Life became even more challenging in this unfamiliar place. They spent days moving from one house to another, sometimes staying with the Tharu community, sometimes with hill migrants working wherever they could. Bhim repaired and made jewelry like nose rings, earrings, and bangles for villagers, which helped them survive a little.

After a few months of living in others’ homes, they realized they couldn’t continue like that forever. Following advice from acquaintances, they settled in Pahadipur. At that time, the area was surrounded by dense forest, with hardly any people nearby. Bhim and Biji spent months clearing bushes and managed to prepare about one bigha of land. They plowed it and built a small house there. They started farming on the cleared land, but wild animals like deer, monkeys, and wild boars constantly destroyed their crops. After dusk, fear of wild animals kept them from stepping outside. Despite countless hardships and risks, they continued living there. During this time, they had three more sons. Gradually, other families joined them, and the settlement grew.

After the fire, neighbors helped with rice and lentils. Teachers from the nearby school provided financial assistance. They borrowed money and built a small house again. Slowly, the settlement expanded, and life became a little easier. Today, about 70 families live there. Most of them are landless or informal settlers. Over time, many managed to buy small plots of land through hard work.

But one concern remained: When would they get the official landownership certificate? Without it, they never felt secure. Their biggest dream was to erase the identity of being landless squatters and become rightful owners of their home and land.

Around 2007-08 AD, a movement for land rights spread across the district. Bhim Bahadur actively participated and encouraged others to join. He marched in rallies in Bansgadhi, Gulariya, and the district headquarters. He submitted applications multiple times, hoping to get the certificate. He approached political parties and local representatives. Years passed in uncertainty, disappointment, and wait.

In 2021, they submitted an application through the ward office to the National Land Commission. Before they could get the certificate, the commission was dissolved. Later, in 2024 AD, the Land Issues Resolving Commission was formed. Through CSRC and the Land Rights Forum, they learned about the process. They discussed with the ward and municipality to accelerate the procedure. Soon after, land measurement began in Bhim Bahadur’s settlement. Municipal staff, ward chairperson, members, and representatives from CSRC and Land Rights Forum actively supported the entire process. Bhim Bahadur and others worked tirelessly.

Finally, the day Bhim Bahadur’s family had waited for 46 years arrived. In July 2025, Bhim Bahadur and Biji Sunar received a joint land ownership certificate for 1,297.02 square meters. Showing the certificate with their names and photos, Bhim said, “No one in our family for generations ever had land in their name. Seeing our names and photos on an official government document for the first time, there’s no limit to our happiness. That day, we remembered all our struggles. We shed tears of joy. Now, no one can evict us.”

Sitting beside him, Biji added, “We spent our lives in hardship. We were humiliated many times. We never felt secure. But now we are very happy. Our children will not suffer like we did. They are no longer squatters. We can even pass on property to them. If we need a loan for education or business, we now have collateral.”

This time, along with Bhim Bahadur’s family, 13 other landless families in the village received land ownership certificates. For them, this certificate is not just a piece of paper, it is the result of 46 years of struggle, tears, and patience.

At 72 years old, Bhim Bahadur added, “Now I’m old, and even if I die, I’ll die happily.”