Here's how Prakash Tamang's new home looks now

Kathmandu, October 4 — The YouTube documentary "Haraaekaa Barshaharu"— translated as "Lost Years," featuring protagonist Prakash Tamang, has gone viral, prompting competition between the UML and Maoist parties to provide assistance.

Released on August 24, the video has garnered over 11 million views. Many Nepalese were moved by Tamang's story, having been unknown in his own country for nearly 35 years.

After going viral, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli directed officials to facilitate Tamang's citizenship, leading the Bhojpur District Administration Office staff to his home with necessary documents.

Just two days after the video was published, Sudan Kirati, a Maoist Centre MP, announced plans to arrange housing and land for Tamang's family, which currently resides on someone else's property in Shadananda Rural Municipality, Bhojpur. Following this announcement, Krishna Kumar Rai, a central committee member of the Maoist Centre and former chairman of the Ex-Gorkha Soldiers Association, donated around 10 ropanis of ancestral land to Tamang. A bulldozer was brought in to start construction under MP Kirati's initiative.

On September 12, the foundation stone for Tamang's house was laid in Ward No. 10 of Shadanand Municipality, Bhojpur. The construction of a three-room permanent house, led by Maoist MP Sudan Kirati, is now in the final stages, with preparations to install a tin roof.

MP Kirati emphasized that he stepped up to assist Tamang, who had been lost in his own country for 35 years, stating that it wouldn't be right to claim competition when he was the first to provide land and housing.

While the Maoist Centre is supporting Tamang, the UML has also entered the competition to provide assistance. Recently, UML leader and former Chief Minister of Koshi Province, Sherdhan Rai, also donated land to Prakash Tamang. Visiting Tamang's home with his wife, Rai provided 5 ropanis and 3 aana of land, along with a plough bull and a tractor, on October 1.

During the land transfer, Rai expressed hope that Tamang would have a stable livelihood and be able to support his parents, and that with land, he could engage in agriculture. Rai stated he was motivated to help as a local resident and representative, facilitating the donation of land, bull, and tractor for agricultural work. He transferred the land in Tamang's name after consulting with his wife, Jangmu Sherpa.

Prior to this, Sherdhan and Jangmu had also donated NPR 100,000 in cash to Tamang.

Meanwhile, MP Kirati reiterated that he was the first to step up for Tamang's housing needs when no one else had done so, denying any notion of competition.

He said, “We arranged for land and housing when no one else took the initiative. This is not competition. I began the process of building a home when no one else did. Krishna Kumar Rai helped manage the land. After we arranged the house and land, others might also come forward to assist.”

Kirati highlighted that he was helping a man who had been lost in his own country, with not even a patch of earth to stand on. “If others come forward to help, how can we call that competition?” he remarked.

Kirati mentioned that the house structure would be ready before Dashain, with painting to be completed later due to the rainy season.

He added, “The main structure is at the roofing stage, the toilet and kitchen have been completed. We will erect the entire structure before Dashain, leaving only the painting to be done.”

While they attempted to build the house through labor donations with local party support, they faced challenges as skilled masons were needed for construction. He noted that Hongsi Company had donated 150 bags of cement and that the process for the tin roof was underway.

Despite the hilly terrain increasing construction costs to around NPR 1.9 million, with labor donations, they expect to complete the house for about NPR 1.6 million. Kirati mentioned arranging funds from local friends to cover the labor costs.

He indicated that delays in construction were due to rain and stated that they planned to transfer the land along with the official title deed upon completion.

Photo Source: Sudan Kirati