"Humanity never Dies"

[Martha Hitang]

 In the midst of the growing City of Pokhara, where busy roads, new buildings, & fast-paced lives often dominate the landscape, it’s easy to believe that people have become too occupied with their own lives to notice the struggles around them. Yet, in a world where stories of conflict, neglect, & indifference often dominate the headline, acts of kindness continue to remind us that compassion is still alive. Sometimes, humanity shines in not through grand gestures but through simple actions taken by ordinary people. One such story comes from Aarandada Community, located in the midst of the bustling city of Pokhara.

Since August 2025, through the ARC Project, we have been engaging with community members in Aarandada. Through regular conversations, visits & interactions, we have had the opportunity to learn about people’s lives, struggles, strengths, & aspirations. These interactions have shown us that while challenges exist, there’s also a deep sense of care & solidarity within the community.

One Community member who embodies this spirit of compassion is Dhan Kumari Pariyar.

Last Friday, an incident occurred that touched my heart. A young calf had been abandoned in the Lakeside area of Pokhara. The calf was found trapped inside a sack, left on the roadside without care, protection, or any certainty of survival. The news reached Dhan Kumari Pariyar through her nephew, who informed her about the helpless animal.

For many people, it could have been just another unfortunate incident. They might have felt sympathy & moved on with their day. But for Dhanu Didi, walking away was not an option. she couldn’t stop imagining about its condition, the fear and suffering it must have endured, abandoned and left alone inside a sack. Despite knowing that her own home had limited space & resources, as she is caring for several animals like buffalo, goats & chickens, all of which require daily attention, time & resources. Managing these responsibilities is not easy, Yet, when faced with the suffering of another living being, she didn’t calculate the inconvenience or turn away because of the challenges. Instead, she opened her home & her heart, which shows the very essence of humanity.The rescued calf now has a safe place to stay, food to eat, and someone who cares about its wellbeing. What could have been a story of abandonment and loss became a story of hope because one person decided to act.

In rapidly urbanizing cities, where people often become disconnected from one another and from the natural world, stories like this remind us that kindness still exists. They remind us that empathy can overcome inconvenience and that ordinary individuals can make extraordinary differences through their actions.

As we continue our journey with the Aarandada Community through the ARC Project, stories such as this inspire us and reaffirm our belief in the strength of community values. They demonstrate that care, responsibility, and compassion remain deeply rooted in people's hearts.

The story of Dhan Kumari Pariyar and the abandoned calf is more than an animal rescue story. It is a reminder that humanity continues to thrive wherever people choose kindness over indifference and action over silence.

In a busy corner of Pokhara, one woman saw a helpless life in need and decided not to look away. Through that simple act, she reminded us all of an important truth:

“Humanity never dies.”