2.6 Raman’s memory of MuguRaman misses his father so much. He was only six years old when the Maoists killed his father because he refused to join their insurgency. The boy remembers only his mother’s crying face from that time. He was born into an average farming family, where his father bore all the responsibilities; his death created a great trauma.
“After my father’s death my mother had to bear a lot of hardship,” said Raman, now nine. “It was very difficult for her to look after the farm, animals, household things and us. My mother couldn’t send us to school because of the lack of money. My father’s death really damaged my mother’s mind and heart. Most of the time she worried that the Maoists would take away her children too.”
Raman still remembers how badly Maoists treated the villagers. He describes one incident: “One day me and my friends were going to school. On the way we met a group of Maoists who told us our school was closed and we had to go with them. They kept us the whole day, lecturing us about their activities. The night felt very long. I was so afraid, but the next day they brought us back to our village.”
Other people in the guise of being Maoists also created many troubles for the family. Raman’s mother wanted to keep him away from the frightening conflict, in a peaceful environment. She decided to send Raman away. He didn’t want to leave his mother and his village, but she told her son that if he didn’t go he would not get a proper education. So, she put him in the care of a man from the village who was going to Kathmandu, and the family said tearful goodbyes.
When they arrived, the man was able to have Raman admitted in Class 3 at SSS. In the beginning the boy felt that the school’s environment was strange but slowly he became accustomed to it. Now he enjoys being a part of SSS, where he has lots of friends and his teachers love him very much.
Raman always wishes and prays: “All children should live with their father and mother. They should not live away from their parents like me.” He wants to see all people living together in peace. He likes to play football and is very happy when people come to visit him from his village.