From left: Sapta Ratna Shakya, Dan Ratna Shakya, Chiri Maya Shakya, Mag Ratna Shakya,

Bodhi Ratna Shakya, Jog Ratna Shakya, Dharma Ratna Shakya, Dev Ratna Shakya.
First photo above consists of my entire family except for my great grandmother. The picture
was taken around 70 years ago, the people sitting around are the siblings of my grandfather
and the one sitting on the far-right wearing black waistcoat is my great grandfather. What they
are doing an ancestral occupation of my family, they are putting small crystals on to gold- and
silver-plated metal sculptures.

Looking at the photograph I was mesmerized for a moment and kept me thinking for days
about it. It was the first time I had ever seen my great grandfather.

Second picture is a photograph of the time when my great grandmother visited 'Kashi', Varanasi
a city in India. Widows had to shave their heads ones they visited Kashi so my great
grandmother's head is shaved.

Keeping these two photos together feels like a family photograph of my family from my
grandfather's generation till the present day.
This photo was taken in ‘Gagan Batika’ park in Nagbaha. This is a school photograph; all the kids
are dressed in scout uniforms. This photo was taken during summer time as the kids are
wearing half shirts and half pants. I don’t recognize anyone in the photograph but I think it is a
school photograph of my grandfather or his siblings.