The harsh conundrum of reality catches us at some point of our lives where we hear stories of people dying due to cold, most of the cases in rural areas of Nepal has been caused by the lack of warm clothing.
As the winter peeps in, the suffering of poor only ends with their death, while the survivors go through the same hell again. Casualties from all over Nepal are reported in major newspapers and even worldwide but few take upon themselves to end the war against cold. Initiatives are taken but it fails catering to the sufferers at every corner. It is just a wet paint covering only the middle part of the picture while the corners are totally avoided. One can wonder how the picture looks like. Incomplete, as it always seems.

Max Khatri, the dreamer who conceived the idea, was casually reading the issue in The Himalayan Times (a daily newspaper) when he came upon the news of people succumbing to cold in Saptari district. The news was not new for him or for anyone as Nepalese are familiar with the same old frequent story of death caused by cold. With his winter closet just opposite to him, his unscathed jackets made him to ponder. "I might never wear these jackets again, even if I do I don’t need all of them and there are people dying from cold. What can be done?" That realization hit like a wave of tsunami; Lethal yet silent. The slience reverberating within that forced him to share warmth around the world. Nyano sansar was born.

Floating an idea is simple but implementing means having a hard work to do. He approached many people through the wonders of social media but to his disappointment, anyone barely came forward.

"Such is our inability to respond to a good deed," realised Max who knew now he has to do everything on his own. For himself and for the people around. With the money he had allocated for his holiday and research done on the widely hit subject: Operation Nyano Sansar was on.

Floating an idea is simple but implementing means having a hard work to do. He approached many people through the wonders of social media but to his disappointment, anyone barely came forward. "Such is our inability to respond to a good deed," realised Max who knew now he has to do everything on his own. For himself and for the people around. With the money he had allocated for his holiday and research done on the widely hit subject: Operation Nyano Sansar was on.

Accompanied by three doctors, photographer Sanoj Byanjankar, Max travelled to Saptari, Siraha, Mahottari, Rautahat, Dhading, Chitwan, Bajura distributing around 1000 blankets, countless clothes and medical services to the sufferers in the worst-hit areas. During the seven-night long project, the team came in close contact with most affected ones and promised to do more. But the need surpassed the expectations. A chunk of 1000 blankets weren’t not enough to douse the fire of cold.

The sight that greeted them was beyond horrific. With chilling winter on the horizon, they lived with bare-backs. Most men and women wore thin cotton clothes, just good enough for summer, while children had amputated outfits. Despite the mass getting blankets and health check-ups, something was still missing in the campaign. This is when Version 2.0 Nyano Sansar was initiated in Rautahat in January 2, 2013.

With the help of artist Milan Rai and several other generous volunteers 3000 blankets and medical aids were provided to save people from nature’s wrath. The same initiative was taken to Chepang village of Dhading where people were frequently dying. Following an active participation of doctors, buck load of blankets and clothes along with supervision of people who wanted to help, Nyano Sansar completed its initiatives during January, 2013.

The Nyano Sansar team was thankful to Nepal Police which provided them with assistance and transportation to ease the tough process of campaigning. They encountered the bitter reality that poverty affected each and every part of their lives. The realised that food without proper count of iodine, schools without desks, hospitals without doctors, bodies without clothes have made the poor hollow. Even with the little thing they had, Nyano Sansar team members saw an infectious happiness compelling to question their own unending materialistic dissatisfaction back home.

As a huge mass at several parts of the country is suffering, Nyano Sansar realised about the usage of what we call wasted in the urban areas. These materials could be repaired, dusted off and given a proper utility. For instance the team distributed repaired umbrellas and raincoats to students at the Guheshwor HB School in Nallu VDC. The human nature always has the tendency to find better solution of an imminent problem. Many asked the team about further projects in hand and how to make it sustainable. Give a man a fish, he will be satisfied for a day but if you teach him to fish, he will be satisfied every day. Due to the lack of infrastructure development in the weather-affected areas, the water for fishing metaphorically wasn’t available anywhere. To combat this challenge, the organization went in search of its water. Their water came in form of plant leftovers called hay (Paral in Nepali). Paral which is found in abundance in farming villages when dried and tied together makes an excellent sitting mat.

The plan was simple; a person would exchange three mattresses with a blanket. One mat would be used in the local schools as alternative of desks. The remaining mats would then be sold to collect further funds for the impending winter. Nyano Sansar visited Saptari and Rajbiraj preparing a check list of the plan to be implemented. Allowing such a flow in the society did not just make people work for themselves but made them realize of their potential to do better. Nyano sansar distributed blankets to the needy ones; the elderly, the women and the children. Anyone missing from this equation weren’t neglected but the neediest ones were first to get help.

One should do everything in this world with compassion. That deed, irrespective of its length or size, means a huge relief compared to the self. And struggle is a part of who we are. Life always means struggle for every one of us. We as humans have evolved and survived through tough times to stand at the point where we are today.

Should we let our kind down when it comes to getting basic amenities? Leaning back and lacing our fingers to acknowledge the number of deaths due to the cruelty of weather will not fetch anyone anything. The left overs in our wardrobe which we think they are now ready to be dumped could actually mean bringing cheers to thousands like Nyano Sansar has done. An organization, which paves a road and doesn’t cover its tracks, is something that wants you to follow and most importantly work hand in hand with you. Join the idea.