WHITE SUGAR ( story)

This is a small village. A beautiful village on the border between Jumura and Dolpa. cold morning. This westernmost village is quiet. I can't hear the sound of the vehicle.

The river is flowing, the wind is blowing ... and I can only hear the birdsong.

Tall trees harden with frost. Straight rivers carry ice instead of water.

The warm sun rises from the back of the hill. The flag flutters in the wind.

Preparations for the mountain tour have begun. Some people go out early in the morning ...

Some people carry things on horseback.

Do you bring your luggage? Nothing but food. -Oh. distribution

Do you have to stay uphill for a long time? At least a week At least a week? It depends on the number of herbs we can find.

"Dido" cooks at Nima's house. (Dhindo: Corn Spice)

This is "san". -Mr. Miss? (repetition)

I'm eating "san", a dish that uses corn. I'd like a little curry. "Dhindo" is called "Sun".

In the Kam language. There are few farms in Chotra village.

Suffering from snow and frost, it is harvested only once a year. Many people raise livestock such as yaks and sheep.

Mountains sometimes provide medicinal herbs ... it protects the village. Do you lock your home?

Yes, we lock the house and everyone goes upstairs. Children, adults, everyone? Do you also go to the elderly?

Yes, even the elderly. right? - yes. Some take care of children who can find herbs.

Is the entire village empty? Yes, few people live here. Do few people live? This is medicine.

It is a remedy for headaches and fever. How much food do you have?

Enough food for 15-16 days. We close the door and are preparing to get up.

I'm about to leave.

What do we do? We have to protect ourselves. We have to pay for the education of our children.

Today was an irreplaceable day for the village three years later. They can't go to collect white sugar every year.

A rule created by the village itself to protect its roots. Today is the day to go to the hills to collect herbs three years later.

So who is at home? - no one. Anyone who can walk goes to the mountains.

Some have left their young children in another village with their relatives.

Some have taken their children. I will call her sister. The signal here is not good.

My husband is still in the village. But there is no network.

Gradually, the villagers began to climb following the horses. They can walk all day long.

Some are ahead and some are behind.

Come up with us. Be careful. You can fall into the pits.

Why did you come to such a cold place?

Do horses obey me? Do I have to stick to it? Continue. -Please give it here. I will pull it off. I can't carry your luggage, so let's help you.

(Laughter) Do you live with us today? Yes, we also live in a hut.

What are these loads? Food and clothing Food, clothing ...

What is the name of this horse? Formerly Arjun, now Nikhil.

I need a lot of kicks. That is why it was named Niki R.

Without all these difficulties, we cannot eat enough. Agriculture is not suitable here. What other options do you have?

Come find us white sugar. Please tell, what's the story of the big puppies ..... What is white sugar called in your language?

"Kiraunro" Kiraunro? - Yes. Also known as "Hadi".

Hadi? - Yes. The crop will be destroyed. Currently, there is no corn or bean.

Is the mountain higher than this? Yes, many roads are steeper than this. She wants to take a picture of herself.

Picture of the two of us together. Want to take a picture? Ok Please prepare.

Come here (Laughter) All right, I'm here. (Laughter)

(Camera shutter)

Do you find it enjoyable or tiring? Do you walk up and down like this? I enjoy There are ponds, waterfalls, green grass, and mountains.

Only herbs are there. And the deer ... - Wow! Give me plenty of water.

Is drinking too much water sluggish? No, what do we have to say to stop it?

What is stopping? You need to point out. Nikir! Nikir! Come here

Can you go uphill on such a long journey? You will Communicate as you are now.

Come on! Does this horse come back with luggage?

It gets cold there. So it goes downhill. I am familiar with this forest, so I have come here for grazing.

I left the main road and followed the river coming from the hill.

(Satisfied lament)

The wind was getting weaker and weaker.

We will often relax after a short walk. (Singing) "What have you done? You have broken my heart."

