Aama's Smile: Rajendra Shrestha

The word "Aama" means mother in Nepali. There are other words in Nepali for mother – "Maa", "Mumaa" and "Maamu". While "Aama", "Maa", "Mumaa" and "Maamu" are used to call one's own mother, "Aama" is also a term of respect for senior women.

After my retirement, I returned to Kathmandu, Nepal, my home country. My last duty station was in New York, in the Division of Communication, later renamed the Division of Global Communication and Advocacy.

One of the activities I began upon my return to Nepal was taking morning walks, something I believe many retirees do. This has since become a daily pastime, except when there is heavy rain or something urgent to attend to or when I'm not feeling well.

Swayambhunath, also popularly known as the Monkey Temple among foreigners and tourists, is an ancient religious landmark atop a hill at an elevation of 1,406 meters (4,613 feet). It is close to my apartment building – about a 20-minute walk away.

Believed to date back to 460 A.D., Swayambhunath is a powerful symbol of Nepal's unique blend of culture and religion. Revered by both Hindus and Buddhists, it transcends religious boundaries. Hindus see it as a manifestation of a primordial Buddha, while Buddhists view it as a representation of enlightenment.

Swayambhunath is my destination every morning for walking and jogging. I also spend an hour in Vipassana meditation at the AKV - the Ananda Kuti Vihar (Vihar is a Buddhist monastery) situated in the woodland at the base of Swayambhunath.

After meditation, I walk to the top of the hill and sit on a bench, enjoying the view of people coming for morning walks and religious activities. I listen to devotional songs with religious themes or spiritual ideas performed by a group of elderly choirs, and watch the monkeys' brachiation. The entire routine takes me almost three hours every day.

A few days after starting my morning walks, I noticed an old woman – Aama, sitting on an iron bench on the side of the walkway at the base of the hill. She had a tray full of butter lamps, waiting for people to light them. In Hindu and Buddhist religions, lamps are lit in memory of the dead. However, the lights are also lit for the happiness, peace, and prosperity of family members.

When Aama saw me for the first time, she smiled and politely said, "Batti baalnus na…" (light the lamp). I simply couldn't reject the plea from the old woman. I lit 10 lamps, which cost about 1.00 USD. Since that day, I have been lighting lamps every time I pass by her. I always pay her for the lamps and give her some additional money, usually equivalent to the cost of the lights I lit. She smiles and always blesses me. A few days back, I gave her Rs. 1,000 (approx. 8 USD), and the joy I witnessed on her face was truly mesmerizing.

"Kanchhi" is Aama's given name. She is from a village in Kavre, a district close to Kathmandu. She lives in a rented room with her daughter, who works in a restaurant. Aama, in her 80s, sells lamps to contribute to what her daughter earns for their livelihood. Her son-in-law is sick due to an accident and her grandson, who lives separately, does not care about the family. I do not know how much she makes in a day, but it is obvious that this is the only work she can do at her age. It's a really sad situation, but this is not a rare scene in Nepal, even in the capital city, Kathmandu.

I never miss lighting lamps when passing by Aama, as it brings a priceless smile to her face and of course a little help for her livelihood.