Thawang Raid

This January I had a chance to visit infamous Thawang of Rolpa District. One of the most heard place during 10 years Maoist insurgency.The stronghold of Magar community was the epicenter of the insurgency. Thawang was also the highlight of CA election 2070 because the entire Village Development Committee boycott it.
Chilly Thawang
 
The Northernmost part of Rolpa is still a day hike from the nearest motorable road. So, it was not an easy journey, had to change the vehicle twice. The bus ride to Sulichaur from Kathmandu was one of a kind. Stinky bus,small seats and passageway cramped with luggages. Transport syndicate at its worst! But the jeep ride to the last motorable place, Fuliban went well. A day hike for the local turned two for us. And, we were stopped by the snowfall for 6 hours next day at Mayakharka.
Crystal clear sky after snowfall at Mayakharka

After the split of UCPN-Maoist in 2012, Thabang currently is the majority of CPN-Maoist (Hardliner faction/Baidyawala). Laal gaun (Red village) was all white with the snow. Lets Boycott the Election, Say No to CA Election, Sabdhan! tapai Chunab Nishedhit Gaun ma prabesh gardai hunuhuncha (Alert! you are entering election restricted village), the village entrance and houses were all painted with those alert. Well, it was a hot welcome on that chilly day!
The Rebel Spirit

Luckily we found a good place to live for coming 4 days even it was already dark. It was a homestay, the owner, Resham Kumar Shah and his wife warmly welcomed us. We talked with the owner after dining. The talk revolved around the Duikholi-Khabang Sahid Marga (We were there for its EIA survey). With the road i.e. development, came leaders. Former CPN-Maoist now UCPN-Maoist supremo, Prachanda won the first CA election from this electoral and eventually became the Prime Minister of Nepal. Mr. Shah said there were around a dozen CA members at that time from Rolpa along. And, we Rolpali are still the same, he added. Now, I don’t have to think more why they took the Baidyawala side.
No Vote, No Election
The clustered Magar village is powered with their own micro hydro power installed during insurgency period. It was a Namuna Gaun (Model Village) for Maoist, during insurgency where they practiced village commune.They still run the cooperative and cooperative store. Next day, we found that Sahid Marga was already declared during the war period. They even had started making the track. Villagers proudly said, Jana Sena (People’s Soldier) from 10 districts of Mid-West have contributed for this road.
A traditional magar home

These people boycott the election does not mean they don’t want government and still want to continue People's War, rather it was a mere dissatisfaction with their leaders for whom they sacrificed almost everything for more than a decade. I easily concluded within few days of interaction with the locals. Knew how desperately Thawangeli are waiting for their place to be connected with the road network after doing the public hearing(For EIA of the road).
Another reason to celebrate their People's War Day.

Thawang village, according to Mr. Shah receives annual budget from Nepal Tourism Board(NTB) as a Model Village. NTB have developed a trekking route, Guerilla Trek, connecting Thawang via Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve.They want to develop tourism in their place. And they were working hard to declare their VDC as an Open Defecation Free(ODF) VDC on their Janauddha Diwas, Falgun 1 (People’s War Day).

Thawangi people now wants development and are succeding too, but they don’t want to forget their past. They still take their past as a pride, a legacy.

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