“My mother died when I was nine months so there was no one to look after me. I was severely malnourished – just skin and bones. My father had seen four of his brother’s children die in quick succession so he had given up on me. He didn’t think I’d live to be two. Out of pity, a distant aunt took care of me. When I didn’t die and turned five, my father regained hope that I would live. By then I had put on some weight. As they tell me, the villagers had suggested my father to marry again but my father had refused and told them that he would spend the rest of his days taking care of me. And here I am today at the age of fifty-five, telling you my story.”

What makes you happy today?

“After a hard days work, I and my family – my wife, three sons and two daughters sit in the floor and have our dinner together with good heart. And over dinner we share the joys and struggles of the day. Most of the times we laugh and we enjoy our food – good or bad, small or big in portion.”

– Hari Prasad Baral, Pumdi Bhumdi 4, Kaski