“Are you in Kathmandu…”

By: Prem Prasad Sigdel

I have a friend namely K whom I met when I studied MA in Central Department Tribhuvan University (TU). He has also belonged to me as we have same thar (title name). He used to call me as dai (elder brother) and I used to call him as bhai (younger brother). As same grade students we were competent and he would get some more percentage than me in examination. He had good teachers’ contact than me as he ran after the teachers either for scholarly purpose or for other things, I wasn’t aware about that. I didn’t like to have run after the teachers but I regarded that as one of the cultures of Central Department.

I used to evaluate him and some other friends; in my understanding there might be 5 persons who would run after teachers frequently. They would contact teachers regularly or they often visited their homes and reported us their stories sometimes. We had seen them in their offices and they would run to visit them when the teacher had got down from his motorbike or car. It’s not odd in Central Department to find such persons who have been running after teachers. These persons would get good chance with their blessings. Later on when I saw the list of permanent teachers of TU Service Commission, I saw their name at the top of it.

I didn’t apply at that time knowing that I didn’t have any acquaintance with the teachers of Central Department. The guess what I had first would come true at the time of result publication. It doesn’t mean that my understanding is 100% true but it seemed so from my point of view. I didn’t have any repentance of their so-called progression because I am also a successful man to handle my lifestyle. But the question comes with the phrase, “are you in Kathmandu…?”

After the completion of MA, I left Kritipur and Central Department and shifted towards the northern part of the Kathmandu Valley, a capital city of Nepal. I started my career there as school and college teacher. I have also got opportunity of Part-time teacher in Tri-Chandra College at the center of the Kathmandu Valley. I have been working there since 2063 BS. I met K in Tri-Chandra College in 2069 and he had expressed his surprise to me, “are you in Kathmandu…?”

I replied him that I was also in Kathmandu and said nothing more. However, I replied him what he had asked only. I didn’t question him as I have known his behavior. He had also realized that his phrase had wrong meaning and he tried to correct it. I didn’t accept it because the spontaneous flow of his voice was much more meaningful. Then after I didn’t meet him anytime or I didn’t like to meet him anyway.

I have evaluation that K who had got so much influence in the Central Department wouldn’t get appointment there; rather he had got appointment in Tri-Chandra College. I was much surprised that he was also weak in this matter. His voice still strikes me time and again. I fell proud that I am in Kathmandu doing different jobs and being established myself. If someone asks me, “how much do you earn?” I reply them, “I earn as much as I need”.

So I have been living happily in Kathmandu the message I would like to extend to K whom didn’t believe me. Certainly I believe that I can do some important work without the blessing of the professors because I have the potentiality in me. I shouldn’t stick to others; neither should I influence others. I didn’t like to run after and before the so-called professors and doctors. I could decide for my life and could do everything to fulfil my aim. In this way, I have been pursuing the motto of my life which would be successful in the future.

Finally, I would like to say that “I am also in Kathmandu, K…” of not being envious to you rather heading ahead with my own pace.