WHEN THE LAW WISHPERED BACK

Some events don’t scream change, they whisper it.

Aditi Silwal
aditesilwal@gmail.com

When I first heard about the Xemata Bikas Training  being held at Kathmandu Metropolitan City Ward No. 16, I imagined something formal;  few speeches, some legal terms, and some slides . I didn’t expect it to be something I’d carry with me long, something that would  gently reshape how I see law, society, and even myself.

The training, officially titled “Kanuni Sachetana ra Kshamata Bikas Talim”, was scheduled for two full days, from 10 AM to 5 PM, at the ward office hall. It brought together local representatives (women) with curious mind . The purpose was simple: raise legal awareness and strengthen capacity. But how it unfolded was something far more personal, powerful, and unexpectedly engaging.

It all began with a voice that didn’t try to impress, but to connect ; Sunita Dangol, the Deputy Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City. Her words weren’t loud, but they landed. It didn’t feel like a political formality rather it felt like someone speaking with care and intention. She didn’t stand above us, she stood with us. She didn’t talk at us, she talked with us. And suddenly, this wasn’t just a formality. This felt like the start of a conversation we didn’t even know we needed.

Leading the sessions were two incredible facilitators (Krishna Prasad Adhikari & Nirjala Adhikari)  who didn’t treat law like a boring subject or a list of rules. Instead, they broke it down into human stories, relatable scenarios, and everyday relevance. They introduced us to the core distinctions between Faujdari (criminal law) and Dewani (civil law), and I found myself wondering how we go through life surrounded by these systems without truly knowing what they mean.

Soon, the training moved into discussions around the Constitution of Nepal ; not as a distant document, but as a part of stories we could relate to and situations we’ve seen in our own community. We even explored rights, responsibilities, and protections. And then, we stepped into a topic that felt both heavy and healing: Abuse .

Physical. Sexual. Mental. And the one that truly caught my heart ; emotional abuse.

The teacher said something that still echoes in my mind: “It’s not the mind that breaks sometimes. It’s the heart and that’s emotional abuse.” That stood out. Because so often, emotional pain goes unnoticed and unacknowledged. And yet, it’s one of the most silent, powerful forms of suffering. Hearing it defined so clearly, and taken so seriously, felt like justice in itself.

Another moment that moved me was when we talked about Melmilap Karta; community-based mediators who help resolve disputes before they turn into court cases. I had never thought of justice as something that could be gentle. It was powerful to realize that justice isn’t always a courtroom. Sometimes, it’s a calm conversation, or a bridge between two hurt hearts.

Anyway, what truly made this training different was the atmosphere. It wasn’t just about sitting and listening. It was alive. We laughed, we questioned, we sang, we debated. The sessions were interactive without trying too hard. Everyone’s voice mattered and that made it feel less like a class and more like a shared space of curiosity.

Despite the limited time and breadth of topics, the experience never felt hurried. On the contrary, it sparked something in us a restless curiosity to keep digging, to continue the exploration.

By the end, I didn’t just walk away with knowledge. I walked away with a stronger sense of self. I understood that law isn’t just something in courts or textbooks but it’s something we live inside every day. And the more we understand it, the more we can stand up for ourselves, support others, and build stronger communities.

The training ended making us energized; not just with new knowledge, but with real motivation. Now I’m looking for ways to keep this momentum going: more learning, volunteering, and to pass this fire on. Especially to those who’ve been told the system isn’t theirs.

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