Rana Bahadur Sarki from Maira in ward 2 of Gujara Municipality died on the street at Durbarmarg in Kathmandu at the age of 22 in the course of the people’s movement on April 9, 1990.

After the death of Rana Bahadur, his father, Surya Bahadur Sarki, who is now 74 years old, has been fighting for justice for his son for 33 years. He has been asking the government to declare his son a martyr.

Surya says his son was shot dead by security personnel during a pro-democracy protest. “Democracy is here, but my son is gone. He has gone unrecognised by the democratic government for his sacrifice,’ said Surya.

“Nobody can understand the pain of losing a young son. But whenever I feel bad, I pull myself together knowing that he sacrificed his life for the country and the greater good,” he said. “ I struggle with the fact that the government does not even acknowledge his sacrifice.”

According to Surya, he visited the then village development committee’s office, the current municipal office, the District Administration Office, the District Security Office, and the District Police to the District Court countless times carrying documents as proof of his son’s martyrdom, but he has always returned disappointed. “I even went to several party offices and met with the political leaders, but no one is willing to declare my son a martyr.”

Surya says he has been sent from one office to the next with recommendation letters from various political leaders for his son to be declared a martyr. “But even after 33 years of running around offices and waiting on wooden benches for appointments with political leaders, I have nothing to show,” he said. “Those who died for a much smaller cause have been accorded martyr status in this country because of political connections, while my son who fought for democracy has been forgotten.”

The bereaved father submitted an application to the National Human Rights Commission on May 30, 2006, to help him get compensation from the government for the death of his son. The commission then wrote to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Later, on June 26, 2006, the ministry wrote to the District Administration Office, Rautahat, to start the process, including the verification of documents and the collection of data regarding Rana Bahadur, to declare him a martyr.

But thirty-three years later Surya’s son is yet to be declared a martyr.

“They said the files were being sent to the concerned office. I never heard back. My son’s files are now gathering dust at the Home Ministry,” he said.

According to Narayan Prasad Bhattarai, spokesman of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the names of Rana Bahadur Sarki and many others have not been included in the list of martyrs because of incomplete paperwork. “There is important missing information on those files,” he said. “If the district administration offices recommend the names again after thorough investigation for paperwork then their names can be included on the martyrs’ list.”

According to Jhamak Kumari Sarki, Rana Bahadur’s 71-year-old mother, Rana Bahadur was the oldest among her five sons. He contributed to the family's expenses when he was alive. The family has not been able to recover financially after Rana Bahadur’s untimely death, she says.

“After my son’s death, my husband and I became wage labourers, working and earning every day to make ends meet. In the fiscal year 1997-1998, the government led by Krishna Prasad Bhattarai promised to give us Rs150,000 as immediate relief, but out of the total amount, we only received Rs50,000. After that, no leader or any authority has come to us,” said Jhamak. “No one offers us help even when we ask for it.”

Around a week ago, Surya obtained a new recommendation letter from the District Administration Office, Rautahat, and is now in Kathmandu, running from pillar to post, knocking on doors, looking for justice for his dead son.