KATHMANDU, Jan 24: "Number 18, Iman Singh, come here!" Iman Singh saluted with a firm chest and stomped his feet on the ground. The examiner struck his chest and said, "Your height doesn’t meet the requirement. You’re out!"
Those words landed on Iman Singh like bullets, overwhelming him with an unexpected shock. He staggered and collapsed to the ground. At that moment, it wasn’t just his body that fell; his mind and soul crumbled as well. All the dreams he had woven with hope shattered.
Looking back now, that moment marked the collapse of his entire life.
This is the story of Iman Singh Gurung, a 54-year-old from Hiltetaksar Majhgaun, Dordi Municipality-9, Lamjung. The incident occurred when he was just 18 years old, in the bloom of youth.
Following that event, Iman Singh’s life took a tragic turn. His life was never to see light again. Dreams, hope, and happiness, the three things that add purpose to life, were never to greet his way. He spent 32 years of his life enduring severe hardships, made to live like an animal.
Iman Singh ploughed through a life that was neither free nor humane. For 32 years, he remained tied to the pillar of his own house with a rope. He never saw the open sky or interacted with people. He endured a hellish life in a dark, barn-like room.
His only companions were pigeons, dogs, and flies. With them, Iman Singh shared meals and water from the same plate, satisfying his hunger and sharing his pain. Throughout the day, he watched the pigeons build nests, raise their squabs, and fly. But, bound by the rope, Iman Singh’s dream to be free was grounded.
Even those sentenced to life imprisonment gain freedom after 20 years. But Iman Singh spent 32 years confined to his home without committing any crime.
Bright childhood and Lahure dream
Iman Singh was born in 2027 BS as the youngest son of Bir Subba Gurung and Gomaya Gurung. From a young age, he developed a keen interest in sports. He always looked forward to participating in sports competitions during village fairs and festivals. On event days, he made it a routine to warm up by running early in the morning.
Iman Singh's nephew, Krishna Gurung, often joined him in these activities. "Iman Singh is my uncle, and we are the same age. His father and my grandfather are brothers," Krishna reminisces about their childhood. "We used to go to school together, play football and volleyball, and enjoy the fairs and festivals."
Iman Singh showed extraordinary skills in sports, particularly in high jump and long jump, earning the title of the best athlete in his village. Impressed by his agility, the villagers often said, "He will become a Lahure (soldier)." This remark inspired him to dream of becoming a Lahure one day.
At 18, Iman Singh was studying in grade 8. One day, while he was at home, a relative visited and advised, "What will you achieve by staying at home, Iman? You should join the army to earn money." Since the relative was also planning to go, he asked, "Do you want to join too?" For Iman Singh, that moment felt like "finding a treasure while searching for stones."
Inspired by the idea of joining the army, Iman Singh began dreaming of becoming a Lahure and providing a comfortable life for his parents. At that time, his family had already started discussing his marriage, but Iman Singh was determined to fulfill his dream of becoming a Lahure before marrying. He imagined becoming a Lahure, supporting his parents, marrying, and having children to secure a bright future for them.
Without informing anyone at home, Iman Singh left with his relative, braving forests and hilltops, and heading towards India, after crossing the country's border.
Iman Singh reached India and participated in the initial training. The selection day arrived. Confident of his physical fitness, sports, and running skills, Iman Singh was sure of being selected. As he stood there, dreams of a bright future, much like those of other young Nepali men, kept orchestrating in his mind.
But then, the examiner delivered a crushing blow: "Your height doesn’t meet the requirement. You’re out!"
The word ‘out’ struck Iman Singh like a bullet, and he collapsed, becoming unconscious. When he gained consciousness, he found himself in a vehicle, but the word ‘out’ kept ringing in his mind with its macabre implications. Overcome with despair, he attempted to take his own life by jumping out of the moving vehicle. The driver stopped him and took him back home.
On the one hand, when his dream shattered, Iman Singh couldn’t handle himself. On the other hand, he was further stunned when he learned that his mother had fallen ill the moment he left home without informing anyone. After he returned home, his sick mother immediately got up upon seeing him. However, Iman Singh, with his dream of becoming a Lahure shattered, struggled mentally and could not recover.
After his return, his family tried to arrange a marriage for him. However, the girl he loved had already married someone else, further worsening his distress.
Iman Singh's mental state deteriorated further. He began to hurt himself. Sometimes he tried to drown himself in the river, and at other times, he attempted to strangle himself. A boatman saved him when he jumped into the river, and when he tried to strangle himself, a passerby cutting grass stopped him.
