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Chepang boy sets example for his peers
MALEKHU, DHADING, NOV 09 - People of the Chepang community take to hunting and fishing besides searching for wild roots and tubers. Since they live around the forest areas, the crops grown by them do not even last for four months for them to feed on.
Such is the lifestyle of the Chepangs. Though they may be primitive in their way of living, people from this community can do wonders if they strive sincerely towards their goal. One such example is that of a 29-year-old Chepang youth, Tilak Bahadur Praja who became the first ever Chepang to be the most educated among the Chepang community. He is at present pursuing his Master’s Degree in Education (M.Ed.) at the Tribhuvan University in
Kirtipur.
Tilak Bahadur Praja was drawn towards studies at a very young age and he took out time to go to school despite his tasks of cattle-grazing, collecting fire-wood from the jungle, and other household chores. This is the usual work trend for children of the Chepang community.
He went to a nearby Bageshori Secondary School at Richoktar, and completed his School Leaving Certificate (SLC) exam from the same school in the year 1990. Tilak says that he was determined from his childhood days to study very hard, overcome all obstacles to achieve his goals and be an inspiration and example for the youth of his community, who are not conscious of the value of education.
To embark upon his dream to be the most educated Chepang and to be an example to his other fellow Chepangs, he started the second phase of educational journey at Mahendra Ratna campus in Kathmandu, where he got enrolled as an I.Ed. student. During that period he faced financial crunch, but financial assistance from a social organisation namely the United Mission to Nepal helped him to overcome his financial problems to a certain extend.
However, he reminiscent his experience of not receiving any assistance from any organisations during his B. Ed. course during his educational pursuit from the same college. He shares his story and narrates as to how he had to face many hardships such as borrowing money from others, taking up part time jobs in different places, going to bed without food on many occasions and other heart-wrecking moments.
Eventually after ten long years of relentless efforts and hard work came bliss and happiness that knew no bounds for him as he completed his Bachelor Level of education in 2000. At that moment he says, he felt that he had achieved something historical to be remembered among his Chepang people.
After getting his Bachelor’s degree, he started teaching in a rural school in this district for a few years until he joined the Tribhuvan University at Kirtipur in 2002 for Master Level study, making him the first Chepang to reach such pinnacle of study.
Tilak unlike his other fellow Chepangs keeps himself off from alcohol and smoking tobacco, which is a common habit among this ethnic group. He cites the example of indulgence of his people in hunting and fishing that deludes them from improving their condition of living.
According to the Tenth Population Census, the total number of Chepangs across the country lies at 52,237. It is learnt that 85 percent of this group of people is devoid of citizenship cards. Chepangs are reported to be found living in the very remote parts of the countryside, in and around forests in Dhading, Chitwan, Makwanpur, Gorkha and Banke.Posted on: 2003-11-08 08:54
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