Madhesees of Nepal: Position and Direction
"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character"
Dr.Martin Luther King
Madhesees of Nepal: Position and Direction
JAY PRAKASH GUPTA
General Secretary, Madhesee Peoples Rights Forum-Nepal
There’s a common proverb: "There’s a gloom under the lamp." We, the Nepalese peoples of Madhes have been facing the same shaky and ignominious situation. Moreover, it’s but natural that the political KHAS JAMINDARS and local or International press who are extremely busy for their own cause, it is obvious to quite ignorant of this fact.
Who are the Madhesees of Nepal ? How do we live in Nepal ? What are our living conditions ? How have we been deprived of the universally acclaimed human rights ? What are our expectations ? Here, I want to present them in brief.
Reality of Nepal
Nepal is a multicultural and multilinguistic country. It is divided into two types of landforms: hills (mountains) and plains. The native Madhesees Peoples, who belongs to plains speaking mother tongues common in Indian culture like Hindi, Maithili, Bhojpuri, Tharu, Urdu, Abadhi and some other indigenous languages. The Madhesees of Nepal are not non-resident Indians, who migrated to Nepal some decades back became seeking jobs. The Madhesees of Nepal origin show different characteristics of living here. 240 years ago, before Nepal took the form of a state, our ancestors enjoyed a distinct entity on this land. Very ancient Hindu scriptures like Purans, Mahabharat and Ramayana, etc establish and testify the existence of human life and ancient states. In past, there flourished such renowned Jan pads and republics as Mithila, Videha, Tirhuti, Shakya, Koliya, Kochila and Birat. Janakpur, the capital of ancient Mithila, carrying a unique culture, still exists the plains of Nepal. The birth of Gautam Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, in another plain region of Lumbini, also evidences our ancient traditions.
Even before the unification of Nepal, there were many petty states in the present-day plains. Bijaypur state of the then Eastern Nepal spread in east up to Tista river of West Bengal, India, in west up to Koshi river, in north to Tibet and in south to Purnia district, Bihar, India. Its state language was Maithili, which is widely spoken in Bihar, and which has only recently been included by the Government of India in Section 8 of Indian Constitution. Similarly, Simraungadh was an important state of the Terai before Nepal transformed into a nation. The Muslim Emperor of India, Gayasuddin Tughlak, invaded it in 1334 AD. Consequently, many Muslims entered Nepalese territory, especially the Kathmandu Valley. Later, in the mid-15th and 16th centuries, they scattered from Kashmir to Lhasa, Tibet. Many more Muslims followed Begum Hajarat Mahal and Nawab Birjis Kadar of North India when they sought refuge in India following the 1857 sepoy mutiny of India. Thus the Madhesees of Nepal are native inhabitants of the land.
Historicity and Linguistic Facts of Madhes
The Madhes region is marked with linguistic and racial diversity. Out of 60 castes and ethnic people, 29 reside in the plains. Similarly, 48 out of 103 linguistic groups hail from the plains. This makes 32.2% of the total population of the kingdom. There is a great controversy about Nepalese census. This is not impartial. Freelance expert call it unreliable. Through population manipulation, recent censuses have shown gradual decline in the population of the Madhesees. State statistics prior to 1961 AD showed Hindi as prime language among all the languages of Indian origin. Then it was formally given a status of second nation language. It was recognized even in the Nepalese parliament. But later it was removed in practice and people of Madhes origin faced discrimination on national level. Very strategically, the linguistic data of the people of Madhes origin have been put at the lower rung of hierarchy. For example, 1971 census showed 5 million Maithili speakers. Thus it occupied second status in the nation language. It still retains the position, but 2001 census has reduced the number to 2.7 million only, almost half of the previous population. On the other hand, the number of Nepali-speaking people has been dramatically increased.
