Nepal lacks the tradition of celebrating real heroes who have selflessly devoted their lives for the cause of people. In the heavily politicized environment of the country at present, their efforts to bring about positive changes in the society have somewhat gone unnoticed. We believe that Nepal has many heroes who have made important contributions to uplift the lives of millions of Nepalis.
Take the case of Dr Lekhraj Subedi, Dr Sanduk Ruit, Dr Shankar Man Rai, Dr Govinda KC and Dr Arun Budha who have used their skills to treat many Nepalis who would otherwise have been forced to live with their medical conditions. These doctors have used their skills to provide healthcare to patients who usually belong to the lowest strata of our society. That is why their work means so much. Although not a medical doctor, Gopi Lal also deserves to be mentioned here. Known as the walking blood bank of Banke, he has donated blood for more than 120 times! And their efforts have paid off. Thanks to their unwavering commitment to serve the people, many people are now living healthy and dignified lives.
Chameli Waiba, Dilshova Shrestha, Indira Sapkota and Pushpa Basnet are other unsung heroes who deserve applause. In a society where women are expected to stick to their traditional roles and responsibilities and are usually confined to their households, these women have courageously defied the binding tradition, and are helping many unprivileged Nepalis to learn the skills necessary to succeed in life, and become independent. Add to the list a young American lady, Maggie Doyne, who has given up the luxuries of the first world to help needy children in Surkhet.
Mahabir Pun is another outstanding name in the field of philanthropy. He has devoted his life to take internet facility to Nepal’s interiors. In the process, he has uplifted the living standard of thousands of Nepal’s rural poor.
Republica salutes these unsung heroes, and that is the reason why we brought out a special issue on them on Saturday (coinciding with our first anniversary). We are also well aware of the unflinching commitment of hundreds of other social workers – not mentioned here due to the paucity of space – who have served the community equally. We promise our readers that in the coming days we will try to bring their stories out in the public domain. For the moment, let us join hands in celebrating these real heroes. That is the least that we can do!
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