Article published in Dharma Ratna Yami Sriti Grantha— Lani Devi Tuladhar
Translated into English by GEMINI
In the past, during the Rana regime, we used to hide Dharma Ratna Yami and his associates in many secret places. We would keep them inside storage lofts, covering them with jute sacks. They would arrive at the guest rooms or the attic; it was such a terrifying time. Since I was someone who liked to shout from the beginning, I would yell, “I’ve brought the ceremonial vessel to worship the Hathudya (deity), be careful! If anyone touches that vessel or breaks the seal, I will report you to the authorities. You must worship the Hathudya!”—I would shout this to keep people away.
When Dharma Ratna Yami returned from Lhasa, he hid at our place; outside he wore a coarse wool garment, but inside he was wrapped in a rough blanket. When he came upstairs and took off that garment, he had nothing—not even a single piece of property to his name. Later, he went around disguised in the clothes of a farmer (Jyapu) to hide. There was no fixed place to eat or stay. If he stepped outside, the police (Dhobul) would catch and take him away. When he went to jail, he would return looking like a skeleton.
Hiradevi’s maternal uncles lived in a house in Hayebaye. At that time, Hiradevi was the daughter of Heera Kaji, a wealthy merchant from Bhansachhe. My brother Dharma Ratna liked Hiradevi very much. However, it was said she couldn’t be brought as a bride because her family wouldn’t give her to a "prisoner" who had nothing; the marriage talks were difficult.
Dressed in the clothes of a farmer woman (Jyapuni), she would hide difficult secrets and documents. She would deliver news to those hiding inside and later carry their letters back to the necessary places. Such dangerous work had to be done.
When their son Vidhan was a baby, there was no food; who would go to ask for help or milk for the child? There was no tea. He wasn't the child of a poor man, but the child of a wealthy one. Because of that kind of politics, people were afraid and would look down on them. Having nothing to eat, they would go to the Yatitay (monks/ascetics) to get a little rice and cook it with just water and salt to eat—calling it "borrowed". It was not a comfortable life. When Vidhan was born, the authorities even came to the house to arrest the new mother. Later, both mother and child became very ill, but no one came to offer even a handful of help. As Vidhan grew, he remained very sickly.
With nothing to eat, they spent their days in the Singh Satal area. When he became a minister, things changed. The newborn child (Timila) didn't even have clothes. There was a desire to wrap him in a piece of bhway (soft cloth), but our family only had a few old rags. Before becoming a minister, they had to buy rice and oil on credit from the shops.
Even after he became a minister, Heera Devi Yami did not find happiness. She was a leader in the party and active in the Women’s Association. Those relatives who had looked down on them during their days of suffering now surrounded Dharma Ratna Yami to take advantage. They didn't want Heera Devi to benefit; they flattered Dharma Ratna Yami to gain favors for themselves. They incited quarrels between Dharma Ratna and Heera Devi, eventually making it so Dharma Ratna wouldn't even look at Heera Devi or let her stay near him. Those relatives surrounded Dharma Ratna and greatly troubled Heera Devi.
Heera Devi was very much a pioneer in politics. Those relatives completely suppressed her. Whether your father liked it or not, she would help anyone from the government who came to her. As soon as someone mentioned political work, she was the first to help.
When he was a minister, my younger sister (Nanu Heera Tuladhar of Itum Bahal ) became very ill; no one cared for her, so Dharma Ratna and Heera Devi brought her to their house. But she passed away. No one came to help with the funeral. Heera Devi herself brought the firewood, split it, placed the body on the pyre, and performed the cremation. Even though Heera Devi was from a wealthy background, she was ready to do any hard labor.
Dharma Ratna’s rise was truly because of Hiradevi. There was no woman as helpful as Hiradevi. She could not bear to see anyone’s suffering. During the times of hardship when there was no food, she developed asthma and heart problems; she passed away without being able to see her children grow. I remember in the old days, she had very few clothes—perhaps only two sets. She never cared for jewelry. She was a woman of immense courage.
* Daughter of the late Dharma Ratna Yami's elder mother (aunt).