One day, Iman Singh, Krishna, and his younger brother Karan went to graze the cattle near a straw field on the outskirts of the village. "That day, he sat in a corner of the jungle and signaled my younger brother to come over," Krishna recalls about the incident. "At that moment, his behavior changed. His words became strange." Krishna had to leave for some work elsewhere. "We found out only during dinner. We had to carry Iman uncle home. From that day, we realized his mental state had severely deteriorated," Krishna recalls.
The family consulted a shaman and a priest, but nothing worked. Eventually, they took him to Kathmandu, where his younger and maternal uncles admitted him to a mental hospital. After two months of regular medication, his condition began to improve.
Iman Singh returned to the village and, after a short time, resumed his old routine. Krishna recalls that he started enjoying playing with his friends again. During this period, Iman Singh captained a village football team and led them to victory.
However, Iman Singh needed regular medication. He traveled to Kathmandu on his own to get his medicine, but despite his improvement, he suddenly stopped taking it. Without the medication, his mental state deteriorated again.
Krishna recalls that societal superstitions influenced Iman Singh to stop taking his medication. Senior monks at a monastery advised him, "Why take such medicine when it’s not part of the offerings?" This convinced him to abandon his treatment. "At that time, his parents were still alive, and they even took him to Ranchi, India, for further treatment," Krishna says. "But it was too late. Despite their best efforts, we couldn’t stop him from veering again into the abyss of his previous condition." By then, Iman Singh had completely lost his sanity. Children chased him, taunting him, calling him mad, while young men beat him, mocking him as a fool.
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Neighbors taunted him as crazy. Krishna remembers seeing his mother plead with people not to call her son mad, but they insulted her, calling her a ‘witch’.
...and they tied him up
Time transformed Iman Singh into a shadow of his former self. After losing his mental balance, his behavior grew increasingly erratic and dangerous. He began attacking his family, destroying everything in sight, and tossing household items, which frightened people. The villagers pressured his family to keep him tied up at home, marking the beginning of his 32 years of living like an animal.
Beniram Gurung (Pancha), his elder brother, explains that whenever Iman Singh was left free, he would injure family members and damage the house's doors and walls. This forced the family to tie him with an iron chain. Initially, they tried using a rope, but Iman Singh managed to slip out and escape. Eventually, they secured him to a pillar with an iron chain around his right hand.
Beniram says, "It was difficult for us too. He was a strong, sturdy young man, and no one could hold him down. When he got angry, he would smash the door and knock down the walls. We had no choice but this."
From that point onward, Iman Singh never had the chance to live a normal life. Sometimes, they fed him, and at other times, he went hungry. When they served him rice, he ate with the flies. When they gave him water, he drank from the same bowl as the dog. This became his daily routine.
For 32 years, Iman Singh had no human interaction. At times, they tied him with a metal chain used for buffaloes or dogs, securing his right hand and locking him in a room.
As time passed, Iman Singh's father died. Witnessing her son's condition, his mother grew frail. Devastated by her son's suffering, she also passed away.
After their deaths, Iman Singh's elder brother, Beniram, and his elder sister-in-law, Dablakumari, took on the responsibility of taking care of him. They looked after him for the next two decades.
"We had sought every available remedy. We did everything we could. With no other choice, we had to tie him up," recalls his sister-in-law, Dablakumari. "It was painful every day to keep him tied up. We had no other option."
From darkness to light
On December 3, 2020, the Manavsewa Ashram Lamjung became aware of Iman Singh's tragic condition through a news report. In response, the Ashram's activists coordinated with the district administration and police to assess his situation.
When the Manavsewa Ashram team arrived at his home, Beniram and his wife were there. Iman Singh remained in the same painful condition, still bound.
"He couldn’t even stand. After remaining in crouching posture for years, his legs no longer worked," recalls Anita Adhikari, the provincial coordinator of the Ashram. "His knees couldn’t straighten, and no part of his body could perform any normal function."
Iman Singh had been tied to a pillar like an animal. "He did everything in the same place. He ate there too. He had no clothes, only a single blanket for cover. The clothes we gave him were torn apart," says Adhikari. "In this condition, we rescued him and brought him here."
After the rescue, Manavsewa Ashram in Lamjung took Iman Singh in. He underwent a health examination, and treatment began. The medication showed positive signs of improvement.
Since Iman Singh's legs, having been tied up for years, were unable to move, he started receiving physiotherapy at the district hospital. "With physiotherapy and medication, we gradually helped him stand and walk. We treated him in Lamjung for almost two years and administered various medications," says Adhikari.
