Mala Kharel is one of the renowned social workers in the country, the founder of Baal Saarthi in Pashupati area. She started it from her own house which has now become an NGO for street children and an institutional academy for the children to study along with food. She had met thousands of street children, with different heart touching stories to tell. She felt bad, that no one is there to take care of them. From young girls and boys involved in different unsocial activities, Baal Saarthi is trying to bring them in right path, help them with education and food to live and be a good human being. The academy has full time teachers and staffs and different supporting people, how has been helping the operation to go smoother. We bring some of the candid talk with Ms. Mala Karki.
Mam, please tell us about your childhood.
A: I was born and brought up at Pashupatinath area. I come from normal middle class family with one brother and sister. I did my schooling from Sharda School then completed my plus two from Padma Kanya and Bachelors degree from Tri Chandra Campus. Currently, I am pursing PhD in sociology.
Do you remember anything interesting of your child hood?
A: Childhood was very normal. You know, the way every normal child has it. Pashupati was the world and so was the childhood. All I remember seeing, lot of street children, used to love them, talk with them. My home is still in that area, interestingly even my inlaw’s too.
How was student life?
A: I was an okay student. Not a topper but I was alright in studies. (with a smile)
Tell us about your college days, anything in particular that you remember the most?
A: Hmmm, I do remember one incident. I got married during certificate level. It was during my degree exam. Unfortunately, my dad passed away, at the time of exam. I had exam at 1 PM at Patan campus. It was heart breaking for me. It was me and my brother only. In the morning we had burial, after which I went to college to take the exam. I was taking exam and crying. It was really hard. The tears were all over my face. Even on my answer sheet. My dad wanted me to be a professor. I remember the guard asking me, while I was crying. “Is the exam too tough?” But the tears just kept rolling. I washed my face and got back to take the exam. I passed the exam though.
How was the female perception back then?
A: It was worse. Females did not used to study back then. Even my friends were not educated at that level. It was all about getting married and go to someone else (husband) home. My mom even was not aware, how important the study was. You know how the society is! Even now, I do the same thing. I wake up early in the morning and sleep late, just because I am a lady and it is my job at home to do all stuffs, regardless of my job and education. This is how we are adjusted now. I believe we do need to change, but still it would take time.
What is the current situation?
A: The mentality still has not changed. My in-laws and even my son is the same. This is how are society has built up. We do have freedom now, but I believe we are trying and still lot more to try. This is quite deep rooted, in our society. Even my father in law, my husband and son they don’t understand. My daughter takes care of home, but my son he does not. So you can imagine, the situation.
What is Bal Saarthi doing?
A: Me and my team, especially to the young boys and girls, we are trying to give them education and give some hope. Pashupati is the largest area where these kids are found to be wondering around with no clothes, no shelter, no one to take care, no food. We at Bal Saarthi are trying to gather them and educate them and as well as provide food. These kids, all day move around in search of food to earn money or else steal out. They have become addict to dendrites, marijuana and other drugs. They feel good while using those. I grew up at Pashupati, I know the area, I know the kids there. That was the whole idea behind Bal Saarthi. Initially, I always use to take chocolates while I used to meet them, so that they come and talk to us or else they won’t even close. They start treating me like a teacher (Miss), after months of trying they started coming with us to get education, to have some hope. My friend has this place. So I asked my friend to provide on rent as help. We asked the kids to come to that place as school, but we just got five kids showing up, during the first phase. Another problem was their hygiene. We got them bath and gave clean clothes. Those kids told this story to other kids, slowly we got more students. They came at least to eat. We opened Bal Saarthi with that noble cause. We had around 80 students by the first year. Then we went to registration process. We registered NGO and Bal Saarthi Academy for education till 5. We got 9 teachers and food is prepared for almost 100 students. After 5 they are helped to get to higher education. All we want them to get away from drugs and live a normal life.
Tell us one of the stories that are unknown to others.
A: One day in the morning, as usual I was in Pashupati. I saw a girl, being beaten up by the local. I interrupted and shouted what are you people doing? They said, she slept with a Yogi. I told them, “She is a kid. That yogi raped her and this is what you people are doing”. She was bleeding all over. I asked that kid, “What happened”? She said,” That yogi said, he would give Nrs.5, so I went to get money. And he did that with me”. That was quite heart touching. The situation of girls is even worse in this area, they use dendrites and other drug. I feel really bad about this. But we are trying to reach to all of them and help them. We are trying!
Pashupati is a world of its own. Tell us about that.
A: Yes, indeed. It’s a world of its own. Everyone knows about the temple. But there is dark side too. Stealing, raping, killing, fighting and what not! There are so many dark side of it. It’s a life beyond imagination. They steal, rob, climb buildings, sell drugs; it always makes me surprise and wonder, what is wrong with this people. But this is how it is. This is what I have tried to incorporate as much as I can in my thesis about the life at Pashupati.
Who do you idealize?
A: I define idealizing in a different way, I would say. Just like Datatrey Guru had 24 teachers, I feel the same way. Whoever inspires me right away, he /she become my ideal. Anyone who supports me, inspires me is my idol.
What was the hard part of while commencing Bal Saarthi?
A: Finance! I mean that was crucial. Initially it was quite difficult. But where there is will there is a way. Slowly, friends came up and started helping. I kept my house on rent, my personal expense, my husband expense. That help was accumulated. And we are doing fine at the moment. Mother, daughter, wife, professional. Which do you think is the hardest and why? A: I think I have taken responsibility of those hundred kids. But my kids, they sometime complain. May be I’ve failed to be a mother at home, as I was most of the time out. But maybe this is what God wanted for me. I am religious person. I am taking care of those kids, God will take care of my kids.
What is the motivation behind the whole idea?
Whenever I meet those kids, I feel bad. Even in my dreams, my thoughts, all I can think about them. I have spent so much time with them, I know inside out. I can’t wait helping them. All those kids, have their unique stories. And those are heart whelming stories. What do you do at leisure? I love spending time with my friends. They are all I have. What is your dream? Help those kids, the best way possible. I don’t have anything else. It is all about those under privileged kids who got no one to look after them, no one to guide them, no one to help them.
During the entire tenure, did you face any challenging situation?
A: It was the time of earthquake, I would say. Bal Saarthi, was hit. Our small house was dismantled. Kids did not turn up, because we were unable to provide food. The earthquake came right at the moment, when I was serving food. We threw and ran out. Those two months were very challenging. Our temporary home was washed away by rain, wind. It was really hard. But god helped and we managed. We re-constructed all and now it is doing fine. Tell us about your thesis A: My thesis is about Street Children at Pashupati. These kids did not know anything initially at their village. They came here, learned everything from their friends. They did not know about drugs but the peer pressure changed them. Now all of them are experts. But this is bad. This should change.
Any travel plans?
A: Nothing as such. Where ever I go, I enjoy. All I have my friends, where ever they go, I enjoy with them (with smile)
What would you like to say our reader?
A: Everyone has a dream to get a house, car and what not. But please do not forget about the society , the nation. Let us help in whatever way possible. Please help to these kids, old and whoever you can.
Anything for Udaan?
A: I really wish, Udaan becomes weekly 🙂 Other media, don’t put the lower working person on cover, hope your team could cover most of the un-sung heroes in your magazine.
At the end who is Mala Karki?
A: She is just a Social Worker 🙂
