is decentralized and stable enough to ensure alluring job
opportunities for each individual abroad.
Like some of the villages of Nepal, that have now ceased
to exist with every youth and their families abroad, I fear Kathmandu might see
the same fate someday. It would not be an exaggeration to say that entire Nepal
would be deserted if Kathmandu met with this fate. History has seen many ports
around the world winding down with the wind of change. Perhaps, immigration
might be that wind of change for the port of Kathmandu. Have we been pessimists
to the extent that we cannot think of a happy life in Nepal anymore? Or are we
so fed up with the governance and the system here that we feel like never
returning? Whatever the answers to these questions might be, one thing is for
sure–the feeling of nationalism is evaporating among us. And why wouldn’t it?
After all, mere nationalism isn’t going to ensure our ends are met at
home.
The vaporizing nationalism is depicted not only by the
people leaving the country but also by the ones who are currently residing. The
majority of those who remain here, are the struggling middle class, who do not
seem to care if it’s the communists or the democrats that have been hollowing
out the nation. This mass is busy meeting their needs and is ready to join the
immigrating population. They are just waiting for a ‘good’ opportunity. The
feeling of nationalism is the foundation for any nation’s identity and existence.
We are patriotic, there’s no doubt about that, but our patriotism isn’t just enough
to stimulate a change. We are okay if not happy to let things remain the way
they are in the country. Amidst all these, have we forsaken our identity
as a Nepalese citizen? It’s high time that we ask ourselves the question, ‘Will
the Nepalese remain if Nepal won’t exist?’
How’s second lockdown going for you guys there? Well, I’m
lazy as you can all see. I hope you’ll take care of yourselves and stay safe
until things will get better soon. Live, love, laugh and enjoy <3 Good
day everyone!
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