Iman Singh gradually adapted to the Ashram’s environment, though his nature remained largely unchanged. To facilitate his treatment, the Ashram transferred him to its central office in Hetauda.
In Hetauda, significant changes occurred in Iman Singh’s life. "He was physically disabled. We brought him to Hetauda for physiotherapy and to improve his mental health," says Ramji Adhikari, the president of the Ashram. "The environment and spacious grounds of our main office played a major role in his mental and physical recovery."
Adhikari recalls that when Iman Singh first arrived in Hetauda, his behavior and habits remained unchanged. "Regular counseling, physiotherapy, and a positive environment gradually improved his mental and physical condition," he says. Once Iman Singh gained the ability to walk on his own, he developed self-confidence and a positive mindset. He also began enjoying the environment around him.
The love for home
As his health gradually improved, the Ashram sent Iman Singh back to Lamjung. By then, he began to feel homesick and expressed his desire to visit his home to the Ashram members.
Anita Adhikari, the provincial coordinator, shares, "He began saying, 'Now that I can walk on my own, I wish I could go home.'” In response, the Ashram initiated internal discussions with the family to make arrangements. During this time, Iman Singh's brother, Beniram, visited in order to assess his condition and meet him. "He felt very happy and emotional upon seeing his brother's progress. However, he also expressed concerns about the possibility of Iman Singh returning to his previous condition. Due to that fear, he hesitated to take him back immediately," recalls Anita.
After his brother's visit, Iman Singh's desire to return home grew stronger. Without informing anyone, he suddenly left the Ashram. His steps led him toward home, but the Ashram had no knowledge of his departure. Despite searching, they couldn’t find him.
Iman Singh, on the other hand, was heading home. "He was trying to find the old path to the village," says his sister-in-law, Dablakumari. "The old path had been blocked by a landslide, making the route difficult." She adds, "He must have slept wherever he could during the night. The next morning, we found him lying on the road." Unable to find his way home, he had slept right there.
A woman working at a cooperative institution saw Iman Singh lying on the ground when she went to the office in the morning. She assumed he was drunk and paid no attention, leaving him there. However, when she returned in the evening and saw him still there, she approached him and asked, "Who are you?" Iman Singh replied, "I am Karan's brother." Karan was Iman Singh's younger brother.
The woman and some local boys then settled Iman Singh on a scooter and took him home.
When Iman Singh arrived home, his brother and sister-in-law were overjoyed. This was a special moment, as he had been reunited with his family after a long time. The news of his arrival reached the Ashram, and a team from the Ashram arrived at his house with medicine.
Iman Singh’s brother and sister-in-law decided not to send him back to the Ashram. He now lives with them at home. Anita, the Ashram’s coordinator, along with a team of local representatives, visited his home to meet him. She urged the family to take good care of him and make sure he takes his medication regularly.
‘Joking scares me’
Iman Singh now leads a normal life. He speaks openly and jokes with people, though he occasionally reflects on the time when his mental health deteriorated and he was tied up. However, he remains unsure of the exact duration he spent in that condition.
Iman Singh learned of his parents' death only after reuniting with his family. During his mental struggles, he could not comprehend the news. When his brother and sister-in-law informed him, he was deeply saddened.
After returning home, Iman Singh began engaging in conversations with those who visited him. He recalls the terrifying moments of his disturbed state. Pointing to the place where he was tied up, he says, "They tied me here. They fastened the chain to this pillar."
Beniram is overjoyed to see his brother’s health improving. "I always believed this day would come. Today, that day has arrived," he says.
Beniram remains hopeful that his brother's health will improve in the future. "My mother always used to say, 'Life isn't just about pain, there is also happiness.' Today, with the Ashram's help, my brother has found a new life," he adds.
Iman Singh has started helping his brother and sister-in-law with household chores. However, his sister-in-law, Dablakumari, expresses concern that if he talks too much, the old issues may resurface.
"He has improved a lot compared to before. However, he still tends to talk more and has a restless nature. I sometimes worry that his old problems might return if he jokes too much," she says.
Iman Singh continues to take regular medication for his mental health. According to Anita Adhikari, the provincial coordinator of the Ashram, as long as he remains consistent with his medication, he should not face issues. "While he was here at the Ashram, he took his medication regularly. He must continue that routine," she says. "As long as he keeps taking the medication, the old problems won’t resurface."
Thanks to the efforts of the Manavsewa Ashram, Iman Singh’s 32 years of sufferings have come to an end. His story serves as a powerful reminder that with proper care, love, and treatment, recovery is possible for those struggling with mental illness.
