{{This article was originally posted on December 5, 2018. Lost and found, it is reposted here.}}
When I hear or see a Pipal Bot, the first thought occurs to me is a group of carrier men playing a game of Baagchaal. Even today in most Pipal bot one can see the board drawn with red stones all around.
Pipalbot is though way more than that for most people who have gone through the culture.
For some it is a resting place for those tired legs and weary eyes. Pipal provides both shade and cool breeze to create the perfect doozing place. For some it is a place of conversation — where friends gather in the morning or during the day with cups of tea and talk about everything and anything under the sun with anyone who wants to get involved, even if the person is total stranger. For some it is a debate club, where politics and other matters of national and local importance can be debated about. For some it is music stage and theatre where dramas can be performed and music can be played. Ready audience are most often available.
In short, Pipal bot was and still is gossip, messaging and social media platform of Nepal. Most Nepali, either living in the rural areas, or past 30-35 years of age have been a part of the Pipal bot culture and think with it.
For them it is about strategy, discussions, debate, idea formation and realizations. It is about being part of a group, yet being individual enough to give own opinions and views. It is also about have a view on anything and everything under the sun.
This genetic build determines how people work and go about their everyday lives in Nepal.
Note :
Pipal Bot : shade of the Banyan tree, most often used as resting places in rural Nepal. Now slowly going out of fashion.
Baagchal : a Nepali strategy game played for a rapidly drawn board with little pieces of stones. Baagchaal translates to “Tiger movement” in English. The game starts with 4 tigers on cornerr of the board and 20 goats that player can put at random locations on a board. The game ends with either all goats being eaten by tiger or all tigers being cornered so that they cannot move anymore. Unlike chess, this game is played very rapidly.