Gobinda Giri Prerana
(Trans. Pushpa Raj Paudel)
Gopal had an American passport in his hand. He fondled it and thought it was indeed a passport. The word ‘passport’had been written on its top. Below this word, the emblem of America had been printed followed by the words “The United States of America”. These were the words that made this passport so powerful that the people worldwide were enticed to possess it.
It had been many days since Gopal started thinking whether his decision to secure the American passport was right or wrong. He was indecisive yet. He was not much excited even on the day he received it. He was still in confusion whether or not to be proud of securing the American passport.
He had never imagined that his life would take such a turn and he would become an American passport holder. Born in a remote village of Nepal, he received education from one of the local schools there. He was weak in English then. When he passed out from his high school in second division, his father was overjoyed and cheered all through the village. This event remained a much-discussed matter at the local tea stalls for many days.
Gopal’s father was often asked a challenging question by the villagers, “When are you sending Gopal to Kathmandu for further study?” This question would torture him. He was a simple peasant and was not economically well off to send Gopal to a college in the city. Gopal had two elder brothers, who had never gone to college. One of the brothers was a sergeant in the army and the other was at home, had four children and was unemployed. Gopal had two sisters, who were still at schools.
Despite his father’s exaggerated bragging at the local tea stall, Gopal was not unaware of his father’s economic condition. He was sure that his father won’t be able to send him to the city for his higher education. His father loved him very much but that love would not turn into a wad of currency bills to meet the expenses of his study in Kathmandu.
In the meantime, Gopal knew that there was a vacancy for a teacher in the same school, where he studied. He applied for it without informing his father. He didn’t know if his father would be happy or sad about it, had be informed him about his application. Gopal knew well about his family status and did not like to put his father in agony.
Gopal faced the interview on time on the assigned day. The interviewers were the Principal, the Vice-Principal, and Mr. Hiralal, the Chairperson of the School Management Committee.
“Why would you like to become a teacher instead of continuing your study?”asked the Principal. Gopal replied that he had been compelled to do so because of the weak economic condition of his family.
He nearly convulsed.
All of a sudden, the Chairperson said to Gopalsternly, “Now, you go home. My younger brother is also going to Kathmandu to study there. I’ll manage for your stay with him. You are not going to stop your studies due to financial constraint. I’ll take care of that.”
Although he had gone for an interview for a job, Gopal returned home with an assurance that he would go to Kathmandu to join a college.
‘This is how I landed in Kathmandu to study further!’
With the American passport in his hand, Gopal drowned into his past memory, and returned form it, before long.
He got scared when he recalled his past life in Kathmandu, which was full of struggle. Many times, he went college with an empty stomach. He spent many nights hungry. In Kathmandu, he lived at Kalimati and attended the Nepal Commerce Campus, Minbhawan. The distance between these two places is about 7 kilometers. Tripureshwar occurred along his way to the college. He would come up to there on foot to save money and would get on a trolley bus available from there. He would get down at Baneshwar, and go to his college on foot. Those days, the trolley bus fare from Tripureshwar to Baneshawar was 20 paisa, and 35 paisa up to Minbhawan. He would save 15 paisa daily by getting down at Baneshwar instead of Minbhawan. He went to college on foot along the short-cut trails to save money. Many of his friends would have already reached the campus and would brag and bluster drinking tea, smoking cigarettes, and chewing tobacco in the college canteen. Many times, Gopal counted his steps along this trail to save money, and forwent tea, 25 paisa cup, as dispensable luxury.
He never bought tea for himself. If anybody offered, he would accept it heartily. Otherwise, he would go to his classroom straightly.
Gopal lives in America now. His daughter owns a car and goes to college in her own car. His son lives in another state. He is a student there. However, he has carried along both his studies and work together. He decided to buy a condominium instead of living in a rented apartment.
Gopal’s spouse was a house wife when she was in Nepal. Now she also goes to office driving her own car.
Gopal reminisces those days of destitution and comparesthem with the present time of lavishness. He sometimes gets lost in the labyrinth of his past and it becomes difficult for him to believe who he was and who he had become now.
This week Gopal received an American passport through the postal service. However, to his dismay, the passport gave him a torture, instead of bringing happiness.
When he was a college student in Kathmandu, he was including toward artistic pastimes,thanks to his company with artist. In spite of extreme destitution in his life, he received his friends’ love and support to continue both his study and artistry. By the time he had completed his bachelor’s degree in commerce, he had also become a well-known artist. In the initial days, instead of contributing to his subsistence, his interest toward art proved to be improvident. In spite of heavy economic crisis, he continued his artistic pursuits. His father never spoke directly against his interest, though he was not satisfied. Occasionally Gopal received some prizes and had opportunities to go abroad as an artist.
“What will you do with this goodwill if you can’t even make a house in Kathmandu?” his father would often complain.
He had never imagined that the same artistic pursuit would take him to America someday. He returned to his own motherland after his performance and visit to America for the first time. By now, he was already married and father of a son and a daughter. His father had suggested him to reap the benefits of visiting to America. He wanted to see his son earn enough money in America and build a house in Kathmandu. The entire family was disappointed to see Gopal return from America in a month.
