Butwal. One of the proverbs prevalent in Nepali society is – the mouth that eats is not blocked by a mustache. Although this proverb sounds simple, it is a metaphor used in the context of success after courage and strong willpower. One such character who has utilized this proverb is 19-year-old Dev Pariyar from Barakhuti, Rapti Rural Municipality-2, Dang. Dev's both hands are without palms. Yet, he has taken up the profession of haircutting. The tools used for cutting hair, i.e., scissors, require fingers. However, Dev, who doesn't even have fingers on his hands, has not only chosen the profession of haircutting as if 'the mouth that eats is not blocked by a mustache' but has also established himself professionally. His hands are limited to his wrists, and at the tips, there is a stub-like shape of fingers, with the help of which he holds the scissors. With the help of these, he cuts customers' hair using scissors and a machine. Dev, who has been physically disabled since birth, has continued not only his work but also his studies. He is currently studying in the first year of his bachelor's degree (BA) at Airawati Campus. Along with his studies, he has been operating a salon by the roadside near his home. The income earned from that salon helps him cover his educational expenses as well as household expenses. Initially, when Dev said he would cut hair, many people didn't believe him. Many were curious about how he, with problems in both hands, could operate scissors and a machine. Dev has answered those curiosities with his hard work and skill. 'I have a problem in the part below my elbows in both my hands. I only have a finger-like part on each hand,' Dev told RatoPati. 'I cut hair by holding the scissors and machine with that part. Customers who come for the first time seem a bit hesitant, perhaps thinking how a person without fingers can cut hair. After cutting hair once, they become regular customers.' A few years ago, Dev watched videos on YouTube teaching how to cut hair. He put the skills learned from those videos into practice through continuous practice. What seemed like a normal task for others was challenging for him, but he took the challenge as an opportunity. Initially, there were few people who encouraged him when he started cutting hair. Gradually, his skill became a topic of discussion. Locals started praising him for knowing how to cut hair well despite having problems with his hands. That praise motivated him to work harder. Currently, the number of customers coming to Dev's salon for haircuts is increasing. Not only locals but also people from some distant places come to his salon by vehicle. The trust of the customers has made him more responsible towards his work. 'I learned to cut hair through struggle and hard work. Now I run a shop. This has also helped with the family's financial resources,' Dev said. In his childhood, his family went to many places for his treatment. His family took him to various hospitals hoping that his hand condition could be improved through treatment, he told RatoPati. After it was not possible to achieve the expected improvement through treatment, he accepted his condition and chose the path of utilizing his available capabilities. Dev sometimes feels that if both his hands were normal, he could have done even more work. He believes that his life could have taken a different turn if he didn't have his current condition. Although life has been full of struggles, he has decided to move forward by enjoying what he has. Dev has a desire to expand his business and work in other fields as well. However, his determination to move forward with the work he can do has not weakened. 'If my hands were normal, I might have been able to do more work, but I am moving forward by doing the work I can do now,' he said. Dev passed his SEE from Adarsha Namuna Secondary School in Lalmatiya in his village. After completing his Class 12 studies from the same school, he has now reached the bachelor's level. Dev, who is continuing his studies, says his goal is to become a teacher in the future. His plan is to complete his bachelor's studies and enter the teaching profession by taking the Teacher Service Commission's license exam. 'I am studying now. My plan is to get a name in the teacher's license and go into the teaching profession,' he said. 'But, it is not possible to say now where and how opportunities will arise.' Local residents say that his effort to learn skills, work hard, and become self-reliant, instead of just seeing his physical condition as a weakness, is inspiring to others. 'Learned from YouTube, promoted through Facebook' After realizing that he could not work easily with his hands, Dev was worried about what to do and how to move forward in life. During this time, he learned to cut hair by watching YouTube videos. It was not as easy for him as it is for people with normal hands, but through continuous practice and hard work, he became proficient in haircutting skills. Dev started posting videos of himself cutting hair on the social media platform TikTok. Through the videos, he also shares his struggles and inspirational messages for life. Through this, he started receiving encouragement and support from social media users. Also, as his skills were promoted, the number of customers also started to increase. Currently, Dev cuts the hair and beard of more than a dozen customers daily. Despite the increasing customer load, he gives equal priority to his studies. His daily routine is to go to college in the morning and cut hair in the afternoon. He is making efforts to advance his studies along with his skills and business. 'After I started promoting my haircutting through Facebook and TikTok, I started receiving many phone calls. Business has also expanded significantly,' Dev said. Currently, Dev cuts the hair and beard of more than a dozen customers daily. Despite the increasing customer load, he gives equal priority to his studies. His daily routine is to go to college in the morning and cut hair in the afternoon. He is making efforts to advance his studies along with his skills and business. Dev's father works as a cook in a hotel in Delhi, India, for employment. His elder brother also works in a hotel in India. His mother, sister, and Dev live at home. Among the three siblings, Dev, the middle child, and his family migrated from Jhimruk Rural Municipality, Pyuthan, to Dang a few years ago. Currently, his family is living on encroached land. Dev said that his father and elder brother had to go to India for employment due to the family's weak economic condition. He, however, is moving forward with the determination to do something in his own country. Despite being physically disabled, his effort is to become self-reliant by working hard to the extent of his condition and capabilities. Although small, the start of his own salon business has brought hope to the family. His earnings have made it easier to arrange for school expenses and have also started contributing somewhat to household expenses. This has further encouraged the family members. Customers who come to the salon for haircuts are also impressed by his working style, dedication, and confidence. His family members are also happy with his struggle and effort to become self-reliant.
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