Two years after the devastating Gorkha earthquake that claimed the lives of over 8,000 people and demolished over half a million homes, Dinesh Tamang of Lapa-1 Kapur in Dhading district, against all odds, has completed the resettlement of his fellow villagers.

At the time of the quake that shook the nation on April 25, 2015, Tamang was working in Sindhupalchok as a health assistant. He returned back to his home town to find it in rubbles and at the risk of landslide. “I decided that I had to resettle my people,” said Tamang. But with no means on sight it was a mighty task to accomplish.

The government had already announced a plan to resettle the villages that were high on risk of landslide. However, the government plan was a far-sight from execution.

So, Tamang took some videos of his quake ravaged village and came back to Kathmandu in hope of finding a way. He hoped to meet the then Prime Minister Sushil Koirala but to no avail. “Despite all my efforts I could not meet the Prime Minister,” he lamented.

Then Tamang showed the video to one of his Canadian friend who agreed to give him Rs1.5 million. With the help of that money he bought some land in Dhola and relocated 26 families from his village. “After the first relocation, other families too wanted to shift,” he said, “I again contacted my Canadian friend.”

Tamang’s Canadian friend could not deny his request and sent him another Rs1.4million. The other families also joined the earlier resettled ones in tents.

Tamang recounts that the resettled 55 families found a great relief after shifting from their landslide-prone village.

After resettling his fellow villagers Tamang did not stop there. He wanted to build a house for every family who had left their home. His new quest began by shooting another video and taking it to possible partners.

Two organisations—The Salvation Army and Mountaineer For Himalayan Organisation—pledged to help. However, both organisations went out of contact.

Tamang, then went to the Nagarjun-based Seto Gumba, met the Rimpoche and showed him the videos. The Rimpoche called one of his Lamas and asked him to help Tamang as per their capacity.

Once, Tamang reached Dhola he found truck after truck of cement, rods and building materials. It was the beginning of the completion of his dream to build one house each for the resettled families.

Things got easier as the earlier two organisations that had gone out of contact also lent their helping hands. Building the homes got easier as most of the quake affected locals were masons by occupation.

They together built 55 two-storied Nepali style houses with four rooms. The newly built community has a health centre as well.

All this took place and Dinesh Tamang did not talk about it outside until the day when the Vice President handed over the newly constructed homes to the villagers.