Since Gopal had a multiple visa for five years, he went to America again. This time, he lived in America for a year working and earning money sufficient enough to buy a house in Kathmandu. He bought a house in Kathmandu as soon as he returned from America and thus answered those people who considered him incapable.
Since he did not return shortly from America this time, his friends fabricateda lot of moss about him. Some said he was stuck in America. Others claimed he had settled there after a false marriage with a Negro lady. Some even said he had applied for asylum. All these were are the same friends who said Gopal could not stay in a new place for a long time.
It were the same friends who had been appreciating Gopal’s valor in visiting America and owning a house in Kathmandu city when they were offered red label and kebab after he returned from America.
Gopal smiled, listening to them. He knew they were fair-weather friends. They were drinking low quality local wine with fried meat while they were backbiting behind his back then. Now they were having whisky with tandoori chicken and were praising Gopal.
At around this time, Gopal’s daughter secured a visa to study at one of the American universities. This brought more happiness to the family. Gopal’s wife was much excited and remained a bit showy, for she would state this in every telephonic conversation. But she was almost frozen, hearing what her husband told her one evening.
Gopal said to her, “Brinda, you have been more than happy for our daughter going to America for her further study. Have you ever thought that our daughter will never return once she goes to America?”
Brinda said, “Why do you say so? My daughter is going to America to study there. She will return for sure once her study is over.”
Gopal laughed his heart out. He had explained why many students did not return after they completed their study in America. She was shocked to listen to him. Then she contemplated and realized that almost all the children of her relatives had not returned home from America, where they had gone for higher studies. Only news about their study, marriage, and settlement would be heard but they never returned.
“But have a solution to this,” Gopal said.
She gaped at Gopal listening to him.
“I have a key to get the American green card,” he said.
Brinda was astonished when she heard this. Gopal explained to her how as an artist it was easy for him to receive the green card quickly.
He had come to America again after they had had this discussion. All of them had obtained the green cards. As per the American law, green card holders can obtain naturalized citizenship after five years. Gopal’s son and daughter had already obtained the naturalized citizenship. Gopal had not applied for the citizenship stating that he felt proud of being a Nepali citizen. Sometimes, his children would tease, calling him a patriot Nepali, ridiculing for not applying for the naturalized citizenship for America. They would explain the pride they felt carrying an American passport while traveling abroad.
They would also explain that one doesn’t need a visa to go to various nations if s/he has an American passport. They discussed the privileges one gets on behalf of the state for possessing it. Gopal would tell that he would feel proud to have a Nepali passport. He was firmon this decision for a long time. But he was also curious about the American passport. There were people like him, who were not willing to secure the American passport. Gopal discussed with them for hours on this issue and they decide not to go for it, finally.
Furthermore, Gopal was startled when he went through a co-publication in one of the national dailies of Nepal which was a report by a journalist. It was stated that the Nepali citizenship of a person was torn into pieces when he secured the American citizenship. This pushed Gopal into deep thoughts.
An intimate friend of him in the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs opened his eyes. He told him that his acceptance of the naturalized citizenship of America did not affect his love for motherland. Citizenship was just a piece of paper. He further added that it was a not a wise decision to discard the American citizenship and the privileges one got after becoming a citizen of America. “You can reclaim the Nepali citizenship by forsaking the American citizenship if you wish to do so at any time,” he said. He added, “There is also a provision of NRN citizenship in Nepal’s constitution to address the Non-resident Nepalis’ demand:‘once a Nepali, always a Nepali’.”
Gopal endorsed his friend’s view.
He applied for the American citizenship. He attended the interview and waited for the oath-taking day. The day arrived soon. People from various nations were assembled in a big hall to participate in the oath-taking ceremony all well-dressed and cheerful. Gopal was entangled with a feeling that he was snapping his ties with Nepal. He thought he was not going to remain a Nepali citizen any more. This feeling pricked his heart and his body began to shiver, but the people in the hall appeared overjoyed and enthusiastic.
His passport was not, however, confiscated and torn into pieces as written in the journalist’s report. After taking the oath of the national anthem and of the American flag, the record of a congratulatory message by the President was played. In the message, the president stated, “Congratulations on becoming an American citizen. Please follow the rule and regulation of this nation giving continuity to the language, literature, and culture of your motherland.”
This address emboldened Gopal’s heart. He felt this was indeed a great idea. Nonetheless, his heart could not rejoice, as the feelings of his separation from Nepal continued to prick him.
He was feeling exhausted when he reached home carrying the American citizenship.
His Europe visit was scheduled after a few days by his office. His daughter had told him that he did not need to queue up at the embassy with the green Nepali passport to secure a visa. He no more needed a visa to visit the entire Europe. She also suggested him to get the American passport as soon as possible.
Gopal applied for the American passport, and he received it after a few days at home by post.
Gopal observed the passport from both the sides meticulously. Now onward he needed to secure a visa to go to Nepal. Oh! A visa to visit one’s own nation!
He felt appalled. His daughter suggested him to apply for a Non-resident Nepali (NRN) card so that he could travel to Nepal for ten years without a visa.
When Gopal opened his cupboard, he saw an expired Nepali passport there. It really made him emotional. He had come to America securing a visa on it long back. He placed both the Nepali and the American passports together and took a long breath.
