All Stories

"Focus on taking your picture Dai, you will not have to teach me how to pose."

My first month in India people would comment on what I wore. You see, I did not have a Saree and I was more comfortable in my traditional attire and jewellery that I wore. But in order to fit in, I had to give that up and I started wearing a Saree. Every time, I returned home to the village, I would take out my village clothes and jewellery, clean them and wear it.

"Sometimes I borrow sugar from her, sometimes salt."_x000D_ "She can borrow my heart, no problem."_x000D_

No words were exchanged, only smiles.

Many children and women died of diseases as there were no hospitals. People relied on traditional healing practices and rituals. Those gods did not always work for us. Fetching drinking water was the most difficult thing in life, you had to go to the source which was several hours away. Even during winter, I was always trying to get away from all that.

_x000D_ _x000D_ "I have sold all my beans and now I am heading back home. It is across the suspension bridge from here. You can follow me if you want to meet my family. I will cook you some food if...

"Her father had passed away at an early age and her mother abandoned her when she was 3 years old. I was also single handedly raised by my mother. When I started teaching in school, every morning, I...

"We are the lead in a music video about our village. I mean to say she is, I just follow her lead."

"Landslides are a bit part in my life story. I will start from the beginning, if you care to listen. When I had no senses, except for the needs for my mothers milk, father took to the heavens. Mother...

"I do not know what she wants to become. But whatever she wants to, I will let her be." (Jay Maan Tamang, Besisahar 7, Lamjung)

Everyone here lives in close proximity. No house has a wall and no household hides a secret. My troubles are my neighbours troubles and my neighbours family is no less than my own family. But I must tell you the truth too.

"I remember father cry with mother one evening. I only assumed it was his struggles raising us that troubled him. My fathers tears hurt me that day and even at such small age I vowed to obey him. I...

"When my son brought her home, she looked nervous. But I told her, 'Why worry? You help me and I will help you. We can live as friends and work together.' Then she was happy, I was happy. My son was...

"I have not taken anything, I will have nothing to leave. I am here, and I will go just as I came."

"When I was nine, a spirit took me to the forest. Unbeknownst to my father and mother who search frantically everywhere and eventually lost all hope, I live in the forests with the spirit for 9...

"I rented a room in her house to store the utensils that I would sell high in the hills. There were no roads so I would carry the goods in my back and hire a few porters to help me. After every trip...