Kathmandu:

A special screening of the movie Chesung (gift) based on the Limbuwan society in Eastern Nepal was organised for the Press on January 25 at the Nepal Tourism Board, Bhrikuti Mandap, by Limbuan women group, Mangena Chumlung, Sunsari.

The film, directed by Mausam Imbung, sought to highlight the consequence of the scrapping of Kipot system (land revenue system) by the panchayat government in 2021 BS under the Land Reform Act. The system, which allowed the society autonomy over their land by paying certain tax to the government, was scrapped against what they say was settled for them by Prithivi Narayan Shah.

The 90-minute film charts a well off family’s downward journey to finally leaving the village, due to loss of ownership over the land to others, debts spiraling out of control, and mainly because the intolerant authorities are after them. The movie shows the economical and social impact the scrapping of Kipot system had on the villagers, despite local resistance.

“We have tried to highlight the problems and how some people even had to go out due to scrapping of the Kipot system. There was resistance as well which we have tried to capture,” said Bhisma Chemjong, the movie’s production designer and a member of the cast. The movie, which also tries to show the village culture and local occupations, will soon be out for the public.