Daily Archives: July 3, 2006

At least four boys from my neighborhood in Duragaun whom I know very well have died in the conflict and my meeting with a family member of one of those boys was emotionally dominated. This is the story of Tanka Poudel, my childhood buddy, who at the age of 23 died as a Maoist soldier and his elder brother Pabitra (pic by Wagle) who is equally hated by both the Army and Maoists these days.

By Dinesh Wagle in Duragaun (Ramechhap)
Wagle Street Journal

Pabitra Poudel, 36, is no new face to me. I had known this man from Duragaun village from my childhood. I still remember his father taking one of my loose teeth out forcefully with his homemade equipment. That was terrible, I still feel the pain, but was damn necessary as new tooth had started coming out from the same place. Two teeth coming out from the same place would have made my look even more horrible, I know. Pabitra’s brother Tanka Poudel was a year younger than myself and I vividly I remember playing dandibiewos with him and other pals in the village. This evening, I was meeting Pabitra nearly after seven years and many things have changed in his life. His job is under threat and his brother Tanka is no more. He died nearly four years ago as a Maoist solider in a ‘clash’ with the government soldiers. Continue reading →