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🇳🇵 Nepal /Culture & Society

Nepalese students brave Kedarnath porter work for education funds

From Kathmandu Post · (5m ago) English Critical tone

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Students from Jumla, Nepal, are working as porters during the Kedarnath pilgrimage in India to fund their higher education.
  • They carry pilgrims on a steep 22-kilometer route, earning between 5,000 and 15,000 Indian rupees daily, with earnings depending on the weight of the pilgrim carried.
  • Despite the physically demanding and risky nature of the job, many Nepali workers, including an estimated 8,000 to 15,000 from Jumla, find Kedarnath offers comparatively higher earnings than other parts of India.

The arduous journey of young Nepalis to Kedarnath, India, to fund their education highlights the stark economic realities and limited opportunities faced by students in rural Nepal. These students, like Bhim Bahadur Rawat, are forced to undertake physically taxing labor, carrying pilgrims on a treacherous mountain path, rather than pursuing their studies in their home country.

At this age, I should be going to college carrying books. But because of financial hardship, I am here carrying people in a foreign land.

— Bhim Bahadur RawatA student from Jumla, Nepal, working as a porter in Kedarnath, India, expressing his disappointment with his current situation.

While the pilgrimage season offers a chance for higher earnings compared to other regions in India, the work is far from easy. It demands immense strength, balance, and endurance. The meager savings of 2,000 to 3,000 rupees after expenses and seasonal fluctuations underscore the precariousness of their situation. This reality forces them to postpone their dreams of higher education, with many returning home only in winter to attend tuition classes.

I can carry only those between 45 and 70 kg. This is not an easy job. It takes strength, balance, and endurance.

— Bhim Bahadur RawatDescribing the physical demands and limitations of his work as a porter.

The story of these students is a poignant reminder of the brain drain and labor migration that plagues Nepal. The lack of accessible and affordable higher education, coupled with rising living costs, pushes bright young minds to seek opportunities abroad, often in demanding and low-paying jobs. The sheer number of Nepalis, estimated at over 30,000 during the season, working in Kedarnath alone, speaks volumes about the scale of this issue.

If I don’t work, I cannot even afford food. Education feels very far right now. I plan to return home during Dashain after saving some money.

— Hari Bahadur RawatAnother student from Jumla, highlighting the immediate financial struggles that impede educational aspirations.

From a Nepali perspective, this is not just a story of economic hardship; it is a testament to the resilience and determination of our youth. They are willing to endure hardship and risk in a foreign land to secure a better future for themselves and their families. While international media might focus on the pilgrimage itself or the economic aspects, for us in Nepal, this is a deeply human story of sacrifice, hope, and the relentless pursuit of education against all odds.

Kedarnath offers comparatively higher earnings than other parts of India during the pilgrimage season. Some said what they earn in a month here would take nearly a year elsewhere.

— Nepali workers in the areaExplaining why many Nepali workers choose to work in Kedarnath despite the difficulties.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Kathmandu Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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