Not The Same Anymore

This project documents unplanned urbanization in Bhaktapur, tracing the shift from farmland to urban spaces. Using narratives and data, it highlights the socio-economic and environmental impacts of rapid commercialization on indigenous land.

Not The Same Anymore

I still remember the early mornings spent with my dad in the fields, harvesting vegetables to sell. Farming was our way of life, and we grew a lot. Traders would come to our hometown, collecting truckloads of vegetables harvested by farmers like us. Back then, more than half of the community relied on agriculture as their main income source, including my family. Those were bustling days, filled with the sights and sounds of a thriving farming community. Now, it feels like a distant memory.

Today, my father often tells us to focus on finding a stable, permanent job or even a government position—something more secure than farming. I understand what he means; times have changed, and farming no longer provides the stability it once did. Growing up in Bhaktapur, I spent my childhood exploring this beautiful city, racing through its narrow alleys and taking in the charm of the traditional brick buildings and resting spots, or "falcha," where locals would gather. Watching people tend to their fields, planting paddy and other crops, was once a familiar, everyday sight.

Similarly, the sound of birds chirping and rustling leaves would wake me up every morning. I wonder where did the birds go now? The greenery birthed by stair-step farming and farmers working in these fields was what I used to see every day from the window of my room. These farmers would greet me ‘hi’ while I used to return home from school. However, this scenario has changed over the years.

I now wake up to the sound of chickens clucking and bricks clashing with each other. The land in which terrace farming was once done has been turned into a plotting area and brick factories and now the farmers are rarely seen working in their fields.

At present, Bhaktapur, which is well known for its well-preserved traditional Newari architecture, temples, and rich cultural heritage, can be regarded as a rapidly urbanizing city. The city I once knew has been completely transformed. It is now difficult to find arable land across the city that has a long history of agricultural production. In the places where farmers used to plough their fields and plant crops, all I can see now is bulldozers clearing the land.

It is quite obvious that a city has to change along with the time. With modernization, people here gradually changed their way of living. Most of the farmers began to shift to other occupations leaving agriculture. Rather than tolling hard day and night in their fields, these farmers wanted their children to pursue different occupations where they could simply work from computers and earn more. Similarly, the trend of building houses on personal land and renting out rooms and spaces has providedthe people of Bhaktapur with a stable income. As a result, traditional brick buildings are being replaced by concrete structures, leading to urbanization. While this transformation is happening, the sense of community that once flourished is also gradually diminishing. In the past, the entire community would come together to help each other plant crops, making every planting season feel like a celebration. I remember participating in my neighbors' fieldwork. Unfortunately, this sense of companionship is now rare. With the limitations of agricultural work, farmers tend to hire outside laborers instead of relying on community support.

While witnessing these changes is saddening in itself, but what I find truly disheartening is hearing people talk about the need for development while justifying the reckless urbanization happening here. I acknowledge the necessity of development; the blacktopped roads around my home area, which replace what used to be muddy paths during rainfall, make traveling much easier. However, in the guise of development, the fertile lands are being turned into plots for building houses. Constructing roads without proper studies has led to a lack of water in stone spouts, and an increasing number of brick kilns has degraded the air quality. Is this the development we want?

I remember watching this place from a nearby hill. I would be mesmerized by the beauty of the place; greenery all around, traditional houses adding splashes of brown to the green landscape, and farmers with their family members working, laughing, and eating together. The whole surrounding seemed to breathe fresh air, instilling in me a sense of hope and warmth of home simultaneously. While the road to reach the hill was messy and muddy, the experience would be amazing.

Now, the road is blacktopped, making it easy to reach the hill. However, the hill itself, once full of trees, is being the green hill has turned parceled out for land. The once-green has turned into a bare, deserted land. From there, all I can see now is land being plotted for houses and brick kilns. I can no longer breathe in the fresh air; instead, I see this place is gasping for air amidst the smoke, noise, and pollution.

Thus, ‘Not the Same Anymore’ depicts the story of how my hometown, became a victim of unplanned urbanization. Once the city of farmers and their fields, it has now changed into a hive of brick kilns and plotting of land. With rapid population growth and commercialization, the city I once knew has been completely transformed and I believe that after 10 years maybe this place will be nothing but a concrete jungle.