KATHMANDU: Tara Khadka of  Rukum, who had once dared to try to smash the statue of King Mahendra placed in front of the Narayanhiti Palace during the 1990 people's movement,  is seen on the streets of Parbat and other nearby districts asking for charity.

Khadka was  in his 20's when the movement was taking its height.

Eight protesters collapsed due to the firing from the security personnel, but he was  lucky to be alive with three bullets in his right leg.

However,  he was subjected to cruel and harsh punishment by then authority.

As a result, he spent two years in a US-based hospital in course of treatment. However, Khadka returned home with minor improvements.

Later, the state paid Rs 5 million for his treatment. He had also sold his house in the Capital. "See what a wretched life I am living as I am even unable to afford the cost of medicines I need to take regularly," he shared his grief with tear-filled eyes.

He had sold all his property and ultimately ended begging on  the street.

Khadka, who is alone after the death of his spouse, is living with the support of an artificial leg, but not in a position to carry out any physical labour. So he is forced to make a living begging on the street.

He had perhaps never imagined that his boldness that time would ultimately bring him to this pathetic situation.

Though the country witnessed an epochal political change in this period and such change was applauded at home and abroad, he said his identity as just 'people's movement victim' has never changed.

Accusing the state and the governments formed after the success of the people's movement of failing to recognise the contributions of the 'heroes' of people's movement that had established constitutional monarchy, he shared that he was eventually forced to survive on begging.