Madhes's [Terai’s] Contribution to Nepalese Economy
Terai people (Madhesees) have made significant contribution to the development of Nepalese economy. 60% of the total land of Nepal falls in the plains. Thus the plain people make 60% of contribution in the entire agriculture. Gross Development (GDP) made by the Madhesees is 65%. On the other hand, they contribute 72% to industrial inputs. They run about 49% of industries. Thus they contribute 76% to the revenue. All the major dry ports and transit points lie in plains on the Nepal-India borders. Indeed, the entire Nepalese territory north to India is inhabited by the Madhesees. They have intact relations with people of Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and those on northern Indian borders.
Problems faced by the Nepalese Madhesees
Nepalese Madhesees face different problems and undergo several hazards. I want to mention some of them.
Problem of Identity and Recognition: The state tends to recognize only hill natives as Nepalese citizens. On the other hand, it shows reluctance to recognize the Terai people as the native citizens of certain region [Madhes]. Rather it treats them as recent migrants of India, which is quite wrong and malignant. It has deprived them of due recognition on the basis of their distinct Indian culture, language and lifestyle. It has also deprived them of the rights universally accepted as the ideals and norms of United Nations Organization. Instead, they are regarded and hated as the followers of Indian culture, speakers of Indian languages and people of Indian race.
Problem of participation and representation in state power: The Madhesees people do not have due say, participation or representation in those constitutional bodies patronized by the state as legislative, executive, judiciary, besides court (palace) services, army and police. They are not given any opportunity for the same. There has been an undeclared ban on them against policy-making and power exercise in the state.
Consequently, there are only 2 judges among 17 from Madhesees community in the apex court (Supreme Court) of Nepal. Except one yes-man of King, no single Madhesees is atop any constitutional body. Even the present cabinet has few ministers from the same community. Only one Madhesees official of the Foreign Services has been appointed as the ambassador. Especially, no Madhesees has been appointed for the same post representing different sectors on political level. Only one Madhesees is promoted and posted for the post of Secretary in the entire Nepalese government. According to some government data, only 259 Madhesees held the post of Section Officers out of a total 2,500 officials about some years ago. In fact, the government has adopted a policy of keeping the Madhesees at a bay and away from the mainstream of the state on account of complex constitutional and legal provisions.
Problem of citizenship or nationality: It is mandatory to acquire Nepalese citizenship for entering all government and non-government services. Lacking which, a citizen is deprived of all state privileges as provided by the constitution and existing laws. But the reality is that 4 million Madhesees origin people out of the total population of 22 million have been deprived of the Nepalese citizenship. Even different commissions erected by different governments in past have accepted and admitted this fact. Thus the government has forced them to live in their own native land stateless floating people. If the problem is not addressed and solved immediately, then the majority will be forced to quit Nepal and migrate to India, a situation like mass exodus or Noah’s flood.
Problem of recognition of language and culture: The Madhesees of Nepal speaks different languages like Hindi, Maithili, Bhojpuri, Awadhi, Tharu, Rajwanshi, Santhal, Tajpuriya, Bengali and Punjabi. The state plays no role in their promotion, prosperity, practice and protection. It has given no award and incentive for their development. The state - owned printing or publishing houses do not publish any books written in these languages. Hindi has long been a lingua franca among all sectors of Nepalese society. But the state makes clear discrimination against them. It gives no recognition to the regional dress of the Madhesees like dhoti, kurta, pyjama and gamchha. They are denied entry to National Secretariat (Parliament) and major government offices in dressed in those traditional garbs. Similarly, no distinction and honor is awarded to cultural events and festivals based on Indian culture like Chhatha, Dipawali, Holi, Judsital, Chaurchan, Samachakewa, Maghi, Jitiya, Id, Bakra-Id, which are observed by the Madhesees community.
Problem of internal colonialization: After the king exercised direct rule in Nepal, the state made intentional and strategic attempt to inhabit the people of hill origin in territory bordering India that is plains, where native Madhesees used to live. They were non-Madhesees like Burmese migrants, those driven out from northeastern states of India, and Bhutanese refugees. Thus began internal colonialization in the plains. This resulted into rapid decline in the population of Madhesees in their own native region, as is shown in different statistics of the government. Till recently, this region boasted of having lush green vegetation and thick forests. But the internal colonialization has turned it into a desert. Different studies have shown its adverse effect on the people inhabiting the Indian borders.
