Santoshi, Rabin and Mira

Santoshi, Rabin and Mira
Manamaiju, Kathmandu, Friday, January 17th, 2003

Walking home one day through Manamaiju, I noticed of a house a bit off of the path, but partially-hidden behind a tall hedge of foliage. I investigated by taking a few steps off of the main path. There I met Mira, 9, her little brother Rabin, 8, and their friend Santoshi, 14.

You can tell that it’s January and the cold is still hiding in the air; 
Santoshi wearing her winter coat over her kurta,
Mira with the flaps of her warm cholo over-shirt tied tight.

I love Rabin’s easy pose in this photo; he’s all business.

If you would like to donate to Mercy Corps’ Nepal Earthquake fund please click here.

If you would like to donate to UNICEF’s Nepal Earthquake fund please click here.

Mahesh

Mahesh
Betrawati, November 2002

“Tapai ko naam ke ho?” I asked him.
[What is your name?]

I didn’t know if he gave me a nickname or his actual name, 
but the name was one I had never heard of before in Nepal. 
In my little photo notebook, I wrote the word that I thought he said in quotes.

“Mice.”

Update: Serika has let me know that his name is actually Mahesh.

If you would like to donate to Mercy Corps’ Nepal Earthquake fund please click here.

If you would like to donate to UNICEF’s Nepal Earthquake fund please click here.

Sisters Kabita, Babita, Sushmita and Ashmita

Sisters Kabita, Babita, Sushmita and Ashmita
Betrawati, November 2002

A group photo of four of the five sisters from yesterday’s post.

If you would like to donate to Mercy Corps’ Nepal Earthquake fund please click here.

If you would like to donate to UNICEF’s Nepal Earthquake fund please click here.

During the rice harvest

During the rice harvest
Betrawati, November 2002

Here is a photo that more clearly illustrates some of the rice stalks amassed during the rice harvest (I mentioned this in yesterday’s post, the photo from which was taken at the same time as the one above). 

The children in this photo are:

Back row, from left to right—
Rupa (gold kurta), Bipana (in the middle), Dipa (white shirt)
 
Front row, from left to right—
Ashmita (maroon tee-shirt), Anita (red kurta top), Kobita (flowered dress), Sushmita (gold and white shorts)

Little Bobita sits naked on a stack of the stalks.

Ashmita, Bipana, Bobita, Kobita and Sushmita are all sisters.

The man in the background is wearing a topi, the traditional Nepali hat for men. 
Finally, you can see the backside of a family (buffalo) cow under the roof on the left.

If you would like to donate to Mercy Corps’ Nepal Earthquake fund please click here.

If you would like to donate to UNICEF’s Nepal Earthquake fund please click here.

Saraswati

Saraswati
Betrawati, November 2002

I took this photo during the rice harvest. The ground all about us was littered with dry rick stalks, and children played on the mounds stacked on the side of the path. Later these stalks would be used as feed for the family buffalo.

Saraswati was named after the Hindu goddess of art, knowledge, learning, music, and wisdom. 

I find Saraswati’s smile in this photo so warm and true.

If you would like to donate to Mercy Corps’ Nepal Earthquake fund please click here.

If you would like to donate to UNICEF’s Nepal Earthquake fund please click here.

Kancha

Kancha
Tupche, November 2002

In front of a teashop in Tupche. Out front there is a small truck-wide dirt road; and on the other side of the road, a canal of cold clear water flows.

On this day, I also took a photo of Kancha’s older sister Kanchi, fresh from school in her light blue shirt.

If you would like to donate to Mercy Corps’ Nepal Earthquake fund please click here.

If you would like to donate to UNICEF’s Nepal Earthquake fund please click here.

View fullsize

Here is Kancha’s didi (older sister) Kanchi, as she appears on my contact sheet of the negatives.

Kalpana

Kalpana
Between Manamaiju and Shrijana Nagar, Kathmandu, December 2002

Six-year-old Kalpana had fashioned a head-band out of a strip of metal and was wearing it proudly when I met her. 

If you would like to donate to Mercy Corps’ Nepal Earthquake fund please click here.

If you would like to donate to UNICEF’s Nepal Earthquake fund please click here.

Rabita

Rabita
Between Manamaiju and Shrijana Nagar, Kathmandu, December 2002

Seventeen-year-old Rabita, holding a pen. 
This photo was taken just on the edge of the community I spoke of in last Friday’s post.

If you would like to donate to Mercy Corps’ Nepal Earthquake fund please click here.

If you would like to donate to UNICEF’s Nepal Earthquake fund please click here.

Birendra

Birendra
Between Manamaiju and Shrijana Nagar, Kathmandu, January 2003

Twelve-year-old Birendra. This photo was taken just outside of his home, in the community that I spoke of in last Friday’s post.

If you would like to donate to Mercy Corps’ Nepal Earthquake fund please click here.

If you would like to donate to UNICEF’s Nepal Earthquake fund please click here.

Sabita

Sabita
Between Manamaiju and Shrijana Nagar, Kathmandu, January 2003

Eight-year-old Sabita—in the community that I spoke of in Friday’s post.

If you would like to donate to Mercy Corps’ Nepal Earthquake fund please click here.

If you would like to donate to UNICEF’s Nepal Earthquake fund please click here.