OK Baje from Japan
By Sudha Shrestha(KTM post)
He describes himself as a ‘mobile’ office. With an old ruckshack and an old towel round his neck and an old vest, OK Baje roams round the 198 villages of East Palpa inquiring about the villagers’ problems. This is how he spends 200 days out of his 365 days a year – a 5-hour walk everyday.
His marathon spirit of his youth comes alive.
If there is no school, if there is no Kulo (canal), no hospital, no irrigation facilities, everything goes into his notepad. One by one, the dreams of the villagers get materialised after some time.
It has already been nine years since he lived in the villages of East Palpa. A lot of changes have taken place in this remote part of the country. There are forty schools, health posts, irrigation facilities which are being expanded. More deaths have been prevented as sick and old people are getting medical treatment in United Mission to Nepal hospital on his expenses.
With these works, Baje has won hearts and minds of villagers and has actually become a household name. For small kids, he is like a loving grandfather (Baje). They come running to him saying Baje Raaha ( grandpa has come in Magar language ). Now the ever-smiling Baje is like one of their family members to the villagers.
Kazumasa Kakimi, an English and Mathematics teacher, has found a new identity as OK Baje in these villages. Simplicity, honesty and hard-work of villagers are something that make him feel emotionally involved with the place. Above all, ‘brightness of their character ‘ to put in his words, amidst the tough conditions deeply appealed this outsider from the highly sophisticated country. "I’ve learnt a lot from them, more than I’ve taught them. They don’t grumble much. They always try to seek happiness even in tough environment. I always think they’ve given me more than I’ve given them."
In 1993, Kakimi first visited Jalpa VDC of Palpa as a trekker with his guide while returning from the world famous Annapurna Trekking Area. There he landed in his guide’s village, Dholimara of Jalapa VDC. The harsh life of villagers deeply touched the trekker and felt an urge to do something for them. "When I stayed in the village for some days, I found many of them to be deprived of food and education. Then, I made up my mind to start doing something for them, " recalls Kakimi.