Nepali Times ePaper
Dear Nepali Times Reader,
Diaspora Diaries began three years ago with the mission of highlighting the human side of the migration of Nepalis abroad, and how it impacts families in different ways.
On International Migrants Day, 18 December we celebrated the journeys of 50 individuals who shared their experiences and stories in the series.
Their stories reflect the desire for a better life, transcending the physical act of moving. Despite lacking educational or language skills, they achieved personal and professional milestones, often breaking self-limiting beliefs. But abuses and challenges persist, revealing the dark side of foreign employment.
While some experienced positive spillover effects that helped them establish successful business when they returned home and give their families better lives, others lamented missed milestones and faced tradeoffs, emphasising the complexity of transnational lives.
This week, we feature two new stories of Prakash Pariyar who returned from Jordan but now wants to go to Europe for the sake of his children, and Sundar Bikram Sangali, who worked as a security guard in the Gulf and now runs a thriving business in Nepal.
You can read all 50 stories in an ebook format here, and also watch snippets of the stories in this video:
Other highlights from this week's issue:
Six years ago, researching Nepal's feminist history led Nisha Rai to Dang to document the Karjahi Movement, a land rights struggle led by Tharu women. The women say they are not feminists, but "existentialists", since they are fighting for their own existence and the existence of their land. These are stories of unsung heroes who fought without seeking fame or recognition.
Burmese of Nepali Descent Flee to Thailand
Chandra Kishore reports from Chiang Mai in northern Thailand about Nepali-speaking Burmese who have fled persecution by the junta as well as Nepali IT workers abused by Chinese organised criminals in call centres in Burma. Meet Johnny Adhikary, a Burmese-Nepali social activist living in Thailand, who helps fellow Nepalis even though he has never been to the land of his ancestors.
Watch the video with footage of the call centres in Burma:
The Cliff in Kushma, known for its popularity on TikTok as a selfie spot, has evolved into an adventure sports destination, attracting visitors from Nepal and abroad for bungee jumping and swing jumps. The brainchild behind this Rs600 million venture is Raju Karki, a Sindhupalchok native and former bungee instructor at The Last Resort. Despite facing initial challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic, The Cliff has become a thriving tourism enterprise, contributing to the town's economy and providing job opportunities.
This and more at nepalitimes.com.
Have a great weekend.
Nepali Times