Literacy and opportunities in Madhes: The state has shown no interest in educating and developing the Terai people. According to government data, the average literacy of the Madhesees castes is 6.3% only. On the other hand, 51.2% the hill castes are highly literate though their population is 40.3% only. Moreover, 66.2% of them take part in ruling or government. But the Madhesees having 24.5% population have only 17.7% of high literacy. This biasness on the part of the state will be detrimental in the long run, leading to heavy disproportionateness and final extinction of the community. The women of this community face the same lot or fate.
Problem of right representation: The Constitution of Nepal has a provision stating that the sovereignty lies in people. But the latest political scenario speaks against it. In no case can sovereignty lie in the hands of the Terai people. Thus the state has deprived them of the constitutional rights by depriving them of true representation in state and government. The constituencies have been divided strategically to keep them away from the mainstream. Thus they have deprived of true representation in the legislative and thus sovereignty.
Solutions
Judicial recognition of the Madhesees: The prime political will of the Terai people is to secure free and independent identity. The state should confer due recognition all the castes, tribal and linguistic groups of this community as the native or indigenous people as it has regarded their native place as the inseparable part of Nepalese territory. It should also recognize their languages. It should adopt a "multilingual formula" as a lingua franca. Above all, it should accept that fact that Nepal is a common nation of Terai and hill natives.
Provision of citizenship: The Terai people will renounce any political solution that does not address their judicial representation. So they must be given due right to citizenship. That is 4 million Terai people, who have so far been deprived of Nepalese citizenship, should be granted the same. This is possible only through fundamental change in the complex provision of the constitution.
Reservation for representation in state power: There should be constitutional provision for equal representation of all the castes and ethnic groups on the basis of their population. Until and unless there is a proportionate human development of all classes and castes as per the principle of positive discrimination, there should be a provision for the reservation of the rights of the Terai people in representative bodies of policy making. It is quite essential as they lead a very miserable life as oppressed (dalit) and backward people.
Controlling internal colonialization: The state should make a regional structure on the basis of geographic, ethnic, linguistic and racial accounts, and make a legal provision against acquiring land in thus formed provinces in order to stop and check internal colonialization. There should be constitutional provision against making and implementing any anti - racial habitation policies in such provisions.
What should be the form of such province as wished by the Madhesees?
Nepal at present is undergoing an ordeal. On the one hand, the Maoists have waged an armed revolution for a republic state on the basis of communism. In this regard, 12,000 people have been killed in past 9 -10 years. Their struggle is solely terrorist in nature. On the other hand, the king has seized all executive power and is working against the parliamentary political system. Political parties have launched agitation against royal regression. The entire country is inflamed against it for about a year and half. Thus the whole nation is struggling for restructuring the state. The change is inevitable. The Madhes people believe in multiparty democracy. Therefore, they want to establish their rights and say in any forthcoming changes on the basis of their population. They have put forth their demand for central and regional governments within an indivisible Nepal and holding adult franchise for multiparty system. They very much wish for a federal rule.
Federal system and regional autonomy: It is the wish of every Madhesees. This is not possible through present constitution NAD unitary thought. So there is no alternative to Federal System for racial equality, social justice and equal opportunities. The Madhesees of Nepal want to have a federal system within an indivisible Nepalese territory. It will not only solve the problem of national unification on emotional grounds but also tie people of diverse castes, regions, languages and cultural groups in the same fabric of nationality. This alone will lend them and other nationalities equal rights in economic, social, political and cultural sectors, and end social discrimination based on caste, class, creed, culture and language.
Legal way to acquire federal system and autonomy: Since the existing constitution has failed to achieve federal system and autonomy, the only solution is holding elections for constitutional assembly. Their declaration will end the present political imbroglio. Otherwise it will flare up to a great extent.
Today, the Madhesees Peoples Rights Forum-Nepal want to draw your attention to this grave fact.
