In full confinement,
the series that turns to others.
These testimonies will have a somewhat new format in this series. Rather than the usual interviews, this is Biplav and Dipesh expressing freely.
From home, Biplav takes the time to address us through a written testimony that details the general situation of the country. He tells us about a Nepal where the government is overtaken, where citizens are scared and feel themselves, totally in the unknown. He also tells us about a police with rather radical methods and punishments, as well as frightened people who don't know where to go, in this small country stuck between the two giants China and India, suffering in turn the pandemic.
Dipesh addresses us in writing but also in video. He has this good way of « taking life as it comes » and to live in the light trying to enjoy what he has there at the present moment. He dwells on these Nepali people who are affected every day by a problem that also causes death, poverty: all these people are in situations that are already too precarious to have the luxury of fear.
What you will find in this article:
→ The testimonies of Dipesh & Biplav, who take us to their country, Nepal, for the time of an article.
→ The way we met them.
→ Links to other testimonials of the series « *Based on true stories », when almost every day these appear :
> Pavel, Russia | Asanka, Sri Lanka | Tseegii & Zaya, Mongolia | Geoffrey, Japan | Yana & Maxime, South Korea
« If we go out without any particular reason, we get kicked by the police with sticks. But it's like that. You know, in a country like Nepal people don't scare easily. They are poor and have other problems. They are already struggling to meet basic needs every day of the year. »
Where
It all started.
Dipesh was our (good) introduction to Nepal. He hosted us for our first days in the country. We remember our first moments of galley There, lost in the middle of a cloud of horns, multicolored tuk-tuks, buses coming out of another world that drive at all speed, windows and open doors. Dipesh had given us his address by WhatsApp and had quickly plunged us into the bath of « nepali vibes » as he says: « I warn you, here the buses have no number and do not indicate their destination! It's people hanging from the front door that scream where they're going. When they slow down, try to catch them and show them my message! Welcome to Nepal! ».
We finally managed to reach his house in a dusty area where the small constructions rooftops far from the tourist streets. He welcomed us with his big smile as if he already knew us. In the kitchen, the rice had just been cooked and we had eaten our first dal bhat (the inconic dish of the country): « I thought you'd be hungry. ». The next day, since his rooftop which counted as the only development yoga mat and guitar, we had stretched our linen under the sun and, above the cloud of dust, we had seen the tops of the Himalayas. It is hard to summarize in a few words what we experienced with Dipesh. He became a true friend and our hearts were tight when we last saw him before leaving the country. Even today we are in contact very regularly.
Several weeks later, we had crossed the road to Biplav As we were about to make the biggest trek of our life: the Base Camp of the Annapurna, at 4,130 meters above sea level. We had more than crossed, since we finally stayed more than a week at home, housed above its large bar of trance music in the heart of the hippie-tourism district of this small town known by trekkers. In the end it felt like being part of the family, having evenings around the fire, talking at length about a beer, playing with Faye her cat or giving long caresses to Chester, her dog, every morning. We especially remember the last night Biplav had taken time to stay with us. He had sat on one of our mattresses and until the moon appeared in the window, we had spoken mountain and he had given us his advice to go to the slopes of the Himalayas.
Are you comfortable?
We're leaving you now with Dipesh and Biprav.
→ Biplav:
« Hey, you two.
First of all, thank you for your initiative and interest in collecting information about all these populations around the world. This gives us all the opportunity to share our thoughts, feelings, with you but also with others.
For us in Nepal, everything was normal until the first week of January. Then China, one of our closest neighbours, suffers with full whip the coronavirus. We were lost, confused, a little scared: we didn't know what was waiting for us, how it was going to happen... We didn't know what to do..
The first case was postponed on 24 January. He was a student who was returning home for the holidays and who had just... Wuhan, China. It was reported that he had experienced mild symptoms since 5 January. A few weeks later, he was restored, but from then on the question was: how many people did he infect without even knowing it, over the entire period? After huge pressure from families, the Nepalese government has repatriated more than 200 students from the epicentre of the pandemic, Wuhan. They were kept in solitary confinement for 20 days and returned home after the tests indicated that they were negative.
There has been panic, paranoia and a lot of confusion among the population here, while the government has it. seemed overwhelmed by the situation and made no firm decision. We all asked ourselves the same question, "What do we do now"? In general, the population began to store food, which created shortages for a while, until the government intervened and finally made some decisions: storage has been banned and punished by fines. However, the major problem was still not resolved: we had many weaknesses and shortcomings with regard to care and health, who would be the only one possibly able to save lives at the worst moment of the crisis, we knew it. We were all facing the unknown when things were going to happen.
