Sometimes the stories we capture are not just about words — they are about the warmth of being welcomed into someone’s home. On our journey eastward through Nepal, we stopped in Lalbandi, unsure of what kind of interview we might find. What we discovered was an elder ready to share his memories, and a family who made us feel like their own.
He began with something simple yet striking: “Back then, even a matchbox would last five days.” It was a reminder of a time when resources were scarce but valued, when every spark of fire was used with care. His story pulled us into the rhythm of the past — a life measured not by speed or consumption, but by patience and respect for what little you had.
As we spoke, his family joined in naturally. Without hesitation, they brought out cow’s milk and tea, offering it to us as though we had known each other for years. One family member even insisted that cow’s milk is better than buffalo milk. For me, personally, it was touching — I usually avoid milk for health reasons, but the gesture itself was more nourishing than the drink. It was a reminder that true hospitality isn’t staged for the camera; it happens because that’s simply who they are.
What made this interview special was not its setting — Lalbandi is accessible by road, not a remote mountain hamlet. What made it special was the humanity. The small, unplanned kindnesses, the way they spoke with honesty, and the way they invited us into their morning routine. These are the moments you won’t see on big media outlets, but they are the essence of why Katha Hijo Ko exists.
Every interview is a chance to preserve the lived history of Nepal’s elders. But beyond history, it is about connection — about sitting together until the stories flow, and about remembering that we are all family in the end.
? Watch the full story here: Matchbox Memories – Katha Hijo Ko (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=499i8I93e_w)
? Support us in capturing more voices: https://kathahijoko.com/donate