"Long live our struggle against the racial discrimination to Madhesees people of Nepal"
Dr.Martin Luther King
Madhesees of Nepal: Position and Direction
JAY PRAKASH GUPTA
General Secretary, Madhesee Peoples Rights Forum-Nepal
There’s a common proverb: "There’s a gloom under the lamp." We, the Nepalese peoples of Madhes have been facing the same shaky and ignominious situation. Moreover, it’s but natural that the political KHAS JAMINDARS and local or International press who are extremely busy for their own cause, it is obvious to quite ignorant of this fact.
Who are the Madhesees of Nepal ? How do we live in Nepal ? What are our living conditions ? How have we been deprived of the universally acclaimed human rights ? What are our expectations ? Here, I want to present them in brief.
Reality of Nepal
Nepal is a multicultural and multilinguistic country. It is divided into two types of landforms: hills (mountains) and plains. The native Madhesees Peoples, who belongs to plains speaking mother tongues common in Indian culture like Hindi, Maithili, Bhojpuri, Tharu, Urdu, Abadhi and some other indigenous languages. The Madhesees of Nepal are not non-resident Indians, who migrated to Nepal some decades back became seeking jobs. The Madhesees of Nepal origin show different characteristics of living here. 240 years ago, before Nepal took the form of a state, our ancestors enjoyed a distinct entity on this land. Very ancient Hindu scriptures like Purans, Mahabharat and Ramayana, etc establish and testify the existence of human life and ancient states. In past, there flourished such renowned Jan pads and republics as Mithila, Videha, Tirhuti, Shakya, Koliya, Kochila and Birat. Janakpur, the capital of ancient Mithila, carrying a unique culture, still exists the plains of Nepal. The birth of Gautam Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, in another plain region of Lumbini, also evidences our ancient traditions.
Even before the unification of Nepal, there were many petty states in the present-day plains. Bijaypur state of the then Eastern Nepal spread in east up to Tista river of West Bengal, India, in west up to Koshi river, in north to Tibet and in south to Purnia district, Bihar, India. Its state language was Maithili, which is widely spoken in Bihar, and which has only recently been included by the Government of India in Section 8 of Indian Constitution. Similarly, Simraungadh was an important state of the Terai before Nepal transformed into a nation. The Muslim Emperor of India, Gayasuddin Tughlak, invaded it in 1334 AD. Consequently, many Muslims entered Nepalese territory, especially the Kathmandu Valley. Later, in the mid-15th and 16th centuries, they scattered from Kashmir to Lhasa, Tibet. Many more Muslims followed Begum Hajarat Mahal and Nawab Birjis Kadar of North India when they sought refuge in India following the 1857 sepoy mutiny of India. Thus the Madhesees of Nepal are native inhabitants of the land.
Historicity and Linguistic Facts of Madhes
The Madhes region is marked with linguistic and racial diversity. Out of 60 castes and ethnic people, 29 reside in the plains. Similarly, 48 out of 103 linguistic groups hail from the plains. This makes 32.2% of the total population of the kingdom. There is a great controversy about Nepalese census. This is not impartial. Freelance expert call it unreliable. Through population manipulation, recent censuses have shown gradual decline in the population of the Madhesees. State statistics prior to 1961 AD showed Hindi as prime language among all the languages of Indian origin. Then it was formally given a status of second nation language. It was recognized even in the Nepalese parliament. But later it was removed in practice and people of Madhes origin faced discrimination on national level. Very strategically, the linguistic data of the people of Madhes origin have been put at the lower rung of hierarchy. For example, 1971 census showed 5 million Maithili speakers. Thus it occupied second status in the nation language. It still retains the position, but 2001 census has reduced the number to 2.7 million only, almost half of the previous population. On the other hand, the number of Nepali-speaking people has been dramatically increased.
Madhes's [Terai’s] Contribution to Nepalese Economy
Terai people (Madhesees) have made significant contribution to the development of Nepalese economy. 60% of the total land of Nepal falls in the plains. Thus the plain people make 60% of contribution in the entire agriculture. Gross Development (GDP) made by the Madhesees is 65%. On the other hand, they contribute 72% to industrial inputs. They run about 49% of industries. Thus they contribute 76% to the revenue. All the major dry ports and transit points lie in plains on the Nepal-India borders. Indeed, the entire Nepalese territory north to India is inhabited by the Madhesees. They have intact relations with people of Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and those on northern Indian borders.
