KATHMANDU, May 4: As Nepal is slowly trying to rise from the devastating earthquake, we have everyone from ordinary young people to celebrated personalities coming together. They are giving everyone hope and encouragement to start anew.
We spoke to actors Karma and Rekha Thapa as well as artist Milan Rai about their thoughts and actions since April 25 when the whole nation trembled under the force of the earthquake.
Karma, actor
Democracy was saved but hope is all we have
My film 'Resham Filili' was released on Friday, April 24, and I was in Civil Mall, Sundhara for the film's promotion when the earthquake struck the nation on Saturday. Luckily, I was on the ground floor and I headed to the grounds of Army Officers' Club right opposite to the Mall. I was with my friends and we started joking what if Dharahara collapsed. Then one of us suddenly remarked that the top of Dharahara wasn't visible. We decided to take a look and that's when the enormity of it all came crashing down to me.
I called up my family, ensured that all was well and went to work. We started pulling up bodies from the area. There was a dai with a van and we used it to transport the bodies to Bir Hospital. It was devastating to see the injuries people had suffered. We then headed to Basantapur where the whole scene was shocking. It felt like a scene from a film. I have shot many scenes for my films in Basantapur, and I just couldn't believe what had happened there. Kasthamandap was gone. People were digging up bodies. We came across two injured people but unfortunately they passed away while we were taking them to the hospital. Since then, I've been to Kavre and Sindhupalchowk with a group of friends. We had doctors with us and we also set up medical camps. We distributed tarps and food.
There was disaster in most places that we visited—houses all in rubbles, lives lost and just despair everywhere. But it was so humbling for me to meet a young girl smiling through her misery. She had lost her mother and grandmother but she was happy to talk to me. In her village, the community was also coming together and working to build a new life. But I also saw that the local brew was available easily in many places and people were simply drowning their sorrows in the drink. We tried to console and talk to them; life as they knew it was over but they had to carry on. I was also almost looted by two men on bikes. They were huge and tattooed, and since I was with just a young driver, I was apprehensive. The men wanted us to take the goods to their place but I managed to convince them that their place was still accessible by road while the village I was going to was remote. One of them had recognized me and then they let us go. I have plans to go back this evening, or I might be heading to Dhading on Monday morning.
Rekha Thapa, actor
I was just talking to my mother about the strange weather that fateful morning. "Is it Poush?" I joked with her. I'm thankful I had my mother and brother with me when it happened. I felt safer because of their presence. Since we were on the seventh floor, we didn't run down when everything was shaking. But when it stopped, I ran down in my bare feet.
There was chaos on the streets, with people and traffic going haywire. We went to a stupa nearby and tried to settle down. But there were many people, who as soon as they saw me, wanted to take selfies with me. The fact that I was amongst them might have given them a little respite but given the circumstances, it didn't feel quite right. It was a surreal moment and even now when I look back, I can't believe it wasn't all a dream. For four nights, we stayed huddled inside the car in Chakrapath. Like many people, I barely slept that first night but when I did wake up, I was almost sure I was at a shooting location. Then I heard the news in the FM radio and I knew that it wasn't so.
I've been doing what I can by going to Pashupati Aryaghat and trying to help with the last rites of those who lost their lives. I also made my personal number public so that those who are really in need, especially children and pregnant women, can contact me. But there have been people who are just calling to talk to me. I'd like them to know that while I appreciate their thoughts, I want to keep the lines free for those who actually need help. I think this calamity has helped us unite and all those talk of caste and creed has been rubbished. We are together in this. This incident has proved that when the mountains crumble, the hearts of people in Tarai do cry out for their brethren.
Milan Rai, artist
During the Saturday earthquake, I was at my home, thankfully nothing happened to it, and I was safe. But I knew the tremor was big enough to scare a lot of people. So I took my bag, packed some water and went around asking people if they needed it. I thought it would also be important to tell people that they need not worry and that a bigger quake as such won't occur again, and I went around telling people the same. I still believe that this part often goes ignored while providing relief, and that's why I have been going to affected areas and talking to people, helping them calm their nerves—listening to their fears and telling them that they are brave.
When people are staying in tents, they don't feel the safety one feels while being at home. I've been thinking quite a lot on how I could try and assure them this safety. I also go around playing with kids in the tent; those are moments I rejoice. Apart from that, of course there is the risk of epidemic outburst. On the second day of the quake, I went to Tundikhel to take a look. I saw that people were defecating in the open. Aware that it could lead to the spread of diseases like diarrhea and cholera, I along with a friend dug holes and using some tents and bamboos made makeshift toilets. That was replicated by a lot of volunteers as it got viral on social media. That way, we created more than 100 toilets. I'm focusing more on sanitation as I feel epidemic outbreak is something that needs to be dealt with right away.
However, I would also like to keep giving positive messages to people. I have tried my best not to post destructive images on my Facebook page so far. I think now we need to focus more on sending positive message.
