Ethno-centric federalism End of the era of Pan-Nepalism
JAINENDRA JEEVAN
Eying ethnic minorities’ votes, political parties chose to divide the nation into tiny odd pieces of different ethno-centric provinces. They dismissed warnings that creation of ethnic states for selected communities is a regressive move and would backfire in the long run. They disregarded solicitudes that such states would not be feasible given the ethno-mixed mosaic of the population.
As part of restructuring of the state, UCPN (Maoist) recently submitted a proposal of 13 provinces (of which 11 are ethnic states) and four centrally-administered zones to the Constituent Assembly. CPN-UML followed with a similar proposal. Nepali Congress may follow suit anytime. The propositions indicate that in their breakneck competition to woo and appease ethnic minorities, parties have turned a blind eye to the possible disasters ethno-centric federalism may bring. Therefore, it is time negatively-affected communities and people in general voice their concern as well as question the parties.
The first question: How will the parties accommodate demands for separate states that dozens of left-out communities – both big and small – will place sooner or later? Let us take the case of two big communities – Khas and Dalits (the untouchables). With a sizable population, a rich culture, a long history (of inhabitation in this country) and a mother tongue, which is also the most widely spoken among Nepalis worldwide, why cannot they have a state of their own when several much smaller communities can have one for themselves? The parties don’t have any answers to such questions.
Future demands for more states can be met only by further dividing the already fragmented tiny provinces, which is simply not possible, primarily because single states suitably located and large enough for communities like Khas and Dalits cannot be recreated from a cluster of several small states that the parties have proposed to form. Although provinces formed on grounds other than ethnic may not be difficult to split later (like in neighboring India), attempts to redraw maps of states once carved on ethnic considerations will only meet the fate of (former) Yugoslavia.
If parties’ plans are to persuade the Khas community to be content without a state, they are naïvely wrong. If the single largest ethnic group - comprising one-third of the nation’s population – has not demanded a separate state so far, it was because the community was opposed to the concept of ethno-centric federalism itself. But now when communities having less than a population of a million will have their exclusive states, the 10 million strong Khas won’t be content as second-class citizens in various provinces defined and designated as other communities’ land; they will insist to have their rightful share.
Maoists, who always maintained that ethno-centric federal structures are best models to enhance identity and empowerment of marginalized communities, could not create a state for Dalits, the most oppressed of all communities. The reason cited is that they are too dispersed to demarcate a territory for them, which in itself reaffirms that ethno-centric federalism is not viable in this country.
The parties succumbed to pressures from powerful ethnic groups both within the party and outside while naming and demarcating the states—their deed defied merit and logic. They endorsed the ethnic groups’ assertion that their community have historical links with those territories (a claim refuted by other communities). They are also likely to yield to the minorities’ demand for agradhikar (commonly understood as right to rule) in provinces the latter claim to have historical links with.
In fact, agradhikar is just another form of apartheid, thus against the universal declaration of human rights and the general principles of democracy and rule of law. Poorly-educated politicians of this country can’t see why successful models of federal states and some of the world’s most inclusive industrial democracies like USA, Canada and Australia have neither agradhikar enshrined in their constitution, nor states named after Red Indians, Aboriginals, Whites, Blacks or Asians.
Communists always boast about their dedication to the cause of working class; they say they don’t believe in ‘dirty ethnic politics’. But, blood has proved thicker than water. UCPN (Maoist) politburo member and in-charge of Seti-Mahakali Liberation Front (SMLF) Lekh Raj Bhatta – a Khas himself – has demanded a separate state for his race. Bhatta has also stood against his party’s decision to separate Kailali and Kanchanpur districts from the proposed Seti-Mahakali state to include them into Tharuwan province. SMLF and Tharuwan Liberation Front – both Maoist-affiliated bodies – are now at loggerheads over the issue.
There have been similar claims and counter-claims of boundaries and territories between several yet-to-born states of Tharuwan, Madhes, Newa, Tamsaling, Limbuan, Kochila, et al. The apprehension that soon such unfulfilled demands will drift the nation to civil war to ultimate disintegration may not be a misplaced one.
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Ethno-centric Federalism End Of The Era Of Pan-Nepalism
When the world is moving toward greater connectivity and people are migrating from one location to another. Having federal state on ethnic grounds is a no-go zone. Due to globalization, we hardly wear daura and suruwal or gunyo choli or any other ethnic dress. This hard-core ethnic self-determination and liberation propaganda will only survive for so long from the wind of globalization. We must provide the poor, dalits and marginalized more job opportunities and better participation in the gover
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sadhikar
Truly, these Brahmin politicians have ruined the country. For the sake of their power they mis-utilized ethnic sentiments. They have abused the minorities, using them as thier fighters (especially Magars and Chhetris), while they themselves hid away in India. Now they are at the point of breaking up the nation.
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Budathoki
SALUTE Sir!!!
All I have wondering was about such article.Either I would find some write advocating for Newa or Madhes or whatever shitty state..........I don't want to mention my ethnicity ever..All I'm is a NEPALESE.I strongly oppose such caste/ethnic based federalism.
Remember all those advocates,flying high on their demand....
JUST WAIT & SEE....TIME WILL TELL YOU....
We will STAND and ROAR like you and TAKE THE PIECE of YOUR SO CALLED CAKE
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