Problems faced by the Nepalese Madhesees
Nepalese Madhesees face different problems and undergo several hazards. I want to mention some of them.
Problem of Identity and Recognition: The state tends to recognize only hill natives as Nepalese citizens. On the other hand, it shows reluctance to recognize the Terai people as the native citizens of certain region [Madhes]. Rather it treats them as recent migrants of India, which is quite wrong and malignant. It has deprived them of due recognition on the basis of their distinct Indian culture, language and lifestyle. It has also deprived them of the rights universally accepted as the ideals and norms of United Nations Organization. Instead, they are regarded and hated as the followers of Indian culture, speakers of Indian languages and people of Indian race.
Problem of participation and representation in state power: The Madhesees people do not have due say, participation or representation in those constitutional bodies patronized by the state as legislative, executive, judiciary, besides court (palace) services, army and police. They are not given any opportunity for the same. There has been an undeclared ban on them against policy-making and power exercise in the state.
Consequently, there are only 2 judges among 17 from Madhesees community in the apex court (Supreme Court) of Nepal. Except one yes-man of King, no single Madhesees is atop any constitutional body. Even the present cabinet has few ministers from the same community. Only one Madhesees official of the Foreign Services has been appointed as the ambassador. Especially, no Madhesees has been appointed for the same post representing different sectors on political level. Only one Madhesees is promoted and posted for the post of Secretary in the entire Nepalese government. According to some government data, only 259 Madhesees held the post of Section Officers out of a total 2,500 officials about some years ago. In fact, the government has adopted a policy of keeping the Madhesees at a bay and away from the mainstream of the state on account of complex constitutional and legal provisions.
Problem of citizenship or nationality: It is mandatory to acquire Nepalese citizenship for entering all government and non-government services. Lacking which, a citizen is deprived of all state privileges as provided by the constitution and existing laws. But the reality is that 4 million Madhesees origin people out of the total population of 22 million have been deprived of the Nepalese citizenship. Even different commissions erected by different governments in past have accepted and admitted this fact. Thus the government has forced them to live in their own native land stateless floating people. If the problem is not addressed and solved immediately, then the majority will be forced to quit Nepal and migrate to India, a situation like mass exodus or Noah’s flood.
Problem of recognition of language and culture: The Madhesees of Nepal speaks different languages like Hindi, Maithili, Bhojpuri, Awadhi, Tharu, Rajwanshi, Santhal, Tajpuriya, Bengali and Punjabi. The state plays no role in their promotion, prosperity, practice and protection. It has given no award and incentive for their development. The state - owned printing or publishing houses do not publish any books written in these languages. Hindi has long been a lingua franca among all sectors of Nepalese society. But the state makes clear discrimination against them. It gives no recognition to the regional dress of the Madhesees like dhoti, kurta, pyjama and gamchha. They are denied entry to National Secretariat (Parliament) and major government offices in dressed in those traditional garbs. Similarly, no distinction and honor is awarded to cultural events and festivals based on Indian culture like Chhatha, Dipawali, Holi, Judsital, Chaurchan, Samachakewa, Maghi, Jitiya, Id, Bakra-Id, which are observed by the Madhesees community.
Problem of internal colonialization: After the king exercised direct rule in Nepal, the state made intentional and strategic attempt to inhabit the people of hill origin in territory bordering India that is plains, where native Madhesees used to live. They were non-Madhesees like Burmese migrants, those driven out from northeastern states of India, and Bhutanese refugees. Thus began internal colonialization in the plains. This resulted into rapid decline in the population of Madhesees in their own native region, as is shown in different statistics of the government. Till recently, this region boasted of having lush green vegetation and thick forests. But the internal colonialization has turned it into a desert. Different studies have shown its adverse effect on the people inhabiting the Indian borders.
