Once Upon A Time in Kathmandu

 

Do you realize how much times have changed since we’ve all grown up? Oh it hits us sometimes, alright. Sometimes, something nostalgic will make you realize that and other times it will be in the most subtle of ways. Nevertheless, we are changing, times are changing and the city we live in is also changing. 

Change is good, they say. This kind of change I’m diplomatic about. Of course, I was not there during older days of the valley. But I've heard lots of stories. I’m sure you must have heard them, too. Stories from our parents and stories from our grandparents. It seems like another world doesn’t it? The stories that start with once upon a time in Kathmandu.

Once upon a time in Kathmandu, eggs were available at 1 paisa each. Hard to believe that when crates can go up to Rs 300 these days. But they were. 5 paisa would get you a tummy full of lunch. But times were simpler then and the value of money was also similar. Gold would go up to Rs 1000 per tola. People would be paid in hundreds of rupees and it was enough.

I get it, it’s a different time now. The population is so much larger. The competition is fierce and people are juggling their fast lives and their work. These kinds of changes are inevitable and necessary too. But it’s the other kind of changes that breaks my heart.

Once upon a time in Kathmandu, houses were only in the main of the three cities and other locations would be green fields. Vehicles on the road were less and the air was much more clean. Houses were not as tall. The sun hit everyone’s home and you could see the Himalayas from afar. Water you left on the terrace would turn into ice because the temperature was just that cold.

Once upon a time in Kathmandu, Bagmati river was so clean that you could see the sand on the bottom of the river. People would go swimming there.

Once upon a time in Kathmandu, it was different. And now anyone who lives in the valley knows how times have changed; how polluted the Bagmati river is, how polluted the air is, how cluttered it is with houses, how taller houses and buildings have become and how much traffic has increased on roads.

Now, it's only in stories. Once upon a time in Kathmandu…..