Migrant worker
Nepal
In memory of

Subodha Mishra

1978—2013
Years
of
Age
35
World
Cup
Qatar
22
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Migrant worker
Nepal
In memory of

Subodha Mishra

1978—2013
Subodha Mishra made his first trip to Qatar at the age of 18. From then until his death in 2013, he spent only a few months in his home village of Bhramarpura. - He first went there because the family needed to eat, then to be able to build a house, then to be able to pay for our education, says his nephew Arun Kumar Mishra. The details of the death are unclear. Grief is mixed with unanswered questions. - The company says that it was an accident, that a truck backed into him. But we are not sure, says Manda Devi Mishra.
— told to the journalistic platform Blankspot
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Dead at 35

Subodha Mishra made his first trip to Qatar at the age of 18. From then until his death in 2013, he spent only a few months in his home village of Bhramarpura. - He first went there because the family needed to eat, then to be able to build a house, then to be able to pay for our education, says his nephew Arun Kumar Mishra. The details of the death are unclear. Grief is mixed with unanswered questions. - The company says that it was an accident, that a truck backed into him. But we are not sure, says Manda Devi Mishra.

Told to the journalistic platform Blankspot

Subodha Mishra was 18 years old when he traveled to Qatar for the first time. For 17 years and until his death in 2013, he would only spend a few months in his home village, Bhramarpura.

”First he went there to feed his family, then to be able to build a house, and then so he could afford to pay for our education,” says Arun Kumar Mishra, a nephew.

Bhramarpura is located on sleepy farm country in the low country of southeastern Nepal, bordering India. The area makes up one of Nepal’s absolutely poorest regions, and many of the migrant workers hail from here. Despite this, Bhramarpura stands out. Compared to the neighboring villages, it has more brick houses and the literacy rate is higher, something the residents like to point out.

Manda Devi Mishra (left) and Sujit Mishra (right) from the village of Bhramarpura, lost their son/father to the dangerous working conditions in Qatar.

About 20 years ago, a group of young pioneers left the village in search for opportunities in the Persian Gulf. When these men returned with pockets full of money, neighbors and relatives soon followed pursuit. Of Bhramarpura’s 12,000 residents, about a quarter have been, or are working in the Gulf.

The details of Subodha Mishra’s death are unclear. Grief is mixed with unanswered questions.

Aware of the risks for unskilled labor, Subodha Mishra went anyway, said it didn’t matter.

”The company says it was an accident, that a truck backed over him, but we don’t know what really happened,” says Subodha’s father, Manda Devi Mishra.

Photo: Jonas Gratzer.

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