The jolts we felt on April 25, were a reason for panic in Dhaka. During the tremor that lasted for nearly fifty seconds it dawned on us that somewhere, someone, was in a much worse situation. Gradually the full picture emerged. A 7.8 magnitude earthquake had struck our neighbouring county Nepal and its epicentre 80 km northwest of Kathmandu. Within the next few hours, across news networks and social media, the world watched in horror at the scale of this disaster. Many more aftershocks plagued this already ravaged nation.
My heart went out to Nepal as I saw the images and it brought back wonderful memories. The historical treasures that had stood for over five hundred years were on the ground within the blink of an eye. The awe-inspiring Mount Everest spewed out avalanches one after another. Thousands lost their lives and the reported death toll kept rising. Human and cultural loss is immeasurable but the miraculous stories of survivors show resilience and hope.
Visiting Nepal was one of the first trips I took with my family while residing in Dhaka. Though, over the next few years we did see other exotic countries, the charm and tranquillity still felt fresh. We travelled through Kathmandu, Phokra and took the plane ride to see the tallest peak in the world. Some things are unique only to Nepal. It’s a place where multiculturalism, spiritualism and religion are intertwined with urban life; shops, clubs, temples, historic monuments and restaurants stood side by side. The numerous UNESCO world heritage sites are open to public where not only tourists but also locals gather, pray, socialise and trade. The city is saturated with colour both metaphorically and literally. In wake of the quake I found myself looking back at the hundreds of images we had taken during the ten days there. Though it is painful, I decided the best way to honour its people and its country is to share some of these photos. While the people of Nepal begin to mourn and recover from this devastation, these pictures stand as record to what life was like before it all came down.
Undoubtedly, there will be stories that will grab your attention; like those who have died while living out their dream of trekking the Everest. Yet the stories of everyday people going about their regular chores, cooking, bathing, washing clothes, working or praying at a temple will be lost forever. It is only then that we stop, remember and take hold of the simple moments in time and comprehend our fragility against nature.
Memories Remain
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