And the peasants who arrived by May 1 to hit the streets of Kathmandu have started returning home.[break]
"My family called me saying there was rainfall. I escape the crowd in Kathmandu promising to return in a couple of days after sowing maize," said a peasant from Bhakunde of Banepa, requesting anonymity.
He is not alone in returning to the villages after the mid-hills saw pre-monsoon precipitations. Mostly Maoist supporters from districts surrounding Kathmandu Valley have turned homeward.
Deepak Magar, who was compelled to go to Kathmandu as a demonstrator, faced a hard time convincing the Maoists, but he finally managed to escape the capital. Magar plans to work the fields before it turns dry again, instead of heating up the streets in Kathmandu. He left Ratna Park in Kathmandu at 10 a.m. on Monday and arrived at Tindobato of Banepa in the evening. "I don´t think I will reach home today," says Magar, taking a long breath.
Among those who has returned is a Maoist village secretary.
Dapcha village secretary Rajib Ghorasaini returned to his village Monday evening to harvest his wheat field. He had led some 400 party cadres to the capital. And he decided to hand over his responsibilities to another party man. "I will return to Kathmandu after harvesting the wheat. I must take up my party responsibilities again," he says.
So was the situation of Kalu Tamang of Anekota village. He was worried that the village might not see rain again in the near future and rushed back home. He also bought hybrid seeds from Kathmandu to sow in his field. Most fellow villagers buy hybrid maize seeds in Banepa.
Those who came to the capital from Kavre, Sindhupalchowk, Ramechhap, Dolakha and Sindhuli are also walking back home.
In the wee hours, long queues with backpacks could be seen returning at Sanga Bhanjyang, the point that links the Valley and outside districts. Most of them wore shorts and t-shirts.
They are making detours, avoiding the highways for some unknown reason. "Most of the returnees are between 18 and 55 years of age," said an area police inspector, Rupesh Khadka.
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