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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