BY: BIRENDRA
Kathmandu has always been a rush to me ever since I started living here. I see countless densely packed public vehicles moving, people’s crowds everywhere in the streets and each of them is busy; nobody ever stops. Each man walking in the street has their own story, however, one might align with everyone else in this city, i.e., earning money. But in between winning the race for a paycheck, we have forgotten those who have already finished their race. While the world moves and rushes continuously, elderly people stay behind the closed windows of concrete houses, being invisible seeing the world run but without them.
The city has everything a person needs to live a life, even though it’s hard, s/he can adjust with the challenges for the sake of a better future. The same city that promises hundreds of opportunities to the youth often fails at promising emotional bond with seniors. Looking at the time, this isn’t only limited to cities anymore; it has passed beyond country boundaries. When urban life doesn’t seem to provide what they want for a secure future; youths migrate, going abroad for better studies or for better job opportunities, leaving elderly people behind. Talking within the country, we no longer have community spaces since tall buildings and architectural structures have replaced them. Seniors are physically walled up and trapped, compelled to stay inside whole day while their children leave for work. Most of their children assure them with providing a comfortable concrete house, fulfilling every health need in city while financial support doesn’t feel enough without emotional presence. Young people are now moving along with the technology which makes our