Saani was found in the streets by a social worker and brought to the elder care home in Pharping.
She is from the Dalit caste, which is the lowest caste. They are often called the Untouchables. People from other castes won’t touch anything from their hands, even though the caste system was outlawed in the 1960s.
Shaha, the young man who runs the elder care home in Pharping, says, “But my dear didi [sister], I don`t have any discrimination about it in my heart. I feel all mothers are my own.”
In Nepal, it is still legal for men to marry more than one wife; while women have rights now, many don’t know this. Saani was taken by a man as a second wife, in conjunction with his first wife.
When it was discovered that Saani could not bear children, the husband and his first wife began to neglect her. Since the first wife bore children for her husband, Saani really served no purpose to this man – not even to help around the home.
After a time of being neglected, not fed, not cared for, and not cared about, Saani began to go out drinking to excess and to beg for food from strangers. She had to beg for some place to sleep – and also slept with men who were using her for the sex. All she wanted was a place to sleep.
Because of the kindness of strangers, Saani has found a new home and a new family. She quickly proved to be active and helpful to the women who help run the home every day.
Finally, Saani is happy, and valued as a person.