नयाँ कथाहरू - दोस्रो कथा | Naya Kathaharu - Second Episode | Herne Katha - हेर्ने कथा

Belmati Chaudhary lives alone. Not exactly alone. All the goats, lambs, and hens are her lovely friends. Tinku! Hey, Tinku! The dogs that always play around her house... They are her trustworthy friends. There was a dog. I hadn't cooked food. It kept waiting. "There's no food, go away", I said. Yeah. "Go sleep on the roof." Then the dog started living on the roof. He guards all the goats. What's the name of the dog? Tinku. He was sitting when I looked out. I slept, woke up, and opened the door t

o find it sitting. He is understanding. I raise goats and hens. The hens come here. They don't even let me eat. The hens. I play with them, raise them. I keep all of them under the same roof. (Laughs) The hens too, follow me everywhere I go. Everywhere. Together... -They come with me. These are your friends? They are like my kids. If not for them, I wouldn't live. I talk, laugh, play, and cry with them. I cry when they die. Belmati might sometimes think... These animal friends are better than hu

mans. When I say "sanu", it replies "hahahahaha". It talks to me from there when I look at it. But when I don't look, it doesn't speak. When I cover my face like this. It thinks I am someone else. Belmati speaks the language of these animals. This language only has sweetness in it. It has no hint of deception and bitterness. This is Kalu. This is Syanu. Oh! It was so small, this big. Now, it's bigger than everyone else. And that is? That's Bhune. Bhune! That's Dalli & that's Bairi. It's a cross

from the Bari breed. Syanu, Kalu, and Bhune. On the 8th day, these 3 lambs were born... Their mother had died. Belmati raised them by taking them to sleep with her. Belmati loves these lambs like her own kids. Their mother died. She gave birth to three. All male lambs. The mother died after 8 days. oh no. They drank the milk of 7000 Rupees. Buffalo milk. You bought milk to feed them? They slept on my lap. They would go out to pee or poop. For them, I laid out a Hay mat on my bed. Like small kids

. They wouldn't let me cook. Where would I tie these small ones? I couldn't do anything. Carry them here. -Yes. They would not let me cook rice. Wouldn't let me cook Dhindo. They would keep following me. Immediately got down when they had to pee or poop. They didn't do it in bed? -No. They'd immediately get down. When hungry, they'd keep looking at me and my hands. They'd see what I would feed them. "I am going to sleep." "I will sleep alone." Saying that I would sleep pulling the blanket to my

side. They would quickly come to sleep by my side. Go inside the blanket. Then I would get out quietly and do my chores. When I went up, they'd call me. That small one didn't even let me go to the toilet. I used to go to the toilet there. Again it would start calling for me. "I am in toilet", I'd say. Then it would be quiet. Oh, after knowing you are around. It would go up. And start calling for me. I love him so much, he is my everything. It would not eat fodder. I used to cook bread to feed it

. It didn't have a mother. Now too? -No, but it still aks for bread. It has to eat a small piece of bread. Then, it is satisfied. Other people's goats... When they are untied, they try to escape away from the house. But my goats go inside the house as soon as they're untied. How many goats did you have at first? -One. Its mother? His, his, his... everyone's mother. What was her name? Her name was Lali. Because she was reddish. Do you keep remembering Lali? -Yeah! You see that one with long ears?

She looked like that. Old. Same as that. How did the mother goat die? She gave birth to 3 lambs at once. Had gotten weak. More fodder... I made that mistake. You couldn't feed her? No, because I fed her more than necessary. From 6 AM, she had diarrhea... At 6 PM... She was gone. You must feel sad to sell them. I have cried so much. I left the money on the table for a day and night. "Where did it go?" "Where did my goat go?" I didn't eat rice or water and kept crying. After selling? -Yes, I worr

ied about them. I raised them on my lap. Sell it to get some money. From Kailali Belmati Chaudhary had come to Rajapur in Bardiya after getting married. Karnali River separates her home and maternal home. In my home, my mother & father... And three small brothers. Everything was good at my maternal home. There is no scarcity of anything at my maternal home. Did you get to study? -They didn't send me to school. That's how people of the older generation are. The daughters are educated to be marri