"Tree bird." (Continue gown)

Fallen flour. The horse pulled on the rock.

So the flour spilled.

Most of the villagers were in front of us. On the way, I met Angado Rokaya.

Angada stopped? I am from Bhote village. (Bhote: Nepali ethnic group) Is Bhote a village? We are the people of Bhote. - Is that so?

I don't know how I got the place of caste. So who withheld your name? There is one of our ancestors.

Is that so Are you an original bhote? All our traditions are similar to those of Bhoteyas. Is that so

Festivals and food ... all match with Bhote.

Why don't you come here to collect herbs from childhood? Yes, since I was a child. People from outside the village also come? - They don't.

Aren't they allowed? - No. Can they come in secret? If found, action will be taken.

Will they be prosecuted? You are the one who will save it. Yes, our society protects it.

That is why we benefit. What you have is nothing but a tent.

I will pitch a tent on the hill and live there. Is this a pick? - Yes, pick up a spade. Why do you have Points

Are herbs in the soil? - Yes, it is in the soil. It is difficult to dig the soil.

Right? That is difficult. - Very difficult. I think I have money too. Money does not come even if you work hard.

How much can you sell? 200-300 per kg.

About 2-4 quintals. What herbs are collected after white sugar?

Nothing after that. We have to wait for the same season next year. Mid-September and the first week of Ashwin (September). I am collecting Jatamansi.

Is it Jatamansi season? (Jatamansi: Spikenard) And Yarchagumba? Yamcha is not found here. Are you going to find it? - Exists in the east.

Yes, Dolpa and further east. Let the villagers collect yarchagunwa?

There are rules to follow. Do you have to pay an entrance fee? There is a ticket system. People should get tickets.

There are rules about how much you have to pay. You have to follow all the steps to get there.

Let's go slowly. I think you walk fast. You move in front of us

We will meet you in the upper plateau. You have to do your own housework. People from outside the village are not allowed to collect white sugar in this area.

People take turns patrolling the forest.

"Ghumche" is a large plateau. After the forest was over, there was a plateau.

I took a short break with Nima and Angada.

What should I bring from home? I need food

And clothes to keep warm. Also, firewood for cooking.

It is winter When it snows, leaves the forest. It's too cold.

Is it a snow cloud? It depends on our destiny.

Snow is hard, isn't it? - Yes, it is very difficult. About 2-3 feet of snow has fallen.

What is that sister - I had prepared satsu (mixed grain dust) to leave yesterday. I'll bring something.

Oh, it's delicious. Yes and ...? What kind of content does it contain? Ghee, sugar, chili ...

Tea Would you like to start digging white sugar today? Not from today. -Why? Today we have to decide what to do with the elderly and the sick.

I am moving at a steady pace today. Set up the tent in slow motion, look for firewood, and cook.

We will have breakfast tomorrow morning and start digging around 8-9 p.m.

Is that chan (Chan-rice beer) Chan should be healthier than Fanta. - Yes, Chan is fine. It makes me addicted.

Is it ok to drink - Yes.

(Laughter) Sour!

Can you please I don't

Do you enjoy coming to the mountains and plateaus? I have been wandering in these mountains since I was young. I have no place to go.

I also go up the hill. Or in the market. No one else

I have luggage. The elderly are also indispensable. Some are very sick at home.

If one of us waits for them, four of us will starve to death. There is a problem.

Did you get a chance to go for the first time in 3 years? When to look for white sugar again?

I think it will take another 5 years. Goodbye -Yes, it seems to be closed for another 5 years.

It should be increased. - Yes, increase it and develop it fully. Also, there is no other source of income, so save it for future generations.

I don't think the next generation will make a big difference in education. Today's education is useless.

Grade 8 graduates can also get jobs if they have the power. In any case, BEd graduates dig for herbs by hand.

Where is white sugar sold? What is it used for? We are the ones who collect them.

