Video Calls Become Daily Ritual for Lonely Nepali Parents with Children Abroad

For Kamal Nath Dahal, a 68-year-old resident of Kathmandu, the glow of a mobile phone screen is the highlight of his day. His sons, daughters-in-law, and granddaughter appear from Japan, bridging the vast distance for a few precious minutes. These video calls are a crucial lifeline, temporarily filling the silence in his home and easing the ache of separation. While he stays occupied with daily routines and work, the digital connection cannot replace the simple happiness of sharing a meal or being together in Nepal.

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We talk on the phone a lot. I know everything happening in their lives. But the happiness of sitting together in Nepal, eating whatever is cooked in the same kitchen, cannot be compared with a video call.

Dahal's experience is becoming increasingly common across Nepal as thousands of young people seek education and employment opportunities abroad. Festivals, in particular, amplify the sense of loss, reminding parents of the family gatherings they are missing. Technology, however, serves as a double-edged sword: it highlights the distance but also provides a means to endure it. "The mobile phone has become like a god for people like us. It brings distant people close," Dahal reflects.

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The mobile phone has become like a god for people like us. It brings distant people close.

He is also focused on maintaining a connection with his granddaughter, who was born in Japan. He diligently teaches her Nepali words like 'Ba' (father) and 'Aama' (mother), worrying that children growing up overseas might lose touch with their language and culture. "Wherever children live, I want them to remember their country and their language," he says.

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Wherever children live, I want them to remember their country and their language.

While his sons have invited him to Japan, Dahal's primary hope is for their permanent return to Nepal. He believes foreign countries are for learning and gaining experience, not for settling down. His ultimate wish is to once again share a kitchen and a meal with his family in their homeland. This sentiment echoes the experiences of many parents, like Saraswati Maharjan in Pokhara, who live surrounded by memories of the family members now far away.

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Foreign countries are places to learn, not places to spend your entire life. Work there, gain experience, but invest in your own country.