The Nepalese have
been astonished by the train ever since its introduction in India by the
British and it become a symbol of a search for new life in the hearts of the
Nepalese people. The establishment of the Indian Railway, which was to be an
asset for the British Economy at the time, has brought a variety of changes to
Indian Sub-continent. Nepal too benefited from this establishment as a number
of financial opportunities with India were created.
In the Rana
regime, trains primarily served a purpose of transporting Timber, Wheat, Jute
as commanded by the British. The public was so intrigued by this system that
people would climb on top of the goods that such trains carried. People would
often travel from Raksaul to Amlekhgunj via train at the time, and cross the
hill ‘BhimFedi’ to travel to Kathmandu to get to the temples of Pashupatinath.
The Railway system from Jainagar to Janakpur too started carrying people. This
was called the NepalJanakpurJanakpur
Railway (NJJR) and was later extended all the way to Bijalpura.
The Railway
system became a center of attraction for the Mithala people. I was young at the
time and every day I would go to the railway station to watch the trains. My
happiness had no limits if I ever received the opportunity to touch those
trains. In the 40 years that I have grown up with the trains I have developed a
sense of empathy with them where It feels as if I understand the moods of
happiness, sadness, uselessness, loneliness
of the machines and this is what I have presented in these works.
Nepal, a country
between China and India, has a population that is composed of 94% Hindus and is
a place where a great many of the important national entities are named after
Hindu Gods and Goddesses. The trend extends from figures in flags to the name
of mountains such as Kailash. Even people have names such as ‘Umashankar’,
‘Gaurishankar’ and banks have names such as ‘Prahabu Bank’, ‘Laxmi Bank’. This
trend existed in the nomenclature of trains too with trains such as
‘Gorakhnath’, ’Krishna’, ‘Sita’. ‘Rama’. These trains that run on the borders
of Nepal and India establish the many relations between the two countries. Such
‘Roti- Beti’ connections that exist
between the two countries are strengthened by these Trains.
