Bhokmariko
Mausam captures agony of starvation
Post
Report
Kathmandu, Jan 21
It is harvesting time in Bajura, a district
in the far-western region of the country.
Farmers are busy with their corps, which
have been cut into neat piles and are being
dried on terraces. One can imagine sunny
days ahead, but he moments are far from
being seen on the faces of the people of
this frequently famine-hit district.
This
is the outset scene of the documentary entitled
Bhokmari ko Mousam (which literally means
season of famine), screened here today by
the Centre for Investigative Journalism.
The
25- minute documentary takes rampant famine
in the district as its subject matter.
Famine
is not new in the district. But, this year
it is going to be worse. The Maoist insurgency
is behind it, according to the documentary.
This year the District Agriculture Office
has claimed that production has been reduced
by 60 per cent since last year.
Therefore,
it is predicted that there would be famine
in a few months in the district. The rice
which comes to Bajura is sent from Dhangadi.
From Dhangadi to Safebari, The rice is brought
in vehicles but after that that there is
a four-day walk to the head-quarters of
Bajura, Martedi.
Between
the road from Safebari to Martedi there
are no security forces, and if the locals
take rice, there a high chance that the
Maoists will seize it.
Since
there is no rice in their village, people
like Harka Bagodi traved to the nearby district
of Safebari. "I have a recommendation
letter," said Bagodi.
According
to Muktinarayan Bhandare, Chief District
Officer of Bajura, the District Administration
issues a letter stating that the villagers
are coming to Safebari for buying goods
or for personal reasons. Each villager has
to carry this letter while visiting the
neighbouring district. Famine will affect
the north the most which covers 11 VDCs.
Kolti,
is also an area which wears a deserted look,
after the Maoists set fire to the town a
year ago. The Maoists had attacked the tower
and government officers.
After
the attacks, in just a year, the price of
food has increased more than two folds.
Similarly, the locals are not allowed to
wear any shoes or sandals because of the
possibility that the Maoists could use the
gear.
According
to the locals, the villages of Bajura fear
death either from starvation or due to the
Maoists.
The
director of Bhokmari ko Mausam, Mohan Mainali,
has brought to the public his second documentary.
"Jogimara
opened the eyes of many people," said
Mainali. "However, after this documentary
the government has issued a circular that
any film to be screened in Nepal has to
be censored,"
Mainali
said that while filming Bhokmari ko Mausam,
although the areas of filming were banned
for taking equipment, they could take them
as they were journalist.
He
also said that they were not affected by
the Maoists.
The
cameraman of the documentary was Basudev
Baskota, editor Rabindra Pande, music was
given by Farendra Rai, computer graphics
was by Sarun Tuladhar and Laxman. Mainali
and his team work for Khoj Partrakar Kendra
(Search Journalists Centre) and were supported
by Nepal Forum for Environmental Journalists.
And
what is Mainali's next project ? "My
next documentary will be Timber to Tibet,
a documentary on the people who live in
the North of Gorkha," he replied. |
