Kayastha, who was hit by a bullet on the left temple on April 9, 2006 during Janaandolan II, remains bedridden and can´t walk or talk. His mother Meera has to push him about on a wheelchair. The lad was 15 at the time and had just given his Grade Eight exams from Bidyasagar Boarding School in Banepa. His colleagues have now completed XI, but his own life came to a standstill that fateful day.
“This is me. Do you recognize me?” PM Nepal asked Mukesh, holding his hands, and then added, “You will be all right. Everybody´s best wishes are with you.”
Nepal on the occasion also announced an increase in the monthly living allowance for Mukesh to Rs 10,000 from the current Rs 4,000. “I cannot make a commitment now as we have to follow national and international norms. But we will discuss the matter at tomorrow´s cabinet meeting,” Nepal said when the boy´s father, Krishna Man, submitted a memorandum calling for his son to be declared a living martyr.
Nepal visited Kayastha after a team from the Constituent Assembly Committee on Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles led by its chairman Binda Pandey visited Kayastha and Bishnulal Maharjan of Satungal, Kathmandu and submitted a report to the prime minister, urging government help.
Nepal also talked about help by Japanese neuro-specialists during their upcoming Nepal visit in November. The help was promised by Japanese doctors during talks about Mukesh Kayastha with senior party leader KP Oli on his recent trip of Japan.
Doctors say the part of Mukesh´s brain that controls the function of speech is damaged, but regardless of a prognosis by senior neuro-surgeon Dr Upendra Devkota, his mother still hopes that he will eventually be able to speak again.
Mukesh´s parents and grandfather Nhuchhe Man have not lost hope and look after him round the clock, but for his grandmother Nanimaya the shock was just too much and she has died since. Mukesh was in Bir Hospital for 11 months and has been operated on nine times, to no avail.
Seven days after being discharged from Bir he was admitted at Neuro Hospital, Bansbari and kept there for six months. He has been given ´touch therapy´ since then and has shown considerable improvement.
He is on a special bed and can´t move his limbs except the left hand. Krishna Man says touch therapy has enabled his son to put a cell phone to his ear. He makes efforts to open his mouth when asked to smile and even the doctors are surprised at the improvement.
“Even the doctors prayed for a miracle after being surprised by his recovery when we brought him to Banepa in July,” Meera says.
He is currently on a double dose of neuro medicines and is attended by medics at home in case there are complications. “He gets the call of nature only once every three or four days and suffers immense pain in the process. Even we have to wait throughout the night,” Meera says.
The government has so far spent Rs 1.7 million on him while other organizations and well-wishers have contributed Rs 400,000.
Related story
Janaandolan II victim seeks fund for treatment
