As the sun set beneath the sprawling branches of the fig trees in Sydney’s Hyde Park, a poignant gathering unfolded in memory of Bikram Lama, a young man whose life tragically ended in the shadows of the city. Friends, family, and supporters held electric candles flickering in hues of blue, red, white, and purple, reflecting the diverse community that came together to honour a life marked by struggle and hope.
A Heartfelt Tribute
The vigil resonated with emotion as attendees paid their respects to Bikram, a 32-year-old man whose journey to Australia from Nepal was filled with aspirations for education and opportunity. Erin Longbottom, a dedicated homelessness support worker from St Vincent’s Health, expressed the collective grief in her speech, emphasising the urgency of the message that no one should have to die alone and unnoticed. “A young man who came here with hope, for study, for opportunity, and for a future,” she said. “A person who lived, and struggled, and died unseen.”
Bikram’s life came to a tragic end near St James station, where he lay undiscovered for up to a week, his body found only when station staff began to notice something amiss. The circumstances surrounding his death have sparked outrage and sorrow among the Australian-Nepalese community, who are still awaiting formal identification of Bikram’s remains, pending a DNA test involving his elderly mother.
The Fight Against Indifference
Among those gathered was Bam Bunyalak, who shared her personal experiences of homelessness and the challenges faced by non-residents in Australia. Bunyalak arrived from Thailand with a student visa, fleeing family violence, only to find herself homeless and without access to essential healthcare. In her heartfelt address, she articulated the struggles faced by many like Bikram, saying, “Being a non-resident in Australia can feel like a kind of disease with many symptoms. Hom
