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"Even though, I was born and raised in Kathmandu, I never felt I belonged. My dad is from Bihar. And even in school, we had people call us Dhoti. My parents speak Bhojpuri while we were growing up....

Published12 December 2016

Reading Time 2 mins

Author Stories of Nepal

Location Nepal

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"Even though, I was born and raised in Kathmandu, I never felt I belonged. My dad is from Bihar. And even in school, we had people call us Dhoti. My parents speak Bhojpuri while we were growing up....

"Even though, I was born and raised in Kathmandu, I never felt I belonged. My dad is from Bihar. And even in school, we had people call us Dhoti. My parents speak Bhojpuri while we were growing up. As a kid, since you were teased all the time and called names, I wanted to hide that part of my identity. I remember I would come home and tell my parents not to talk in Bhojpuri. We had a maid who was also from Bihar and she would speak to my mom in Bhojpuri. And I clearly remember telling her, "Learn Nepali, you cannot talk in Bhojpuri in this house." I was just trying to fit it. At that age, you don't care about your identity, all you want is your friends to accept you. In that sense, in Kathmandu, I was felt like I was trying to be somebody else, always trying to be accepted. And then I went to all the other countries for studies and work, and there I was always a person from Nepal, so that was no home too. Here in NYC, I think, something fits. The puzzle is whole. After work, I go home and my husband is there and my dog is there and I feel like home. And finally, I feel I fit in. Finally, I feel like I belong." (Sony Singh, New York)

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