Robert Nicod — Nepal 1977

REPORT 02 / 08

CountryNepal

CitiesKathmandu and surroundings

Year1977

Plates53

Nepal 1977

After the turmoil of India, arriving in Nepal felt like entering another world. With my friend, we discover Kathmandu, its streets, its children, its women and men living to the rhythm of a life that is still very rural.
What strikes me is an existence shaped by the mountains, where physical effort and the hardships of daily life take up an important place. Carrying, pushing, hauling, climbing: effort is everywhere. These men and women grew up in these conditions; they have been part of their lives forever. Though fatigue and discomfort are no strangers to them, they seem to take things as they come, with a simplicity that moves us.
I am also struck by the solidarity that emerges from these ordinary scenes. Faced with difficulties, efforts combine and bodies act together. There is a kind of cohesion here that contrasts with our Western individualism, as if several bodies could act with a single heart.
This culture of effort and mutual help recalls that of the Sherpas who, in the 1980s, accompanied Western climbers on the high mountains of the Himalayas.
For two weeks, in Kathmandu and its surroundings, we thus discover a daily life that is often harsh, yet seems astonishingly peaceful to us. This was the Nepal of 1977, a world that has since changed profoundly, and of which these photographs keep the trace.

Plate I — Nepal 1977

53 plates

Nepal 1977 — Two tourists, three curious women, Kathmandu 1977 — PL. 1 Two tourists, three curious women
Kathmandu 1977

Nepal 1977 — Alms near a sacred place, Kathmandu 1977 — PL. 2 Alms near a sacred place
Kathmandu 1977

Nepal 1977 — The Gaddi Baithak, royal palace, Kathmandu 1977 — PL. 3 The Gaddi Baithak, royal palace
Kathmandu 1977

Nepal 1977 — A leather strap to carry, twice their own weight, Kathmandu 1977 — PL. 4 A leather strap to carry
twice their own weight
Kathmandu 1977

Nepal 1977 — The miniskirt makes its appearance, Kathmandu 1977 — PL. 5 The miniskirt makes its appearance
Kathmandu 1977

Nepal 1977 — Nepal 1977 — PL. 6 Nepal 1977

Nepal 1977 — Small street stall, Kathmandu 1977 — PL. 7 Small street stall
Kathmandu 1977

Nepal 1977 — Two ages, the same gaze, Nepal 1977 — PL. 8 Two ages, the same gaze
Nepal 1977

Nepal 1977 — At a religious man's home, Nepal 1977 — PL. 10 At a religious man's home
Nepal 1977

Nepal 1977 — Sun protection, Kathmandu 1977 — PL. 11 Sun protection
Kathmandu 1977

Nepal 1977 — A hint of defiance, Pokhara 1977 — PL. 12 A hint of defiance
Pokhara 1977

Nepal 1977 — Students, Kathmandu 1977 — PL. 13 Students
Kathmandu 1977

Nepal 1977 — Old American woman, Kathmandu 1977 — PL. 14 Old American woman
Kathmandu 1977

Nepal 1977 — Brother and little sister, Kathmandu 1977 — PL. 15 Brother and little sister
Kathmandu 1977

Nepal 1977 — Indra Jatra festival. Women and children gathered in front of a temple to watch the Kumari's chariot go by, Kathmandu 1977 — PL. 16 Indra Jatra festival. Women and children gathered in front of a temple to watch the Kumari's chariot go by
Kathmandu 1977

Nepal 1977 — Indra Jatra festival. Townspeople and children pull the chariot by sheer arm strength, Kathmandu 1977 — PL. 17 Indra Jatra festival. Townspeople and children pull the chariot by sheer arm strength
Kathmandu 1977

Nepal 1977 — Some of these temples would be destroyed by the 2015 earthquake, then rebuilt, Kathmandu 1977 — PL. 18 Some of these temples would be destroyed by the 2015 earthquake, then rebuilt
Kathmandu 1977

Nepal 1977 — 35 kg of fodder on his back, Kathmandu 1977 — PL. 19 35 kg of fodder on his back
Kathmandu 1977

Nepal 1977 — Nearly 70 kg of fruit, with a smile, Kathmandu 1977 — PL. 20 Nearly 70 kg of fruit, with a smile
Kathmandu 1977