I don't know what Yarchagumba is used for. But we are collecting all those herbs. I don't know what Jatamansi is for.

I don't know what white sugar is. That's what we collected and brought to market.

We will buy the same medicine from them later. If they tell us, collectors, what are they used for ...

It would be easy for us. We will also use it for ourselves from time to time. Don't know how to use them?

I do not We are looking for those plants with our eyes closed. It is sweet in taste.

Nima had to carry her camera bag. I exchanged my luggage.

Nimaki's sister walked in front of us and we followed her. I'll carry her stuff.

He is already ahead of my weight. Let's walk slowly

(Play song) "Your burden is heavier than mine."

"Your burden is heavier than mine."

"The story of our steep mountain is open to the public."

"The story of our steep mountain is open to the public."

This is a stalk of white sugar. I will dig the roots tomorrow. We are looking for its root here.

(Women vaguely talking)

There is very little white sugar here, so I told them to go higher. Slowly I saw the tent set up.

(Unclear story) Someone was preparing to pitch a tent ...

Some were already absent. And some people went to look for firewood.

Many had moved to the monsoon stone yak hut.

There are only people with disabilities in the village. Most people are here.

Everyone who can walk is here. If we leave our children, we must leave their mothers too.

But here mothers have to work and no one cares about their children. The village should be empty today.

It's cold, but what can I do? There is nothing you can do if you become seriously ill in the next few days.

There is nothing we can do. There is no trade or commerce here.

If you can collect herbs ... you will be able to eat them.

If we can't do that, we're in luck. One of us takes care of the baby and the other works.

Stay here until there is no sign of snow and return after it snows.

Are the horses now free? Did you finish work here?

Oops, should we go through the jungle too? - There is a forest nearby. Where do most people live? There are only a few. -Oh understand?

Where can you live - Yes. Oh!

Goodbye uncle See you again

It was too late to reach Nima's tent. Your guest is here.

We rested around the fire in the tent. Where do you want to unload? Outside or inside?

Did you walk slowly, sister? Yes, it's a little late. I couldn't walk when I went out.

Oh! What is that Water? - Yes. Should I drink only coffee? -Coffee?

Without sugar? - Yes. Drink coffee without sugar. Even under this mountain, you feed us coffee.

Pain! It's too hot.

Where do other people live? They went to another forest. In the other three places. We are in this forest.

Did you finish your work today? Is there anything else I can do? Just relax and eat. -Oh!

I will be busy from tomorrow. Yes, from tomorrow we should use all the power we have. How many members of your family show their strength?

Two people -Two. You and your husband - Yes. Can the whole family come or is there a restriction?

Yes, anyone can. Can a family of five come here? - I can do it.

Here This is the "larger". Lagar ho ... grain bread.

Well, dig a friend. Let's eat Eat here ... two. Do you have kids Are you and your husband the only ones in your family?

My two children are in town. The other two are in Kathmandu. Are they reading - Yes, they are reading.

We have four children, all of whom are studying. Many rural children study in the city.

Yes, everyone has children in the city. Herbs are the only source of income?

Yes, this is our profession. Please tell, what's the story of them big puppies .....

We will help you. The lager is already cold.

Yes, soba bread is cold. There is no harm in eating it cold. I like cold

Did you eat - Yes, already. So nice

I eat here It's hot!

How Much Money Can You Make This Season? I earned Rs 30,000 to Rs 60,000 in the first year.

At least? I hope you can make a lot of money.

Do you come here to look for other herbs? Yes, there are other herbs.

What kind Well, bikh ... bikh?

Can they be found in a particular season? - Yes. And Lasne. What is garlic? Wild garlic is here.

Shad's wild garlic. (June / July) Wild Garlic from Austria Japonica. And if you compile it after Badr, Akchoe has the advantage.

There is enough sun to dry them. Is it Akcho Jatamansi? No, it is called Patalchaluni local language.

Oh, what the hell? They are black.

You mark your plate,