Literacy and opportunities in Madhes: The state has shown no interest in educating and developing the Terai people. According to government data, the average literacy of the Madhesees castes is 6.3% only. On the other hand, 51.2% the hill castes are highly literate though their population is 40.3% only. Moreover, 66.2% of them take part in ruling or government. But the Madhesees having 24.5% population have only 17.7% of high literacy. This biasness on the part of the state will be detrimental in the long run, leading to heavy disproportionateness and final extinction of the community. The women of this community face the same lot or fate.
Problem of right representation: The Constitution of Nepal has a provision stating that the sovereignty lies in people. But the latest political scenario speaks against it. In no case can sovereignty lie in the hands of the Terai people. Thus the state has deprived them of the constitutional rights by depriving them of true representation in state and government. The constituencies have been divided strategically to keep them away from the mainstream. Thus they have deprived of true representation in the legislative and thus sovereignty.
Solutions
Judicial recognition of the Madhesees: The prime political will of the Terai people is to secure free and independent identity. The state should confer due recognition all the castes, tribal and linguistic groups of this community as the native or indigenous people as it has regarded their native place as the inseparable part of Nepalese territory. It should also recognize their languages. It should adopt a "multilingual formula" as a lingua franca. Above all, it should accept that fact that Nepal is a common nation of Terai and hill natives.
Provision of citizenship: The Terai people will renounce any political solution that does not address their judicial representation. So they must be given due right to citizenship. That is 4 million Terai people, who have so far been deprived of Nepalese citizenship, should be granted the same. This is possible only through fundamental change in the complex provision of the constitution.
Reservation for representation in state power: There should be constitutional provision for equal representation of all the castes and ethnic groups on the basis of their population. Until and unless there is a proportionate human development of all classes and castes as per the principle of positive discrimination, there should be a provision for the reservation of the rights of the Terai people in representative bodies of policy making. It is quite essential as they lead a very miserable life as oppressed (dalit) and backward people.
Controlling internal colonialization: The state should make a regional structure on the basis of geographic, ethnic, linguistic and racial accounts, and make a legal provision against acquiring land in thus formed provinces in order to stop and check internal colonialization. There should be constitutional provision against making and implementing any anti - racial habitation policies in such provisions.
What should be the form of such province as wished by the Madhesees?
Nepal at present is undergoing an ordeal. On the one hand, the Maoists have waged an armed revolution for a republic state on the basis of communism. In this regard, 12,000 people have been killed in past 9 -10 years. Their struggle is solely terrorist in nature. On the other hand, the king has seized all executive power and is working against the parliamentary political system. Political parties have launched agitation against royal regression. The entire country is inflamed against it for about a year and half. Thus the whole nation is struggling for restructuring the state. The change is inevitable. The Madhes people believe in multiparty democracy. Therefore, they want to establish their rights and say in any forthcoming changes on the basis of their population. They have put forth their demand for central and regional governments within an indivisible Nepal and holding adult franchise for multiparty system. They very much wish for a federal rule.
Federal system and regional autonomy: It is the wish of every Madhesees. This is not possible through present constitution NAD unitary thought. So there is no alternative to Federal System for racial equality, social justice and equal opportunities. The Madhesees of Nepal want to have a federal system within an indivisible Nepalese territory. It will not only solve the problem of national unification on emotional grounds but also tie people of diverse castes, regions, languages and cultural groups in the same fabric of nationality. This alone will lend them and other nationalities equal rights in economic, social, political and cultural sectors, and end social discrimination based on caste, class, creed, culture and language.
Legal way to acquire federal system and autonomy: Since the existing constitution has failed to achieve federal system and autonomy, the only solution is holding elections for constitutional assembly. Their declaration will end the present political imbroglio. Otherwise it will flare up to a great extent.
Today, the Madhesees Peoples Rights Forum-Nepal want to draw your attention to this grave fact.
"Long live our struggle against the racial discrimination to Madhesees people of Nepal"
posted by Ahiraj @ 10:34 AM
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