Nepal 1977 — It's heavy, it slips and it goes uphill, Kathmandu 1977 — PL. 21 It's heavy, it slips and it goes uphill
Kathmandu 1977

Nepal 1977 — From above, observing, Pashupatinath 1977 — PL. 22 From above, observing
Pashupatinath 1977

Nepal 1977 — Funeral preparations for an eight-year-old child. On the right, his father squatting, eyes on the ground, Pashupatinath 1977 — PL. 23 Funeral preparations for an eight-year-old child. On the right, his father squatting, eyes on the ground
Pashupatinath 1977

Nepal 1977 — Pashupatinath 1977 — PL. 24 Pashupatinath 1977

Nepal 1977 — Woman giving alms with her child, Kathmandu 1977 — PL. 25 Woman giving alms with her child
Kathmandu 1977

Nepal 1977 — The weight of daily life, Kathmandu 1977 — PL. 26 The weight of daily life
Kathmandu 1977

Nepal 1977 — Kathmandu 1977 — PL. 27 Kathmandu 1977

Nepal 1977 — Child vendor who climbed into the bus during a stop, Kathmandu to Pokhara road 1977 — PL. 29 Child vendor who climbed into the bus during a stop
Kathmandu to Pokhara road 1977

Nepal 1977 — Albino child, mocked as elsewhere in the world, Kathmandu 1977 — PL. 30 Albino child, mocked as elsewhere in the world
Kathmandu 1977

Nepal 1977 — Krishna Mandir temple, still standing after the 2015 earthquake, Patan 1977 — PL. 31 Krishna Mandir temple
still standing after the 2015 earthquake
Patan 1977

Nepal 1977 — A grandmother's gentle smile, Kathmandu 1977 — PL. 32 A grandmother's gentle smile
Kathmandu 1977

Nepal 1977 — Many walk barefoot, whatever the terrain, Kathmandu 1977 — PL. 33 Many walk barefoot, whatever the terrain
Kathmandu 1977

Nepal 1977 — Prayer wheel in a niche open to the outside and to the keeper's room, Kathmandu 1977 — PL. 35 Prayer wheel in a niche open to the outside and to the keeper's room
Kathmandu 1977

Nepal 1977 — A nap between two customers, Kathmandu 1977 — PL. 37 A nap between two customers
Kathmandu 1977

Nepal 1977 — Kathmandu Valley 1977 — PL. 38 Kathmandu Valley 1977

Nepal 1977 — Farmers and domesticated buffaloes crossing the river, Kathmandu Valley 1977 — PL. 39 Farmers and domesticated buffaloes crossing the river
Kathmandu Valley 1977

Nepal 1977 — Sorting chillies and grain, Kathmandu 1977 — PL. 40 Sorting chillies and grain
Kathmandu 1977

Nepal 1977 — Traditional wood-fired pot warmer, Kathmandu 1977 — PL. 41 Traditional wood-fired pot warmer
Kathmandu 1977

Nepal 1977 — Fabric merchant, Kathmandu 1977 — PL. 42 Fabric merchant
Kathmandu 1977

Nepal 1977 — View over the valley, Kathmandu 1977 — PL. 43 View over the valley
Kathmandu 1977

Nepal 1977 — Fodder harvest, Kathmandu 1977 — PL. 45 Fodder harvest
Kathmandu 1977

Nepal 1977 — An athletic Buddhist, Kathmandu 1977 — PL. 46 An athletic Buddhist
Kathmandu 1977

Nepal 1977 — Game of Pachisi, a traditional Indian game, Kathmandu 1977 — PL. 48 Game of Pachisi, a traditional Indian game
Kathmandu 1977

Nepal 1977 — Tibetan sage, Kathmandu 1977 — PL. 49 Tibetan sage
Kathmandu 1977

Nepal 1977 — Prayer wheels, Kathmandu 1977 — PL. 50 Prayer wheels
Kathmandu 1977

Nepal 1977 — A line of rickshaws, Kathmandu 1977 — PL. 51 A line of rickshaws
Kathmandu 1977

Nepal 1977 — Rural bus stop, Nepal 1977 — PL. 53 Rural bus stop
Nepal 1977