Kathmandu

Four months and a few days is enough to forget that dreaded date, or is it? Time has an uncanny way of altering our memory... The fear that April 25 caused is gradually being forgotten, but the destruction that the natural disaster brought along is still bare, mocking everyone. Who do we blame this time? If no one comes to help, do we sit and wait — as always?

One of the biggest life lessons is — help yourself, everyone or someone will lend a hand. Sounds preachy? You will get your answer if you only step into Thamel Gaa Hiti.

The stench from the gutter is almost tangible, the cause being the rubble filled water spout. But then you see people bathing, washing clothes at the water spout, or what is left of it. Then you see an unusual crowd among them — and it’s quite a huge one — clearing the debris, cleaning the gutter water, breaking pillars into pieces to remove those ...

No, they have not been sent by anyone. They are all lending a helping hand to rebuild the water spout — dhungedhara — established since the Lichchhavi period. Many from Chettrapati, Samakushi among other localities depend on it for drinking water and domestic chores.

The initiation

Every day the local residents gather at the spot and carry on with the cleaning from 7:00- 9:00 am, while on Saturdays people from other places come to help as volunteers. Usually there are 100 people, but on August 29 and September 5, the footfall was limited to 50 due to festivities.

There were times when people were ignorant though. During the quake rescue mission there were many spectators “who took videos, I scolded them and asked them to help instead. People do need some kind of a push and leadership, or else it won’t be possible”.

Time heals, but it also brings about changes. After the quake, there is more awareness among people. As per Husain, “People have a better perspective”. Now people from different backgrounds, localities and ages put their hands in the sewage without any inhibition.

Mustafa Ali Khan is the youngest volunteer here. “I help whenever possible, usually it’s once a week,” said this shy 15-year-old. Why did he start helping? “I wanted to help, so I came,” is a straight simple answer.

Husain informs that it is not easy for females to come out in the Muslim community, but there are many who are helping here and “it is nice seeing that”. Rokaiya Banu, a 23-year-old teacher is one example. “We are from this area and were brought up here. Seeing the dhugedhara is such a condition I had to come and help.”

She comes to help every Saturday and it’s been three weeks. But there are those who are not allowed. “There are such people, but those who are allowed are here and helping.”

Another young man from the locality is Prazen Malakar, a 23-year-old student. How did he start helping? He doesn’t try to frame flowery words rather said it earnestly, “Helping was natural. I was brought up here and seeing this is such a state, it is natural to feel bad. I was shocked to see the destruction in the beginning but after helping, it has eased.”

Suman Prasad Gautam, on the other hand, does not live in this area. He hails from Nardevi, near Hanuman Dhoka, but this 21-year-old, Bachelors IIIrd Year student who is also a Scout teacher read about the rebuilding initiation on Facebook. That is all that took for him to turn up to help. “I always help where volunteers are required, so I come here every Saturday.” He walks 20 minutes to this place, but isn’t early morning a hassle? “People go for morning walks, the elderly go to temples and being young, this is the least we can do. People are doing so much day and night, we are only giving our strength.”

His gloves were covered in sewage and the stench was reeking. It was impossible not to ask — do you get disgusted? “I have been involved in the Bagmati and Bishnumati cleaning, so this is nothing. Those who work with sewage, it is not difficult for them, so we are like them. It shouldn’t be difficult for us either.”

Suddenly the stench is overpowered by a priceless scene, something this country needs ‘now’ — no gender, race, caste... all that is left is togetherness, smiling faces, laughter, pulling each other’s leg while cleaning.