French Nepali on ?discover roots? bid here

Dikshya Thakuri

A French couple had adopted Chudamani Neupane and his twin sister, Chudimaya, when both were four months old, twenty-five years ago and taken them to France. Now, Chudamani is back in Nepal as Nicolas Thiebaut, a French national to trace his biological parents and his roots.

Foster parents Monique and Jean Marc Theibaut adopted him and his sister on November 19, 1979 from Bal Mandir. Nicolas arrived in Kathmandu on November 20 to begin his search and help deprived children. He is currently a volunteer at Bal Mandir and plans to stay in the country until May.

?I know my mother left us at the shelter because she didn?t have the money to raise us, but I?m curious to hear the true story from my blood parents,? said Nicolas. He wondered if he resembled his parents and said he was keen to meet the entire family including his elder sister, who?s four years older than him.

?I don?t know what my sentiments would be when I reunite with them, but I?m not angry at them for leaving me at the shelter. I?m not sure if I?m going to meet them but I hope to,? he said. His biological mother Sabitri Neupane left them at Bal Mandir since his father Kamal Prasad apparently disappeared on the day of their naming ceremony and she didn?t have any other option. All he knows is that he is originally from Dumja, Sindhuli district. Nicolas who lives in Marseille, south of France, said he had been thinking about coming to look for his parents for the past five years.

His foster parents told him and his sister now called Myriam since childhood that their biological parents were in Nepal. ?We looked completely different from them and it was quite obvious,? he pointed out. He agreed it was difficult growing up in France since he faced discrimination for being an Asian. ?Still, I feel privileged

especially when I see street children, child labourers and hear of cases of child prostitution,? he says. He is totally for adoption and one day hopes to adopt a child.

Nepalis, according to him, are very sincere, tolerant and helpful. ?My spirit is in Nepal, although France is my home,? he said, adding that he may go to Dumje if he doesn?t hear from his parents. He urged the government to support social welfare organisations for children. His main mission is to help children in Nepal and find his parents as a ?bonus.?

http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullstory.asp?filename=aFanata0sa2qzpda5a9a6va.axamal&folder=aHaoamW&Name=Home&dtSiteDate=20041209