ed. Their earnings will be for their in-laws only. Oy, Oy! I will beat you now. After a few years of marriage, her husband left her to marry another. From whom she had left her maternal home & parents behind... After being betrayed by him, Belmati was lonely. But Belmati didn't sit idle, just crying. She didn't surrender to her tears. She didn't beg for mercy. Belmati chose loneliness. The loneliness that was devoid of tears. She didn't hope for help from anyone else. The loneliness didn't have

people who would make her weak. How many fish got in there? -A few. Will you dry it or cook it fresh? Dry it. I won't eat it now. Do you always fish? I... I do it every day. But someday it is trapped, someday not. Do you also sell these fish? No. I eat and share with relatives. Sometimes, when I have guests... Feed them. Who are your relatives? My sisters. Brothers and their wives. Let's see how many are there. There are many. Is that a snake? -No. It's Baam (eel). What types of fish are in here

? Sedri, Dhira, Baam, Guita. Belmati fought for justice. The 10 Kattha land in her husband's name, she made it hers. She began growing a few kilograms of happiness on that land. What would you know... What I have endured. I have been through so much. He dragged me out of the house at night. I returned saying "It's my house, my barn." I lived in their house and filed a lawsuit. Oh! Early morning, after waking up... I used to serve tea to my in-laws. Living in that house only? -Yes. I lived in tha

t house. Filed a lawsuit and won the case to get this land. Weren't you afraid to live there & fight a case against them? -No. I wasn't afraid. I am happy. Before... My husband or enemy, whatever he should be called... What should I call him? He troubled me so much. I am living alone now. He lives on that side. Near the river. I don't have to see or hear about him. It's peaceful. My life is good. Belmati is earning someone else's land. She likes hard work more than leisure. Is it all yours? -Yes

. Did you earn someone else's or is it yours only? This is my own. -Your own. Is the rice from here enough for you? Yes, only 1 field of rice is enough. For a year. What do you do with others? -I sell them. Oh! Where do you sell it? -Rajapur. While she was disheartened, an organization had gifted her a goat. Because of her care, the no. of goats began increasing. Now, the goats are her source of earnings. They are now your source of earnings. -Yes. I used to feed them my earnings before. Finally

, they started earning for me. How much did they earn for you? It's been 2 years of raising goats. 1 lakh 5 thousand Rupees in 2 years. 4/5 thousand. You earned that much? - From goats. From a single goat. The one that died. Their mother. What will you do with that money? I had a loan to make this house. You built this house on your own? -Yes. It's nice... your house. How many rooms are there? Two but it's not complete yet. One room is yet to be built. You raise hens and goats too. You also farm

. I also do tailoring but only my own clothes. You know that too? -I know everything. I build all this myself when I have materials. Is that so? -Umm. I do everything myself. You built this animal shed yourself? -Yeah. I don't have anyone to help me. Who should I get to have everything done? With her earnings, Belmati has built a nice little house. This house, from where no one can drag her out. This house, where Belmati is free. The biggest earning of Belmati's life... ..is her own freedom and

self-esteem. Where is better for you to live? At your husband's house or here? Here. Why? I won't have to hear anyone's harsh words. I can eat, wear, and do anything I want to. How did you get the courage to live alone? I never think that I am alone. I never think that because I have my people. While starting to work on the farm... I never think or worry about how I am going to do all this. Everything gets done. It will happen. - You will do it. Having kids with you, husband & wife together. But

when you die, you're alone. Right! Do you think you're miserable or happy? I am happy. I am nowhere near miserable. The relatives of my in-laws... That's them. I love them and they love me. My in-laws... My husband... I don't wanna call him my husband. My soul was burning. He caused me so much pain. I have stopped complaining about this. He comes to the village for Dashain-Tihar festivals. I don't go to the village. I don't wanna meet him in this life or 7 other lives. That's how he has hurt me

. If the husband is good... You can call him your husband. But if he is not good, he is a burden. If you carry a burden that is well-managed... You can carry the biggest burden. If it is not managed well & hangs here and there... It's so difficult. That's how husbands are. It's true. That's how they are. In the corn field near Karnali river... She goes early morning to chase away parrots. It's a regular morning routine during corn season. Like a warm morning sun... Happiness is shining in Belmat

i's face. One of her goats gave birth to 2 lambs. Come here, my babies. Lambs... these are my babies. This is my baby. Come here come, baby. You want milk? Are you hungry? My baby is hungry. Oh! My baby is hungry. What are you feeding? Goats catch cold easily. So, I need to feed them with a little mustard oil. Now, it's your brother's turn. You wanna eat? Here.. here. Eat this. You wanna eat your mother's milk. Now, your brother's turn. Yes! Two! Both male. My home is here only. We are neighbors

