悲恸时刻：2015尼泊尔地震

I, Dr.Jigyasa Subedi, student of first year of master’s degree in obstetrics and gynecology in Xiangya 3rd hospital am a citizen of Nepal, a beautiful landlocked country between China and India. Nepal which is located in South Asia is 65 times smaller and 60 times less populous than China. Throughout its long and independent history, Nepal has enjoyed the friendly relations and love from countries all over the world and especially from its neighbors, China and India.

In the world it is famous for its natural beauty especially of Himalayans. There are famous architectures, palaces, centuries old temples and pagoda style buildings. It is the birth place of Buddha, the teachings of which spread all over the world. The country hosts famous cities like Kathmandu, the capital and city of temples, Gorkha the city of brave warriors and Pokhara, the city of Mount Fish-Tail. I like all the Nepalese take pride in these things. We described them frequently and proudly during our introduction.

Nowadays, politicians in Nepal are busy solving differences and writing constitution after the great revolution of 2006. Nepalese people are eagerly waiting for their prosperity through active implementations of strong constitution, law and order. However, the almighty Nature has different fate for us, halting all the process and bringing nation to stand still. On 25 April 2015, at 11.56 am NST a strong and powerful earthquake of 8.1 Magnitude for around two minutes hit Gorkha, the epicenter being 80 km from Kathmandu valley. The strong waves devastated the villages changing all small muddy houses to rubbles. Even many concrete houses in Kathmandu fell like cards. More painful was the century old National Heritage sites, temples, houses, palaces, towers all were lost within few breaths. Around seven thousand people died and twenty thousand people got injured crumbled with mud, stones and dusts. Two million people were without houses to live and food to eat. Earthquake destructed roads, communication networks, curtailed electricity and water supplies.

It is very difficult living away from family when bad events occur. When I got the news through internet, I was stunned. My heart was heavy and anxious, eyes full of tears, mind full of memories of my dear ones and fingers reflexly dialing the numbers to my family members. Suddenly I was relieved by the sms back home by my sister “we are safe”. But I could see in internet thousands of my people were crying and chaos all around, hear all painful moans and shouts for help and read all tragic stories. My memories got filled with events and experiences moving around the tallest tower, Dharahara, beautiful Durbar Square, museums and many temples which were not there now. In the hostel there were other friends like me wiping each other tears, supporting each other surfing the internet for any new news. Other international students also started ranging up inquiring about the news and condition of family there at home. Chinese friends and my respected teachers also inquired about the events and at that time when we were lowest, we found supports everywhere from hostel and college.

Local rescue teams and volunteers had started doing their work immediately. State of Emergency was there in the country. Army and police personnel took the lead. Neighbouring countries China and India, immediately sent their rescue teams to help its small neighbor. News broke again adding the pain that hundreds of tourists from United States and Europe were trapped and missing in mountains during trekking process in Langtang and Everest Base Camp. We all were happy and confident to see hundreds of members affiliated to Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) of China carrying sniffer dogs, recovery vehicles, rescue equipments and life detectors, medicines and rescue kits to Nepal. Other countries like United States, United Kingdom, European Union, Japan and SAARC countries were also helping financially and physically.

Xiangya medical school, CSU is renowned for excellent academics, I also admired for it having supportive culture, helpful management, excellent teachers and helpful colleagues around. It is my home away from my home. My feelings grew deep when I realized everybody in the institution were concerned about our situation there. University and International Students Office organized a small gathering for all the Nepalese students expressing their support to us and our family and country. Even they extend an outing program with other international graduation students to refresh us. All people showed concerns for us and our country and all have great wishes in their heart for our strength to fight back the situation bravely.

Closing my eyes, I feel long way to go for us and our roads have become stiffer. Culture cultivated and radiated from CSU will guide us later to be in a team member reconstructing my beloved country. At present, teachings of Buddha wish give us peace of mind and heart in this painful situation.