Nepal Woes: A Kathmandu Experience

Had we known the path of transition into new Nepal would be such woeful, we might have been happy with what we had earlier – that is the common voice in Kathmandu.

Even then, we all are happy to go through all these difficulties of short-supplies, should it mean the coming days would be the one we had dreamt of. But, does not that look a distant star – the hope without much radiance.

***

(c) Nepal Photo Agency

Tarai is closed due to strike! That is not even a news without adding ‘for the ninth day’. There are curfews in four districts – somewhere for hours, somewhere indefinite. There are clashes between security forces and the protesters – headlines today scream ‘one died and 150 hurt’.

***

Kathmandu lives are reeling with short supply.

No petrol!
No diesel!

Kathmandu roads are free with only a few lucky vehicles with petrol running. If walking on the street for a few hours daily means (or hanging on the buses) means health, then for next few months, no one should ever visit the doctor.

(c) Nepal Photo Agency

The vehicles are waiting in queues in front of gas stations – and that is causing problems for the whatsoever traffic remains on the street (since their queue takes up one-third of the narrow roads).

***

No Kerosene!
No cooking gas!

What if the short supplies continue for next week? My mother says we will buy breads and jams – for lunch and dinner. Biscuit is a good alternative, I think!

***

Curfew! Kathmandu should thank the person who first thought of the idea. The government had decided to impose curfew in Birgunj, a Tarai city, so that the supplies can be ferried to Kathmandu from India.

***

And for me, the morning is one for good sleep. The colleges, and schools, have closed down – for they cannot send the school buses to pick the students and for the students suddenly found themselves in middle of the protest beginning from nowhere.

***

If these are things that we need to go through for the transition to new Nepal, let somehow do everything to complete the process.

Photo: Nepal Photo Agency

Share