Stories by Our Scholarship Students

In 2019, some of our scholarship students participated in a 5 day story-writing workshop organized by Open Learning Exchange Nepal and facilitated by Muna Gurung of Katha Satha.

Here are some of the shortlisted stories that were since then nurtured, mentored and developed painstakingly over the next few years by OLE Nepal’s Hamro Ramailo Kathaharu team led by Kumudini Gurung.

Hamro Ramailo Kathaharu team has been working with young adults, emerging writers, indigenous artists from different communities of Nepal to bring stories based on their experiences.

Juna Thami’s आमा चामाई

In आमा चामाई (Āmā camā’ī), we see that Soma relates better to visual cues. If there is only textual content, she starts imagining those texts as various forms. Her mother is well aware that Soma responds better to an alternative approach to learning. The story legitimizes a mother’s instinct and wisdom versus ‘one size fits all’ mainstream education.

The author Juna Thami grew up in Babare, Dolakha. She has always been a visual learner who came to Kathmandu to pursue the arts. She is now trained as a classical vocal singer and a visual artist.

Kopila Thing’s ब्याग भरिको रहर

Due to financial constraint, Kopila’s family can afford to send only one child to school and consequently, it is her younger brother who gets the opportunity. It is a scenario that is familiar to the author as she, too, hails from a similar background.

In this short story, the writer who grew up in Gunsa, Sindhupalchowk, shows us how Kopila remains undeterred and does not let go of the bag that means so much more than something that holds all the tangible things she has lovingly collected over the years.

To Kopila, the bag symbolizes the beginning of her journey to discovery and learning.

We cannot help but admire how resolute and unswerving Kopila’s determination to learn is.

Minu Pakhren’s पेटेटे

Petete is based on an annual ritual performed in the village of Sindhupalchowk.

The story is rich with cultural references that illustrate how the Tamang community has been living in sync with nature since ages.

Petete is a native term for a particular kind of plant found in the wild which makes a peculiar ‘petete’ sound when burnt in a fire. The people of the region celebrate Shrawan Sankrantri by burning this plant with hopes of getting rid of the lice in their livestock.

For this story, the writer Minu Pakhren drew from her childhood memories of the first time she ventured into the forest to collect Petete.

Laxmi Tamang’s मने

For the story Mane, the writer and illustrator Laxmi Tamang draws from her childhood memories of the first time she visits her mother’s village – a village she only learns to call her own when she is much older.

Her visit takes place during the Dashain festival when the Tamang community performs the Mane dance to thank the forest deities for keeping them safe.

Everyone wears the traditional Tamang attire and dances to the rhythmic beat of their indigenous music.

The 3 day festival takes place during beautiful moonlit nights.

Juna Thami’s रमाइलो होली

A short story about two girls who come up with an innovative way of playing Holi since they do not have access to colors.

Mona Thami’s बाबरेको बाटो

In this story from Babare, Dolakha, the protagonist goes through a gamut of emotions corresponding to the different terrains that she comes across while trying to find her way back home.

The author Mona Thami hopes that the children will be able to relate to the different situations including the sense of relief and joy that she experiences when she is finally reunited with her family.