KATHMANDU: In the echoing corridors of history, a tale of forbidden love has resurfaced with poignant nostalgia.
Arjun Babu Mabuhang, a historian, writer, and mayor of Laligurans Municipality in Tehrathum, embarked on a journey to the remote villages of Dhankuta district last week.
During his exploration of Tamor riverside, he uncovered a hauntingly beautiful love story that had lain dormant since 1977/078.
On his travels, Mabuhang was captivated by the story of a local Limbu maiden and a British expatriate, affectionately referred to by the villagers as ‘gora,’ meaning ‘white’ or ‘fair-skinned.’
The mayor took to Facebook, sharing the poignant narrative with his followers:
In the quaint village of Mivakhola, Milan Nalbo ‘Gothale,’ a revered literary figure, philanthropist, and political activist, recounted the tale of the forbidden romance between the ‘gora’ and the Limbu girl (mailee).
This romance unfolded at Phalametar amidst the tumultuous construction of the Dharan-Dhankuta road.
The story of ‘Limbuni mailee’ and ‘gora’ now lives on through the whispers of history and the echo of a song left unfinished, a testament to a love that defied the boundaries of language and place.
The ‘Limbuni mailee’ was rumored to be a spirited liquor seller, while the ‘gora’ served as a road supervisor.
Their worlds were separated by more than just a language barrier—each spoke in tongues unknown to the other.
And yet, destiny had a way of intertwining their fates.
One day, driven by a force beyond comprehension, they fled Phalametar together.
A local poet immortalized their love with a poignant song:
“Both of them do not understand the language of one another…”
Mayor Mabuhang, intrigued and moved by the unfinished melody, appealed on social media for those who might know the rest of the song to come forward.
With Mabuhang’s post, accompanied by a photo of the ‘gora’ and the young Limbu woman, a wave of comments flooded in, each adding depth and color to this historical tapestry.
It was revealed that the ‘gora’ had taken the Limbu girl to Britain, where they were blessed with a son.
Yet, the charms of Britain proved fleeting for the young Limbu woman.
Unable to bridge the chasm of culture and language, she returned to her homeland, leaving her child behind.
Years later, her son journeyed to Nepal, reconnecting with his roots and gathering fragments of his mother’s past from the locals.
Tragically, the lyricist Chhatramukhi Sampang, who penned the song celebrating the romance of the British citizen and the Limbu maiden, met an untimely end.
The tale of his demise is as somber as the love story he immortalized.
Sampang fell from the Mulghat bridge while walking, plunging into the river below.
Locals reported that on October 30, 2022, Chhatramukhi Sampang’s life was tragically cut short in a fall from the Tamor bridge in Dhankuta.
The story of ‘Limbuni mailee’ and ‘gora’ now lives on through the whispers of history and the echo of a song left unfinished, a testament to a love that defied the boundaries of language and place.
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