Day 7: Updates from Student Volunteers

Kundan S Rana ( Class of 2016 ) 

On 3rd may a team of staff and students from DWIT went to Kaalmochan Temple located at Thapathali. We went there to do our part of volunteering duties. We were team of 13 members. We went there at around 0130 PM and did our share of the work for the day till 0530 PM. The situation there is bad. The main temple is completely destroyed and all that remain are the small statues and temples that surrounded it. We were sad to see that such a monumental temple built by Prime Minister Jung Bahadur Rana in the 1800s was destroyed.

We have lost a part of our culture and our heritage. While we were there we saw that members of the army were trying to pull out the statues that were buried underneath the massive pile of rubble. They did succeed in doing so. They pulled out a seven foot long Shiva statues and a Laxmi Narayan statue. The statues were not destroyed but were a little damaged. Usually along side the statues there were a lot of smaller statues and utensils that were used for pooja. They were destroyed. All of us left satisfied knowing that we had done something useful and our actions made a small difference. Along with this feeling we were also disheartened that we lost such a beautiful and historical heritage site.

Barsha Dahal ( Class of 2017 )

Without long or specific planning we decided to go KaalMochan Ghat at Tripureshwor. The way this old temple was destructed by Earthquake was spine-chilling. I knew how dangerous recent earthquake was after visiting there because I am staying in the locality where I had not seen much destruction. I actually wanted to help hungry, thirsty and helpless victims. So, at first I was not satisfied. We reached there and saw how terrifying this disaster could be and decided to remove the debris as much as we can. Seeing a cultural or historical monument being destroyed and broken into pieces broke my heart. I could feel the pain somewhere inside me while I carried the first brick after reaching there. We worked as a team and carried the bricks.

The way our team worked taught me something. Helping each other can make the task fascinating, even though that task is very exhausting and toilsome. I was feeling proud to act as if I was an engineer or the worker. Really, no task is boring. It depends on with whom you work. No doubt, carrying bricks or cleaning was never a task of entertainment for me, but today I certainly loved cleaning. I am damn tired right now. But this tiredness taught a great lesson and gave a kind of relief. At least we did something, better than sleeping in a room and imagine the earth is shaking all the time.

Sanjeev Mainali ( Class of 2016 )

When I saw an email regarding the call for volunteer for cleaning up operation of Kathmandu  I decided to join my hands and headed to my college at around  1 pm .There were already some people at the college ready to visit the site. At first I have no idea about the site which we were going to visit later when we packed all the equipments ,some jars of water and moved I came to know that we were about to clean the temple near Thapathali which was completely destroyed by the earthquake. There were many volunteers from different organizations. We on the behalf of DWSWN also joined them and helped them, the best way we can.

We were altogether 13 volunteers, there, we picked the bricks that can be re-used and piled them in proper place. Making a line of six we divide our team into two lines and passed the bricks picking them from the ground and properly piling them ina proper place so that it can be re-used in future. As being a student I have never done such activities in my life and after doing so I was so happy, happy to help my countries cultural heritage site get cleaned.

After collecting thousands of brick from that area I felt like I, being a Nepali, had managed to contribute something from my side to my country in this situation where a small help means a lot.I really felt very happy to be a part of DWSWN to help in cleaning my motherland Nepal and my hometown Kathmandu .

Abhisek Khatiwada ( Class of 2018 )

Today 3rd May , 2015 we went for ‘Clean up mission’ Day was hot and atmosphere was full of mud. We wore masks, gloves and safety mates and stepped out of the Deerwalk van. The temple area was totally destroyed only some monuments were standing alone. Volunteers and armed force police team were doing their job.

Our motive was to help the rescue team with whatever we can. We were asked to pick the bricks from the temple and stack them on the side of the temple area. APF were busy excavating the destroyed part. We made a team and passed the bricks from the top. I think that was the best thing we could offer at that moment. Idols of gods were being taken out and secured. Reporters were busy capturing the moment. Bigger idols were still trapped inside the temple. We gathered as many bricks as we can. We learnt more about team work and the enthusiasm and energy for helping the victims or affected area has grown big. Yes there is a long path to travel to recover this sorrow but it is possible if we unite together and do jobs like we did today. We left the place late promising to do more and help the needy as much as we can.

Prayush Shrestha ( Class of 18 )

9 days after the massive quake I decided to do some volunteering  so went college. We set out to move towards our destination, our initial destination was Gongabu and Balaju to clean that area but decided to go to Thapathali instead, we put on our helmet, gloves and masks which made us feel like an engineer thus we group of 15 engineers set out to Kalmochan Temple situated at Thapathli .The temple was completely destroyed , there were policemen ( APF – Armed Police Force ) and very few volunteers cleaning the area and taking out things of archaeological importance which normal volunteers were not allowed to do .

We then decided to arrange the remains of the temple, we separated brick that could be re used and wood pillars and arranged them. The work was obviously not easy the scorching sun also made it hard but we did it anyway and made a difference. I am really not bothered about the magnitude of difference. All I felt was I was able to help the country in some way at this critical juncture. Talking about my experience it was awesome; you don’t always get to carry a century old bricks do you?