, we share food and work. What do I do? I didn't cut grass yesterday since I went to town to buy medicine. She said you also look after her animals. Yes, I do. We have no choice but to look out for each other. She lives and works so hard, right? That's how her fate is. She has no choice but to work. For food and clothes. Must cover your body and fill your stomach. She is great. She works like a man. It's been 2 years now. She built this house. She is a woman. No husband, no kids. If it's in your

heart, you can do everything. That's what I tell her. Looks like she is never free. She is never free. Not even for a moment. She might be free of work while sleeping at night, that's it. What did you name them? Name? Maybe I will call them both Lali. Who do I call that... It wants milk. When I have free time, I play with my baby on my lap. I will talk and teach them like this. What will my baby eat? What will you eat? You want milk? She treats them like a human kid. What will you teach them? G

ood things. "Don't run anywhere." "Eat fast." 'Eat fodder and grass." "Sit with your mother only." "Don't go anywhere." Here. That's what you teach them? Do they learn? -They do. Belmati will be busy here all day today. Suratya Tharu's parents died when she was young. Her childhood was spent in strangers' home & their support. When I was young, my parents died. Since young, I looked after children in people's houses. Later, I grew old. I also worked as a slave. People even said... "What can thes

e slaves do?" "These Bukrahi people don't have brains", I have been scolded. Her life was full of struggle. Now she has her own house at Sangharsanagar. She has land, earnings, and a good life. I have a boar and 4 goats. I work on the farm we have in Sangharsanagar. Growing potatoes, sowing and cutting paddy, etc. Did you have land from the beginning? No, we bought it later. Sadhana Chaudhary, when she was young... Fought with her parents to go to school. My parents wouldn't admit me to school.

There used to be a man. He used to teach in school. I used to cook food for him on the stove, every day. Before gas, the stove was in practice. He showed me the school he used to teach in. His name was Sachib. Everyone called him Sachib sir. He was unmarried. He was already old but not married. He registered my name in the school he taught. It was a cow shed. The shed owners used to bring us sacks to lay on the floor. They used to tie their cows in there. They used to shift the cows in the morni

ng. We used to collect sand & mud to fill there. In the spots where cows peed. We used to lay the sack and sit over it. After studying for a year they admitted me. From class 1, I never failed. In SLC I failed 2 subjects; maths and science. Then, I got married. I am here because the teacher registered my name. I studied up to class 10. Sadhana, who studied up to class 10 with difficulty... She takes care of accounts at a financial cooperative organization. Before the organization, we couldn't sa

ve money. While saving money, we can also take out loans from there. Our communication skills are enhanced. And we will have the habit of saving. So we opened the cooperative. Oh! Did it go as you imagined? Yes. Each member might have a savings account in bank now. Now, I can communicate easily. I couldn't even introduce myself before. I can talk now. Introduce yourself, we have not introduced each other. My name is Sadhana Tharu. From Rajapur Municipality-4, Sangharsanagar. I am the Manager of

Sanskriti Women Agricultural Cooperative Limited. To support each other with similar life struggles... The women here formed a group. They started saving. They started a business with their savings. Opened a Cooperative Limited organization. To sustain the organization for the long term... They opened a mill to grind rice and mustard. Since monkeys don't eat turmeric, we began turmeric farming. After that, we felt the need for a mill to grind turmeric. Because it would be easy for us to sell tur

meric powder in market. After the mill got here. The members started saying that they also needed a rice mill. We wrote an appeal letter for the rice mill. Then again, we needed a huller. People mostly raise boars here. We asked for it from agricultural organization but didn't get one. We thought we should invest the money from our organization. An expeller for mustard oil. And a flour mill for wheat. We planned to buy those two. Otherwise, our savings would be spent on paying salary. No income

whatsoever. We bought an expeller with money from our organization. And a Flour mill. Expeller mean oil squeezer? Yes, and flour mill to grind wheat. It's still not enough because when customers come... "Not this, you should buy an automatic one." "Everyone goes to Rajapur with paddy." Do you have to pay the mill fees or not? Equal for everyone, there is no disparity here. "I am a member, I don't need to pay at the mill", nothing as such. Equal for everyone. We are giving salary to the workers &

