“How can we bring peace to Nepal?” | Pushkar's Diary

If you are anywhere near the Artic circle in the middle of July, you will not see the sun set until midnight. I was a bit late when I arrived in Norway, the land of the midnight sun. It was August already.

I cycled across Norway from Stavanger to Oslo. There were pine forests, mountains, waterfalls, glassy lakes, and quaint little villages that reminded me of my home in Nepal. There were sheep that grazed in the rolling green hills, bleating and ringing the bells tied around their necks. I didn't want to move. Nature is so healing, a few minutes of sleep there and I wokeup reinvigorated.

Norway is a beautiful country with beautiful people. I met Ole and Merethee, Thomas and Kaya, Svein and Tove who made my journey special. Tove took me trekking to Kjerag, the most breathtaking mountain in the country.

Ole invited me to his school, which is the biggest in Norway, where I shared my story. I couldn't help feeling nostalgic. You see, I went to school barefoot until grade seven and we had to trudge through tiring trails. When I saw that every child in Ole's school had a computer, all I could think of was that children in my village school still didn't know what a computer looked like.

Merethe invited me to a family party at her mom's summer house. It was raining when I cycled over. They were waiting on the road for me even though I was late. One sulky little child, who was tired of waiting came up and said, "You are a famous cyclist but you're not a very good person."

Svein Fanebust gave me enough money to travel in Norway. I met another cyclist, Geir, who had travelled from Stavanger to Oslo too. There were many Nepalis who helped me—Shushil, Hari, Manohar, Baikuntha, Bishal, Narendra, and Bharat. A group of Nepali children put up a cultural program for me and I was touched as they still remembered where they came from.

Norway is a peaceful country, the way Nepal used to be. I was shocked when I received news that the Royal Nepali Army had broken into my house in Dolakha in the name of investigation. Here I was carrying pictures of Buddha's eyes from the land of Mt Everest, trying to promote peace in the world. My country's flag whipped in the wind as I pedalled; it has been my constant friend. But I felt so insecure. The country's army came to my house, broke down the door and riffled through everything they say.

I pedalled harder thinking, "Banduk ko chheu ma manchhe le traas haina surakshya ko aabhash paunu parchha. The gun must protect the people, not terrorise them. How can we bring peace to Nepal?"

Peace,
Pushkar Shah in Norway