By Mitra Pariyar
In his Kantipur column of 20 December Hari Roka, a pro-Maoist
commentator and lawmaker, argued that part of the reason why India
opposed the Maoists promoting a federal state was that it feared "the
establishment of a new social system based on the redistribution of
property and freedom from untouchability would have consequences on
its states close to Nepal".
The statement is, inter alia, representative of how the Maoists
continue to use Dalits in their propaganda. They have always claimed
that theirs is a movement of the oppressed masses, and indeed many
Dalits have sacrificed their lives for the cause. However, Roka's
claim about untouchability rings hollow because there is little
evidence to show that the ex-rebels actually care about the deeply
entrenched problems of low castes.
On the contrary, Dalits increasingly feel they have had the rug pulled
out from under them, not least because of the Maoists' unilateral
declaration of autonomous ethnic states. Firstly, Dalits are not going
to have their own autonomous state; they will be a tiny minority in
all states. More importantly, Dalits suffer indignities and injustices
not only at the hands of Bahuns and Chhetris, but also from Rais,
Limbus, Madhesis, Gurungs, Magars, Newars, and others.
A 2006 report in Nepali Times stated: "In the hotbed of Tarai ethnic
politics, mainstream Madhesi rights activists, anti-hills-people
vigilantes, Maoist splinter groups and Tharu groups are demanding
everything from greater autonomy to secession. But Madhesi Dalits are
nowhere in the equation". The parties' attitude to Dalits in the Tarai
and the hills remains the same, despite the pressure of massive
political changes.
Hugo Gorringe, a British anthropologist who studied Indian Dalits,
observes: "untouchability, it is clear, is irreconcilable with
nationhood, and undermines the democratic project". The Nepali
Congress and UML, despite their democratic credentials, have always
refrained from taking Dalit issues seriously; their own workers and
supporters regularly practice untouchability. The former rebels'
initial enthusiasm about doing away with caste-based subordination has
also been ephemeral. For instance, the Maoist government didn't,
despite the popular expectation, start anything concrete to help
Dalits; neither did it attempt to include them in important positions.
Although they have been insisting on federal states named after
particular groups, they have not yet articulated their policies on how
untouchability can be effectively tackled.
Whilst Dalits are still struggling to become bona fide citizens of
Nepal, they will have to fight separately to become the citizens of
autonomous states as well. Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar's prescription for the
Dalit movement was: "educate, agitate, organise". The implementation
of autonomous ethnic states is likely to hinder these strategies, not
least because the Dalit movement will then be dispersed and
consequently further weakened.
Some believe that untouchability cannot be tackled until caste is
annihilated; others think it can be challenged by emphasising the
socioeconomic relationship between castes on the basis of modern
national laws over customary ones. We should attempt to integrate low
castes with other castes or ethnic groups to pave the way for a more
egalitarian society. Ethnic federalism will only institutionalise and
solidify caste or ethnic boundaries, instead of undermining them.
The Maoists are likely to lose the support of many Dalits and others
by pushing for their retrograde demand for ethnic federalism, even if
it helps them in the short term. Like most Nepali citizens, Dalits
want to live in peace with more dignity and better economic
opportunities. This simple dream cannot be fulfilled if the powers
that be don't give up their stance on ethnic federalism under the
facade of revolutionary change.
(Courtesy: Nepali Times)
(Pariyar is currently doing MPhil in Social Anthropology at Oxford
University. He can be reached at: mitrepari@gmail.com This e-mail
address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled
to view it )
(Editor's Note: Nepalis, wherever they live, as well as friends of
Nepal around the globe are requested to contribute their
views/opinions/recollections etc. on issues concerning present day
Nepal to the Guest Column of Nepalnews. Length of the article should
not be more than 1,000 words and may be edited for the purpose of
clarity and space. Relevant photos as well as photo of the author may
also be sent along with the article. Please send your write-ups to
editors@mos.com.np
------------------------------------
----
INFORMATION OVERLOAD?
Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to ZESTMedia-digest@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/
PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com
TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:-
If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to ZESTCaste-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/
Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
ZESTCaste-digest@yahoogroups.com
ZESTCaste-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ZESTCaste-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
No comments:
Post a Comment