Amit Machamasi - Not the Same Anymore
Over my lifetime, I’ve witnessed the changing landscape around my residence due to commercialization. This transformation has affected the traditional agricultural foundation of my hometown, gradually making way for an expanding urban environment.
Previously, the aroma of petrichor and the sound of rustling leaves used to be the two distinctive things I would hear as I opened my eyes every morning. Now, they have been completely replaced by the pungent smell of chemicals and the smoke emitted by brick kilns, which nauseates my soul.
Farms that were once the second home for peasants, where they nurtured and tended to their crops, have been bulldozed to make way for buildings and other commercial purposes.
While change is inevitable, and cities must evolve with time, the inherent quality of the land has deteriorated haphazardly. The increasing number of brick kilns and land development has eroded the ambiance of my hometown. Sipadol, Bhaktapur is no longer the same.
"Not the Same Anymore" portrays the story of how my hometown, Bhaktapur, fell victim to unplanned urbanization. Once a city of farmers and their fields, my hometown has now transformed into a hub of brick kilns and land development. With rapid population growth and commercialization, the city I once knew has undergone a complete transformation, and I fear that in another 10 years, this place may be nothing more than a concrete jungle.
