Kathmandu: The movie 'Gaun Ayeko Bato' took me on a nostalgic journey, recalling the revolutionary song 'Gaun Gaun Bata Utha, Basti Basti Bata Utha…' sung by Jhapalis during the 1970s in their fight against the monarchy. While we have since abolished the monarchy, our villages are now empty, devoid of the once-spirited voices singing this song.
The film also reminded me of the 'Shahid Marg (91 km)', a road built by the Maoists during the People's War when I was actively working there. When I served as the Minister of Physical Planning and Works in 2007, I allocated a budget for this road. The movie depicted how constructing a motorable road adversely affected the Rai culture and economy. This made me concerned about whether the current metalled Shahid Marg has similarly impacted the Magars' way of life.
As a Janjati architect, I understand how indiscriminate development can jeopardize indigenous ways of life, affecting their traditional settlements and livelihoods. I am not opposed to development, but it must be inclusive. During the People's War, efforts were made in Thawang village to integrate development with indigenous lifestyles. For instance, the Magars in Rolpa, who consume pork heavily, were introduced to salads to aid digestion and prevent constipation. They were also encouraged to separate pig breeding from their homes, improving sanitation. The Maoists helped them transition from selling raw hemp to producing rucksacks, which were in high demand during the war.
The movie also highlighted how local breweries are being replaced by Coca-Cola culture, traditional rooftops by synthetic materials, and indigenous underwear by flashy synthetic lingerie. This transformation raises concerns about the erosion of cultural identity.
I have witnessed the neglect of the Karnali region during the monarchy era. On the positive side, the region has flourished as a separate province since the country became a republic and federal. It now has access to basic amenities such as hospitals, universities, and road networks. It is encouraging to see local products like Marshi rice, millet, honey, and Sishnu from Karnali finding markets in Kathmandu malls. However, I worry about the fate of Karnali province if the government does not protect and promote their products in the face of growing consumerism.
Coincidentally, a few days after watching the movie, I attended a photo exhibition launched by Rashtriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) on Republic Day, showcasing major infrastructure development works across the country. The first thing that struck me was the economic viability of these projects, followed by the participation and ownership of the projects by local people, and finally, whether they would benefit the local population. If these factors are not considered, Indian goods may flood our villages due to our extensive open border and India's significantly larger market.
The exhibition reminded me of my 30-day journey from Chiwa Bhanjyang, Ilam district adjoining Sikkim, India, to Jhulaghat, Baitadi district bordering Uttaranchal, India, from January 29 to February 27, 2019, covering 28 districts along Pushpalal Marg, a mid-hill highway. This strategic road, which traverses various Janjati and Khas communities, could have checked migration from hills to the Tarai had it been prioritized over the construction of Mahendra Rajmarg.
During my recent 10-day trip from Ilam to Kanchanpur from June 27 to July 7, 2024, covering 18 districts, I observed almost no economic activities along the highway except for children waiting for school buses to private schools in the mornings and evenings. This reminded me of how remittance money has accelerated the migration from villages to small towns and cities near highways, fostering the growth of private English boarding schools. The movie depicted a similar scenario with a proud father repeatedly hearing his son call him "Papa" in English.
My trip back to Kathmandu was harrowing, witnessing the destruction of roads, houses, and paddy fields due to floods and landslides, killing people and animals and destroying goods. At one point, we were stranded due to a massive landslide blocking the road ahead and flooding behind us. We had to backtrack once the rain stopped. This reminded me of the reforestation and check dams built in Thawang to protect the village from surrounding rivers during the People's War.
Unfortunately, the same Maoist force that has been part of the government for the past nine years has not been effective in implementing sustainable development. Instead, they have been preoccupied with power struggles.
