EARTH SCRIPTURES: Lal Bahadur

Yes, I've seen photos, there were two on the wall of a relative's home, in a village three days walk from here. The photos were of some of their family who now live in Kathmandu. No, I've never been to the city. I've walked far in these mountains and I've heard about the city and roads, buses and other things but I've never seen them. Others from my family have been to the city, but not me. I have all I need here, this village is my home, I'm happy here. I looked at those two photos for a long time, because I couldn't understand what they were. My relatives tried to explain them to me, but I wondered how they came to be. So, now I see, that is the tool that makes them,- a cam-er-a you say ?

It's very cold tonight. I'm and old man, my body aches. The cold didn't feel so bad when I was young, working in the fields all day and strong, but now, ... well, I still tend the fields and the animals, but it's getting harder for me with each passing winter. My children and grandchildren do most of the work now, ah well, that's how life goes, doesn't it ?

Our home is simple. We have only firelight in the dark hours. Our fire is small because wood is hard to find these days, it wasn't so before. Come, sit by the fire and I will speak of how life was here when I was younger and could you tell me of your country, your life, your cam-er-a."