Bhaktapur: ‘Though I was born in Fiji, Nepal is my ancestral home-my true provenance-I feel both proud and humbled to be the first member of my family in five generations to return to this sacred soil.’ These heartfelt words from Sanjeev Kumar Gharti filled the hall of Rafat Sanchar Club in Bhaktapur with emotion.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Sanjeev expressed his intention to take a handful of soil from his ancestral home back to Fiji, to be placed in his family’s prayer room. His voice trembled as he recounted his family’s history, noting that it was approximately 132 years ago when his forefathers journeyed to Fiji in search of employment. His great-great-grandmother, Kalu Singh, arrived in 1892, and since then, the family has settled far from their homeland.
At a family reunion program held in his honor, Sanjeev shared his gratitude for finally standing on the land of his ancestors. He reflected on the significance of family bonds and the love of relatives, emphasizing how truly fortunate he felt to have this opportunity.
Sanjeev’s journey to Nepal was facilitated by world cyclists Bhagat Khatri and Ajay Mishra. Mishra recounted their meeting with Sanjeev in Fiji during a world bicycle tour en route to Australia. They were inspired by Sanjeev’s yearning to reunite with his relatives in Nepal, and after a year of dedicated efforts, his dream was realized.
During his visit, Sanjeev met his uncle Jaya Bahadur Gharti, relative Rashmi GC, and several other family members residing in Chitwan. After spending ten days in Nepal, Sanjeev plans to return to Fiji, carrying not only the soil of his ancestors but also a heart full of cherished memories. He stated that he would take back priceless memories of reuniting with his relatives and the joy of stepping on the soil of his motherland.