Dailekh Speaks | Young Ideas

Situated at an altitude of 3103 metres, just at the gate of the Far Western Region, Dailekh is beautiful, but something like the grapes on the vine that the fox couldn't reach.

In spite of the remoteness and contracted, rather humble infrastructure, Dailekh is a district with life and its people's indefatigable spirit.

Walking around Dailekh bajar I watched the mayhem intently. Small feet racing after a truck, boys gathered around a bike guffawing at some joke, girls walking arm in arm with their hair plaited to the side and older gangs huddled together in chiya pasals, there I realised how similar different parts of Nepal really are. But in all the sameness, there is something significantly different about the people in Dailekh and their thoughts. As I listened to a group of teenagers channel their views on life, I was taken aback by how much they had to say and how responsible these youngsters felt as Nepali citizens.
Here is an excerpt:

Participants:
Kabita KC, 16
Raj Kumar Rawal, 19
Prava Chaulagain, 20
Binod Thapa, 20
Dambar Khadka, 19

ALL IMAGES: AKANCHHA KARKI

Binod
What is the best thing about living in Dailekh?
Raj Kumar: We wake up to see the mist settling on the hilltops, fresh air and there is hardly any unwanted noise. The kind of privilege people all over the world would kill for.
Binod: Sometimes if you stay up real late you get to see the moon coming up and the stars seem to be at arm's reach, I can bet it's one of the best experiences one can have.
Kabita: I hear people in Kathmandu spend a fortune on staying fit. Here, we exercise at no cost. We walk a lot and it's one aspect of the Dailekhi life that I personally love (laughs).

Dambar
What changes that have occurred in the past few years are you most grateful for?
Dambar: Peace. The insurgency had families and lives broken to pieces. Something I am sure of is that every Dailekhi is thankful for the harmony that lives through the district today.
Kabita: Television. And especially the cable network.
Binod: Electricity in general. Getting to charge our mobile phones on a timely basis is quite a treat (laughs).
Prava: Remember how there used to be no road up to Dailekh from Surkhet? It might be the worst ride of your life, but it's great to not have to leg it up to this place.

What kind of things do you get up to with friends?
Binod: I round up the guys and play volleyball.
Dambar: We just sit around at a nearby chiya pasal and make a lot of noise.
Kabita: In winter, we gather around a campfire in the evenings and share stories or sing songs.
Raj Kumar: We have this huge ground that we call Tundikhel in the middle of the bajar. On holidays you'll find us playing football till really late.

Raj Kumar
What change would you like to see in Dailekh?
Kabita: It would be nice if the circulation of any daily newspaper would reach Dailekh because everybody can't afford a television and radio starts to get boring.
Dambar: Better access to Internet. Not for any fancy purpose, people say it's much cheaper to stay in touch through the Internet than to make phone calls.
Binod: This district might be one of the few that have undergone a rapid increase in literacy rate, most people send their kids to school. But corporal punishment and boring teaching styles scare kids away from school. I'd like to see a change in that.
Prava: People are good here. Considering how much Dailekh has grown in the past decade, we can say that we are progressive. But still one part of the population needs an attitude makeover. I specifically mean those that drink and get up to no good.

Prava
How do you see Kathmandu? Have you ever wanted to or thought of settling there?
Kabita: At this point in time, there is little that Dailekh doesn't have. So I think I'll stay put and finish my studies here.
Raj Kumar: I agree, I go with the saying afno thau ko bikas afai le garnu parcha, and to live up to that, I know I have to stay. Time and a little bit of patience will get us everything.
Binod: Well, I'm quite a dreamer so yes, I do want to try my luck in Kathmandu. If not to settle there, I want to go on a long visit.

What about discrimination against girls? How has that changed?
Prava: It's not as bad as before. We're starting to become less tolerant with discrimination against women. Otherwise I wouldn't be here talking to you.
Kabita: I went to school at the right age, I'm soon going to graduate from high school. We moved to the bajar so I could study and my parents want me to go college. That in itself shows how much aware we've become.

kabita
You must have dreams and aspirations of your own; would you like to share some of them?
Dambar: I want to major in English and teach right here in Dailekh.
Kabita: I always wanted to become a staff nurse but I don't think my family can afford it. But that has only opened my eyes to other possibilities. I've decided that I want to clear my studies and get into some social work and make a difference.
Raj Kumar: I'm going to do something for my parents. They've been through rough times raising me, so maybe I'll buy a proper house in the bajar, and cattle and goats when I start earning.