Mental illness: A growing issue in Nepal
Mental health issues have become a serious concern in Nepal in recent years. Although Iman Singh found a new life with the support of the Manavsewa Ashram, statistics show that thousands of people, like him, are doomed to go through the hell of mental illnesses.
Various studies indicate that nearly 30 percent of Nepal’s total population, or around 8.5 million people, are inflicted by some form of mental health issue. Among them, some are dealing with mild issues, while others are struggling with more severe mental illnesses.
Dr Ananta Prasad Adhikari, the director and chief consultant psychiatrist at the Mental Hospital in Lagankhel, Lalitpur, states that around 3 million people in Nepal suffer from severe mental illnesses like Imansingh, which makes up about 10 percent of the total population.
"Among those who seek treatment at the hospital, 30 percent arrive with some form of mental illness," says Dr Adhikari. "Mental illnesses can arise from various causes, including neglect during childhood, lack of proper love, care, and protection, feelings of loneliness or helplessness, stress, general difficulties, unemployment, economic crises, lack of healthcare services, substance abuse, and gambling. All of these factors contribute to undermining an individual's mental health."
The "National Mental Health Survey 2020," published by the National Health Research Council, reveals that 10 percent of adults aged 18 and above and 5.2 percent of adolescents aged 13 to 17 in Nepal suffer from some form of mental health issue.
The council surveyed 15,088 participants from all seven provinces, including 9,200 adults and 5,888 adolescents. Among them, 2.9 percent of adults and 0.6 percent of adolescents were found to suffer from severe mental illnesses.
The survey revealed that 10 percent of adults had experienced a mental illness at least once in their lifetime. During the survey, 4.3 percent of adults were dealing with some form of mental illness. Similarly, one in every five adolescents had faced mental health issues at some point.
The survey also found that 6.5 percent of participants had thought about suicide at one point or another, and 1.1% had attempted it. It also indicated that 0.3 percent might attempt suicide in the future.
Moreover, people receiving treatment for mental illnesses spend an average of Rs 16,000 annually.
The Ministry of Health and Population conducted the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey in 2022, which also examined issues like anxiety and depression. The survey revealed that 22 percent of individuals suffer from high levels of anxiety, and 18 percent experience depression.
Recent suicide statistics show that most people who commit suicide suffer from some form of mental illness.
According to data from Nepal Police, 20 people commit suicide every day in Nepal. In the fiscal year 2023/24, a total of 7,223 suicides were reported in the country. Five years ago, in the fiscal year 2018/19, the daily average was 16 suicides.
More than 85 percent of people who commit suicide suffer from mental health issues. Dr Adhikari states that mental imbalances, depression, and anxiety-related problems cause most suicide incidents.
84% of mental health patients in Nepal lack access to treatment
Dr Adhikari, the director of the Mental Hospital in Lagankhel, states that nearly 84 percent of people with mental illnesses in Nepal do not receive adequate treatment. Eight out of ten mental health patients lack access to counseling and medication.
Nepal has only around 250 psychiatrists, which is insufficient to address the country's mental health issues. Thirteen government hospitals in Nepal provide treatment for mental illness, offering a total of 130 beds.
Although this problem is complex in Nepal, it is possible to find solutions. Timely treatment, effective policy-making and implementation, along with social support, can significantly improve the lives of people with mental illnesses.
"There are many treatment methods for mental health issues. Counseling is one of them," says Dr Adhikari. "Mild mental disturbances such as anxiety-related issues, mild depression, and stress-related problems, can be treated effectively through counseling."
Nepali society has a significant misconception about the treatment of mental health. Many people believe that once someone has a mental illness, it lasts for life. They also mistakenly assume that treatment methods are ineffective and that medication only numbs or dulls the person. Experts hold that this belief is incorrect.
After successful treatment, patients can resume their usual activities. They can reintegrate into the community and family and lead a normal life.
However, in Nepal, the lack of timely diagnosis and easy access to mental health treatment not only ruins individuals' lives but also disrupts their families' economic and social well-being. Consequently, the state also suffers significant losses.
Dr Adhikari, the director of the mental hospital, emphasizes that the state must take the issue seriously. "In Nepal, most people hide their mental health problems and delay seeking treatment, which is becoming a serious issue," he says. "The state must act responsibly to address this." He believes the government must take action at the state level, including ensuring adequate infrastructure at regional hospitals, increasing the number of healthcare workers, and implementing awareness programs efficiently.
