Gumba: A forgotten village of Bajura

By Sher Bahadur Sarki,Bajura, Mar. 23: Tucked away in one of the country’s most remote corners, Gumba village stands as a stark reminder of uneven development, where modern state services remain largely out of reach despite gradual progress elsewhere.

Located in Himali Rural Municipality, one of the most inaccessible regions of Bajura, ranked 77th in the country on the Human Development Index, Gumba village lies nearly 200 kilometres from the district (Martadi) and about 150 kilometres from the municipal centre. Locals have to walk for four to five days to reach the municipal headquarters.

While many settlements across the district have been connected to road networks, Gumba remains without road infrastructure. Home to around 65 families, primarily from the Bhote community, the village has approximately 74 registered voters and even its own polling station. Yet, remarkably, no electoral candidate has ever reached the village, asking for votes, with the exception of municipal chair Govinda Bahadur Malla.

Life in Gumba settlement revolves around subsistence and survival. Residents depend on livestock such as yaks, sheep and horses, which are not only central to their livelihoods but also serve as the primary means of transporting essential goods like rice, lentils, salt and cooking oil.

Until recently, even basic trails were absent. Villagers risked their lives navigating steep cliffs, often relying on ropes to traverse dangerous paths. It was only in 2020 that a narrow mule track was constructed by the local government, bringing some relief and reducing travel hardships.

“Development should begin in remote villages like ours, but we have yet to truly experience it,” said a local, Jash Bahadur Bhandari. “Earlier, hardly anyone even knew this village existed. Only after some efforts by the local government did Gumba come into the spotlight. We now have basic access to drinking water, education and healthcare, but we are still deprived of many other essential services.”

According to ward chair Mangal Budha, the absence of roads continues to severely affect daily life. “In the past, there wasn’t even a foot trail. People had to cross cliffs using ropes. The mule track built last year has eased movement slightly, but locals have long aspired to be connected to the road network. Unfortunately, that dream remains unfulfilled due to a lack of state attention,” he said.

Budha also said that political presence in the village has been minimal, with leaders and programmes rarely reaching this isolated settlement.

Municipal chair Malla acknowledged the challenges, stating that he visited Gumba during the 2022 elections and has since facilitated basic services such as education, healthcare and drinking water. However, he admitted that significant development requires support from provincial and federal governments, which has yet to materialise.

Despite its hardships, Gumba is surrounded by natural beauty. The scenic Ranisain area lies nearby, and the route to the majestic Saipal Himal in neighbouring Bajhang district is also accessible from the village. Yet, this potential remains largely untapped.

“Gumba has long remained in the shadows of state development, and sadly, it continues to do so,” Malla said.