Create oral history of our ancestors. Lhasa ma sun Pahinchha : our great ancestors ventured taking all the deadly risks while operating as traders along the Silk Road : Kathmandu, Kalingpong, Sikkim, Darjeeling, Penang and Lhasa.The hardships women of those days along all these places are not yet documented. Let’s start collecting digital images and information of historical importance of those ancient days for older generations before they become unable to recall their past historical experiences.
A long, long time ago, in the beautiful valleys and hills of Nepal, life was not always easy.
There were no big buildings, no busy shops, and no safe roads like we have today. The streets were quiet — but not always safe. Many families in the capital city Kathmandu struggled to survive. The men tried hard, but there were not enough jobs to earn money. The rulers made sure that the local people stayed poor and powerless.
So what did our people do?
They packed their bags, hugged their families tightly, and left their homes to search for work in faraway lands. Some went to Kalimpong, some to Calcutta, and many even walked all the way to Tibet — crossing snowy, dangerous mountains, dark jungles full of wild animals and dacoits, and fast, dangerous rivers.
The journeys were long and full of danger. There were no buses, no trains, no cars — only their strong feet and brave hearts.
Along the way, bad people sometimes hid in the forests. They would steal from travelers, and some never made it back home. It was a very frightening time.
But the bravest of all were the women — the mothers, grandmothers, and sisters — who stayed behind in Nepal.
They couldn’t go outside much because it wasn’t safe. But inside their homes, they took care of everything. They cooked food, looked after the children, and kept the families strong — all while carrying heavy worries in their hearts.
Can you imagine?
Every day, they worried about their husbands, brothers, and fathers who were far away. They heard sad stories — of people getting lost in the forests, buried under snow in the mountains, or robbed on dangerous roads. But still, they stayed strong, kept their homes safe, and waited with hope in their hearts.
When the men finally returned home, they had to stay in special quarantine houses for 21 days — places called Asan quarantine centers. But even there, some people tried to take advantage and steal from them. Life was not fair, but our families stayed brave.
And it was not just work that was hard. Even learning was not allowed! The rulers banned education for ordinary people until 1950. Our grandmothers and great-grandmothers could not go to school, could not read or write. But that didn’t stop them from being wise, strong, and full of love. They taught their children kindness, courage, and the value of hard work — even without books.
Even when they were treated badly by the Rana rulers of Nepal, our ancestors never gave up. They worked hard, helped one another, and dreamed of a better future.
Our grandmothers and great-grandmothers were heroes — quiet heroes. They didn’t wear capes, but they carried love, strength, and courage in their hearts.
And today, because of them, we live in a safer, stronger world.
Let us never forget their story.
Let us tell it to our friends, our brothers, our sisters — so that their bravery lives on forever.
And remember — whenever you feel scared or weak, inside you is the same strength as our grandmothers. You are their brave child.