Do you understand?

Published15 May 2015

Reading Time 2 mins

Author Stories of Nepal

Location Nepal

"There was no animosity during our times. We were farmers. We were strong communities. We were families. No politics. Do you understand? We did not seek employment. Our earnings were the crops that we grew by our own hands. Do you understand? But now, a different kind of age has taken over. No one is equal and no amount of money is enough to satisfy our greed. Do you understand? In our times, we really didn’t need money. Why would we need such a thing? The only thing we needed to buy was kerosene and salt. Do you understand? There was no buying and selling. You grow and you eat. During winter we ate homemade ghee and potatoes from the fields. Do you understand? We raised animals. All of us. For milk and for fertilizers. And we were strong men. Not like those men of today who have pregnant bellies and boast about strength. They eat bad chicken and drink. Everyone carries some kind of disease. All of these diseases have names. You tell me babu. The thing is we, after all the hard work, walking distance that you won’t believe in, would make it back home before sunset, and before calling it a night, drank the purest of milk. The next morning we felt so light that we could fly. Do you understand? I don’t have any disease. Now money, when will it ever be enough. For a hundred you need a thousand, and then a lakh, and then a crore. And they started faming buildings instead of crops, in this fertile land. They all forgot about nature. We all forgot about nature. Do you understand?" (Dulal Baje, Manthali Bazaar, Sinshupalchowk)_x000D_

_x000D_ _x000D_ -----------------------------------------_x000D_ You can help by donating to the Stories of Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund here. https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/stories-of-nepal-earthquake-relief-fund/_x000D_ _x000D_

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