Cooperate with each other, share all joy and sadness.Telling the cultural tradition of "common life" to the next generation.
Living in a historical village Khokana in Nepal. Krishna Bhagat Maharjan is teaching to children at school. the village faced a disaster of earthquake in 2015. What is happiness? What is the traditional "common life" that Krishna tells to the children? In this interview, we follow the background and the journey he has made throughout this ordeal.
Krishna Bhagat Maharjan
Teacher
Happiness in traditional culture
I was born in a village called Khokana in the south of Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. Khokana is an agricultural area, products rice, vegetables, beans, spices etc. In a peaceful village surrounded by beautiful rural scenery, I lived with my parents, sister, and two brothers.
I think I was a very shy child. There was a only school in our village. No blackboard or desk. I brought a stone plate and chalk, and was practicing reading and writing with my teacher. The school had no toys or playthings, but I had a good time singing and playing games with my friends.
My family was farming aged ancestors. I was helping rice plants and harvesting after school. There was a traditional teaching to live in cooperation with one another, so helping agriculture was not a pain at all but rather a pride.
Khokana has a very old history and culture. Our ancestors moved here over 5000 years ago pioneered the jungle land and started agriculture. Because eating was more important than anything, we made most of the land for agriculture. On the remaining small land, we built a housing complex where residences were connected, and each family member lived in.
The ancestors also created traditional culture, songs, dance and festival culture, hoping our dependents will live happily forever. living in the community, we have been taught to cooperate and share all joy and sadness.
Even if there is not enough food, money, and space to live, I can feel a great happiness in the connection with people in the community. I thought we are living a happier life than anyone else.
Gave up a dream of engineering, chose teaching
As my compulsory education is over, I entered the university at the age of 17. I learned science and anthropology. At that time in Nepal, many young people were longing to become doctors and engineers. I also wanted to be an engineer, but it costs a lot to learn it. Because of economic circumstances, I had to give up a dream of engineering.
I could not find a job even after graduated from university, so I was helping my parents' agriculture for two years. Growing vegetables and rice and harvesting, and caring cattles we were doing all kinds of agricultural work.
However, agriculture in the village is just enough for our own eating, not enough income can be obtained. In order to make sufficient earnings, it is necessary to have massive production with a large land. However, it did not match the agricultural skills that we have kept protecting since our ancestors.
After I got married, I had to find other jobs anyhow to feed family. With my family's recommendation, I chose to became a teacher of a school in a village. Becoming a teacher is not that difficult In Nepal. Although I was not interested in teaching, I thought there are no other options and decided to become a teacher.I was 24 years old.
I taught mathematics and science. The job of teaching initially felt bored, but it was gradually becoming pleasant. Through watching a lot of children every day, I noticed that their character and ability are greatly different. If there are children who can understand what I taught, there are some children who can hardly understand, so I will devise various ways of teaching. I was happy when everyone understood at the end. As I worked for many years, I began to feel the joy of teaching.
Found out the spirit of soliderity though the disaster
A huge earthquake hit Nepal in 2015. Many of the buildings over 100 years old collapsed and made numerous casualties. Our beautiful village suddenly changed in a moment.
Include my mother living on the upper floor, whole family were thrown out of the house by the impact of the earthquake. Although our family was saved, looking at the disaster of the neighborhood, we could only cry. The sadness of those who lost their precious families and homes was too painful and sad for me.
Many people lost their homes and started living at a temporary shelter. My family also live in a Shelter for 6 months. Our house was too dangerous to live because of huge cracks. Since everyone in the village has lived like a family in the same building, life at the shelter seems to be separated from the community's tradition and connection. It was very painful.
After a while, organizations and people from various countries came to support us. Among them, I met an organization that supports beyond the national and cultural framework called “France of Secours Populaire Français (SPF)” in France. They visited the village and saw the damage situation. They support us to rebuilt our school.
Furthermore, SPF invited students and me to their international exchange camp . This camp is aimed for children around the world to foster a cooperative mind across various frameworks such as national and ethnic groups.
It was first time for me and my children to interact with people with different backgrounds. Even if we do not understand the words, it was a pleasant scene that the children from Nepal, Philippines, France, Japan, try to share joy and pleasure. When I saw that scene, I recognized the important values that we have taught from my ancestors.There are spilits to cooperate and help each other, and it was fostered in the next generation. I felt very happy.
Telling traditional teaching "common life" to the next generation.
I teach mathematics and science to children in Khokana. Through teaching children, I think that I am continuing to learn every day. As a volunteer for the community, I teach children and young people the traditional music that I have been taught. In order to leave a wonderful culture that has been handed down in the area.
As in many other countries, the modernization is progressing in Khokana under the influence of Western culture. People's lives are rapidly becoming individualized, teachings of "common life" living while helping each other are lost.
However, we should have feelings to help each other. Through my activities, I hope to hand down the traditions inherited from my ancestors and their wonderful values to the next generation. That is what I want to realize in the future.
Another dream is to make children's dreams come true. I have two children and one wishes to study IT in abroad in the future. I believe my children's life is my life and my children's dreams are also my dreams. It is quite difficult to cover university costs now because of economic circumstances. I am looking for ways to make their dreams come true.
I think that people can feel happiness by being surrounded by people. Cooperate with each other, share all joy and sorrow. To live with feeling happiness in connection with people. I think that is life. I will continue to do my utmost to do what I can do for my family and the community.
Krishna Bhagat Maharjan
Teacher