During the month of February, most people with secondary residences outside Kathmandu, our capital, began to leave. Everyone said that if the epidemic were to start, it would do so from here: from the city where the only international airport was still in operation.
The second case was reported in March.. With him, the level of panic and paranoia only increased. And it was at that time that suddenly the government announced without delay the confinement of the country: a lot of people ended up blocked everywhere, tourists travelling to Nepal included. We are now on the 27th day of confinement and most of the tourists have been repatriated to their country with the help of their embassy. Some of them, particularly those living in Italy, Spain and France, decided to stay here.
I myself left the capital when everyone left at the very beginning of the epidemic. The situation was much better here, in my village, since there were not so many people and therefore no shortage of storage. But then, the situation changed: the people who had fled the capital to go to the villages of the south suddenly turned back. Why? India. India, with whom we share our entire southern border, has also begun to suffer the pandemic. Many cases have been reported and multiplied, resulting in a significant flow of people at the border: Nepalese refugees or people living there have started wanting to flee that country to return to Nepal. In normal times, we have an open border with India, so we can move freely from one country to another and many Nepalese work there. But more now: now the government prevents Nepali citizens from returning from India because it does not have the necessary means to manage more people during quarantine. They closed the border, A lot of people are stuck there.
Now we have 42 cases. 4 have healed, 38 are still treated. Most are people from India or Europe. Some are still trying to leave the capital to reach more remote areas, Walking hundreds of miles on foot to find their home, as public transport no longer works.
But these people also run away from another problem: in Kathmandu, there are too many people. The population receives no food and many cannot afford to buy it. Returning to the countryside is the best solution. In some other cases, they are also simply irresponsible and unconscious who just want to go home because they are fed up being locked up in the capital. Many arrests are taking place. When the police arrest people she uses sticks and big pliers. They are then locked up.
The economic situation is critical. Large construction sites are planned (hydropower, airports...) and will require a lot of labour, create jobs. We're counting on that to improve the situation of people here. Agriculture when to it never stopped and the tea industry, which was the first to develop, always employs more than a quarter of a million people and contributes to the economy of the country. The Department of Finance has given important advice to banks, which are not very concerned about profitability, as the government will give them benefits: they should help restore businesses and industries, which is essential to minimize the risk of job loss. We can only wait and see how the implementation of these measures is proceeding... and remain positive.
Obviously, many things have changed, for me and for all. Owning a bar is not obvious at this time, but it is not time to complain. You have to deal with it, live despite everything and be strong. Then we will see what we can do once we all have overcome this pandemic together. »
Biplav sent us these aerial videos from two major cities in Nepal during confinement:
→ Dipesh
« The government has declared confinement for about a month. If you saw the city now, you'd find it crazy! It's so quiet, no pollution.*No people on the streets... Around my house, a few small shops remained open, enough to support us every day... Curry and dal bhat power, you know!
If we go out for no particular reason We're being kicked by the police with sticks.. But it's like that. You know, in a country like Nepal people don't scare easily. They are poor and have other problems. They are already struggling to meet basic needs every day of the year. »
We leave you with this little video.
This is the kind of small sunlight we love to discover on our phones since we made these encounters. This one is well representative of Dipesh's state of mind and completes the testimony he had given us in writing.. She's in English but don't worry, if that language isn't really your friend, here's a little summary and an excerpt:
Dipesh explains to us that he lives the situation day by day, stresses the importance of the moment present and tells us that he tries mainly to enjoy his two children and his wife (she is American and will have to leave with her children by tomorrow):
« Tomorrow my wife and children will return to America. In June I'll try to join them, but in the meantime... I'm really trying to live the moment. We're fine. Everything is so quiet, look at the streets... No children playing around, no gathering... It's beautiful... Life goes on. I play guitar, take care of children, eat, cook... I do my yoga, my exercises... Time goes on! Well, tell me how you're doing, how you feel, I want to see you on video too. Take care of yourself guys. I love you. »
Listen, learn, share, relativize.
Go away.
These testimonies belong to Biplav & Dipesh and they alone cannot be judged. For every person in the world and for every country the situation is different. It is not a question of imposing ideas here, but of share opinions, realities and Ways to Think.
In a time when we all face ourselves this series is made to open up to others : listen, learn, share, relativize... and open the mind. Finally, do what the trip offers us the opportunity to escape while enriching one another.
What's next?
The rest is in China, South Korea, Japan, Sri Lanka, in Mongolia, Vietnam, Russia. Every day or almost, a new testimony will appear here, « *Based on true stories« .
Until tomorrow, you can escape with the other stories we have to tell you.
Don't hesitate to share your feelings, your own situation, your thoughts, your questions in commenting on this article. We always answer, and we can even ask Biplav and Dipesh your questions.
