An unforeseen event happened to Gaushala 26 as she joined class 12. She was excited to finish her high school and join university. However, merely 10 days into commencing her 12th grade, she encountered an unfortunate incident involving the cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane. The incident has impacted her in such a manner that she has been forced to change her real name and use a pseudonym instead.
Amidst social and psychological problems and disharmony in her own family, Gaushala 26 passed grade 12 with flying colours. According to the results published by the National Examination Board (NEB), Examination Control Office recently, Gaushala 26 passed with a GPA of 3.87. Her getting this GPA is nothing but extraordinary given what she has had to go through for nearly a year. It shows how strong this teenager actually is.
For nearly a year, Gaushala 26 has fought her fight alone. She’s been to the court multiple times and has faced a lot of adversities. What did not help was how her struggles were overlooked by cricket fans who elevated Sandeep Lamichhane to such a high status that they were unwilling to acknowledge any shortcomings on his part.
At a time when she needed her family, they gave up on her too as she continued to fight for justice all on her own. This decimated her mental health as she ended up failing her internal examinations as she could not focus and had to leave midway through them. Gaushala 26’s college, however, supported her as they allowed her to sit for board exams which she passed with distinction.
Nevertheless, her struggle does not end here. She still has more battles to fight. Her case is still sub-judice at Kathmandu District Court. She does not know what to do as she has no funds to go to university and her parents have refused to support her. While she is eager to pursue her studies, the uncertainty of how to make that a reality leaves her feeling helpless.
Life is a climb
After completing her Secondary Education Examination (SEE), she moved to Kathmandu with the ambition of pursuing higher education. She received a 50 per cent scholarship at a private college in Kathmandu. Looking at how eager she was to study, her teacher and the college supported her in every way they could.
Things changed in August 2022. Gaushala 26 filed a case against Sandeep Lamichhane accusing him of sexually abusing her. It has nearly been a year since she filed a case yet she continues to fight for justice.
Following her complaint against Lamichhane in August 2022, she stopped attending college. She stayed at Maiti Nepal for around four months and then went to Pokhara. Her legal guardian informed her college about the situation.
After staying in Pokhara for two more months, she rejoined college in February 2023. She had missed the entire session and failed the pre-board exam.
“Panic attacks were a constant. I had to remind myself why I came to Kathmandu and why I needed to study. That drove me,” says Gaushala 26.
In the days leading to her board exams, she immersed herself in her studies. There were days she studied for 22 hours a day. She understood the pivotal role good grades played in shaping her future. When the results were announced, she was overjoyed. However, her happiness was short-lived when she noticed her mother’s apparent lack of interest in her achievement.
Gaushala 26 says he mother promised her she would help her. However, things have changed in the past year.
“I told my mother I would make her proud, but things turned out quite the opposite,” says Gaushala 26.
She understands that her mother’s actions were a product of the distress inflicted by societal pressure, criticism, and external judgment.
“All this is normal for me,” she says.
Despite the unknown, she remains determined not to abandon her education.
“I contemplate why I came to Kathmandu. These unfortunate events should not define me, and I have learned that they should not hinder my studies. I will persist in my studies under any circumstances,” she says.
Gaushala 26 wants to study law. Her aim is to be an advocate for justice and help those who have been wronged. She understands that this situation will present a significant challenge, given that most law classes are scheduled during the day.
“I must work to make sure I can pay bills. I do not know how I will manage everything,” she says.
She holds a strong belief in the power of education, asserting that it equips individuals to tackle any circumstance. She underscores that education has not only empowered her to achieve a 4 GPA certificate but has also encouraged her to voice her dissent against injustices.
“If I can help people who faced similar issues as I did, I will feel I have done something in life,” she says.
Her challenges
Gaushala 26 finds herself in a complex predicament as she aspires to pursue a law degree. Although her initial aspiration was to secure a scholarship for enrollment at Nepal Law Campus, her expectations have shifted due to the constraints posed by afternoon class schedules and her financial limitations. In light of this, she is also exploring the possibility of the BBM program as a potential alternative.
In classes 11 and 12, the college initially granted her a 50 per cent discount, with a promise to provide the remaining 50 per cent based on her dedication. However, due to her extended absence from class 12, the college is telling her to pay the remaining amount.
“If that’s the case, I have to pay the college around Rs 150, 000.”
She is currently staying in a hostel with the help of friends but wishes to become financially independent, though her physical condition is a hindrance. She recently tripped and fell from the stairs and healing.
She says she gets anxious when she is in the presence of people and often flinches when people call her by her real name.
“It is not the best feeling,” says Gaushala 26, who was trembling while Onlinekhabar interviewed her on August 17.
She does not know what the case’s outcome will be. But whatever it is, she knows her struggles will not end with the court’s verdict.
“All I care about is living a normal life. I want to get rid of this pseudonym people know me by. I do not know how that is going to happen, but I will do that,” she says.
This story was translated from the original Nepali version and edited for clarity and length.
