'Connecting with my Identity'

by Shristi Adhikari (Nepal)

Making a local connection Nepal

You learn, when you explore, You lost yourself in a wonderland, My heart lies where my home is, so is the beginning of my identity!!! On February 9, 2020 I took a decision, one decision that made me realize, 'Who am I & Where I belong'. Belonging to Army family background and brought up in the capital city of Nepal, Kathmandu, my childhood spent in urban city. Knowing the fact that my origin belongs to Tanahun district, I still prefer to say my home as Kathmandu. Rural life, love of grandma, importance of joint family were something always missing from my busy urban life. My father always used to say, 'We are from Tanahun', but Tanahun was something still called a mysterious for me. Now being travel lover, I chose 'Tanahun' as my next place of travelling. New place, new people, everything new, still deep inside you know, 'They all are of yours'. The time I was standing for a ticket counter, a tall fat man giving a mysterious look asked me a question, 'Are you new to this place?' Well, I should had said, 'Yes', but I prefer to say, 'Maybe my first visit here but my home belongs here'. Being a surprised with my answer, he added a question,' Are you a granddaughter of ex-army Mr. Adhikari?' Proudly, my answer was 'Yes!' Well, he was not the first person, every people around there treated me as a 'foreigner'. In fact, my seat partner in a bus was an old man of around 70 years but still with that energetic looks. While the bus was moving ahead, he helped me knowing about each place ahead. Finally, after long 10 hours of travelling in a bus, here I reached Bayapani Tanahun, my home. Carrying a black big bag, walking in an unpitched stony road, everybody around me was giving a surprising looks. And, there was my sister waiting for my arrival. I don't know who were all they and what I was supposed to say but just followed my sister's path and reached my Home where I met my grandma, finally! A small home of red mud, little calves around playing with each other, a small land full of cultivation of varieties of crops and there sits my grandma in an old 'dhoti & choli', the same worn by my sister as well, but were totally new to me. The next day, I asked the same 'dhoti &choli' of my sister and worn it, looking myself at mirror, 'how different I look in a new custom'. New culture, new dress and there I danced, everybody around appreciating my effort. Having keen interest in studying, I had a visit to the school of my village as well. All students started calling me as a 'Teacher' and I loved teaching them. The one question that touched me deeply was, 'Are you going to teach us everyday', but sadly 'No' was my answer. The enthusiasm they had, I wished if we could bring some infrastructure over here, how bright these students will be... Marriage, important culture of Hindus, one of such culture, I attained first time in my village. Village marriage ceremony, dance, laughs, talks, everything new and I was completely enjoying each moment. The love of the villagers around, the red mud houses, the 'dhoti-choli' dress the innocent faces of those students, those smiles, all greenery around, 'Oh God! Where was I from so long!! My village, my home, my identity, yes so far this is the beautiful travelling story I had. And, yes this story is sure gonna be repeat again......