“Hello, is this Raila dai speaking?” a villager asked on his mobile phone. “Yes, I am Raila dai.” “Raila dai I need your help. My buffalo needs a breeder bull,” the villager says. This is not the only novel use of cell phone I noticed during my stay in my hometown of Wangla, Arghakhandhi.
The next day I find another villager calling up a tiller. “Hello, Numlal, are you free today? I have planned to plough my land,” he says. Numlal nodded in affirmative. The villager again dialled up his neighbour, requesting for oxen. “Could you please provide me your oxen for a day?” The neighbour agreed. Job done!
The next evening Bahun Ba (the village priest) was talking on his cell. A villager was requested him to perform Rudri Puja (a process of worshiping god to avoid any untoward incident). He whipped out his cell to confirm the time and date for puja. These are just a few events I noticed in the rural outpost of Wangla.
The use of cell phone has brought people closer and made their lives more comfortable. Isn't mine a real global village, I thought. People here use cell phones for all kinds of tasks. No matter how far the destination, one dial of the cell brings the wished for service to one's doorstep. Ambulance, doctors, consumer goods - all a call away.
I heard about three guys who got married thanks to their cells. “I saw a girl in the bus while going from Sandhikharka to Balkot. I liked her, got her cell number and started sending messages. Without any delay we fell in love and got married,” a newly married guy says. The news and events we hear here in Kathmandu are not new for villagers. The villagers are equally aware, thanks to their cells.
When I noticed these developments in my village, a question sprang to my mind. If my village could produce good vegetables and corns, how beautiful the village would be! The income from these products could help villagers lift their living standards. Expenses on cell phone cannot be compensated without good income. Hence, the government must formulate new policies to motivate the villagers to till their lands, and, in the process, help them earn a good income. I also wish the use of communication can be used for more income generating activities and in exploring new markets.
However, I am happy to see new infrastructures like electricity, motor road, telephone service in my village. How many of them are here because someone dialled up, I wonder. Modern technology, if used properly, can bring a sea change in the lives of rural folks. Are the authorities listening? I just rang up.