I am taking a salary too. How will we earn if people don't pay? Not even a penny. The women here don't have to wait a year to have some money. They don't have to depend on their husband for house expenses. Hompati Tharu from Bardiya Rajapur didn't get to study. But now, she can read. She was a Kamaiya (bonded labor) at her master's house. Now, she is running her own business. She used to be afraid to talk to people. Now, she is a ward member. Sometimes when I remember the old days... I feel so

sad. I even cry when I remember about the past. The days were bright like in the present. But still, the 6 years after marriage... ..are the darkest days of her life. She didn't get to study at her maternal home. Her brothers used to go to school. She used to collect fodder, work on farms & herd animals. While herding animals she fell in love with a boy who was doing the same. She married. He used to herd cows and I used to herd cows too. We met each other and eloped together. Fell in love while

herding cows? Yes, I fell in love, and eventually... We eloped to come here together. We worked as slaves. She only found out after marriage... That her husband was doing slavery since young. Her complaints were in vain. She consoled herself by blaming her fate. And became a Bukrahi. What does Bukrahi mean? We had to work as labor. They used to give us 10-12 sacks of rice per year. Both of us had to work to earn that. How did you sustain a whole year with just that? We used to ask for a loan wi

th the master. We would ask for a loan when our rice was finished. Then we would again drown in debt. It would keep adding. The debt would keep adding? It's fine if the master was a good person. Otherwise, they'd not give us a break even when we fell ill. Whether we died or lived... We had to work no matter what. After many protests and struggles... In 2070 Shrawan, the government announced a ban on the Kamaiya System. The Hompati couple... They had no idea of the protests done for their freedom

. About the protest that was going on... And the things that were happening outside, you knew nothing about that? We couldn't go anywhere, how would we know? You had heard nothing about that? -No. Our landlord said himself... "They say you can't live here anymore, you should leave." He said that and we were happy. We finally got freedom from them. I was happy. This happiness was followed by many other happy moments in her life. Now, their earnings could match their hard work. So she worked dilig

ently. You had nothing of your own, right? We didn't have anything before. Only our body. Before, I couldn't speak anything. Couldn't talk back to them & had to agree to anything they said. We had to endure whatever they did. You must have felt a new world, right? -Yes. It was different. At first, I worked in construction sites. Did you know how to do that job? I can do labor work. I had to carry bricks and pass mortar. I knew how to do that. You didn't get to study? -No. Can you read and write

now? I can. -How? That... (Laughs) I took adult education classes. Oh! I wanted to study & asked my husband. He permitted. That's why I went to study. My kids are still studying in school. I have to educate my kids even if I don't get to eat enough. In which grade do they study? One completed secondary level & one is in class 9. Up to which level do you want to educate them? Until they want to study. I have aimed higher education but I'll educate them until they want to study. That's their choic

e. How is your shop earning? The earnings are good. It earns more during the evening. It's busy in the evening? -Yes, in the evenings. So, it's enough for your house expenses? -Yeah. It's enough for house expenses. Hompati Tharu, who was afraid even to talk to people... She has become a ward member by securing the highest votes from the ward. Her husband is in Simla, India for employment. Along with the job in the ward.. She is looking after the shop & her household. Before, I was afraid to even

talk to people. We used to run away if we saw people coming. I used to go inside the house because of timidity. Now, I can talk with everyone. Why did you want to run for the office? My friends encouraged me. I don't know what I felt, it was sudden. I also asked my husband. I told him what people were suggesting & asked what I should do. 'Don't stay back at such opportunity.. compete for the election." My husband said he would support me. That's why I gave my candidacy. It's not something you c

an do alone. Competing in an election for a ward is a big deal. You competed in the election? -Yes. I greeted everyone and asked for a vote. I roamed around asking for votes. Among the members, I was a little below in votes from President. I had the highest number of votes. How much did you spend on the election? How much do I say exactly... Friends were going around all day for me. So I had to feed them. Did the election cause you debt? I don't have much in debt. (Laughs) I also felt like runni

ng for the election. What is your role as a ward member? We have to visit places. Those who don't go send their wives or mothers. We have to assist people around the ward. We have to help people fill up forms. Sometimes, we talk among friends about our struggles in the past. How can we forget the pain we had to bear? We should never forget about our work. How do you feel when you compare those days to now? I feel different now. There's a vast difference. We had to bow our heads in from of them.

Now, we don't have to do that.