The Madhesi Identity Outlets
Paramendra Bhagat
July 2, 2004

• Gather online. I have suggested the madhesiblog as a gathering place. But I have found few converts so far. Maybe I do not know enough madhesis myself! Those I know are not too eager. Maybe the online idea does not gel. The real action is back offline. The madhesi diaspora is too dispersed. I have not put enough energy into the idea. It needs work.
  
  
• Get the Sadbhavana united again. The Mandal and Tripathy factions need to come together. They are barely big enough together. One wonders where they will end up splintered.
  
  
• Organize fund-raisers for the Sadbhavana. Put your money where your mouth is. Electoral politics is the way out.
  
  
• Federalism as the meeting point. The Sadbhavana might be only one political vehicle. If the Deuba Congress, with Bimalendra Nidhi, stands for federalism, it needs to be supported. As any other party. Federalism has to be that one rallying point. All major parties have to be nudged towards federalism.
  
  
• Separate the Kathmandu elite from the poor masses of the hills and the mountains in the mind. Recognize the abject poverty in those regions as a valid political issue, a "sister" issue to the madhesi cause. Federalism may not be implemented in a way that harms the economic prospects of those in desperate poverty in the remote hill districts.
  
  
• Do not compromise with the anti-India sentiment that gets thrown as a reason for the fervent anti-madhesi sentiments. If India has entered into unfair treaties with Nepal, the elite hill powers-to-be need to get out of the way and let the madhesis try for a fair bargain, for a change.
  
  
• Replicate the Kathmandu NGO industry also into the Terai. For development work, social progress, and local job creation.
  
  
• Put the madhesi cause in the larger contexts of globalization and the internet. The best "cure" for the widespread prejudice against the madhesis in Nepal would be to work to lift the per capita income in the country from $200 to $2000 and beyond. Scarcity creates room for ethnic strife. Make money, not war.
  
  
• Engage the pahadis in dialogue on the issues. The change of heart has to occur on both fronts.
  
  
• Make the social ills in the Terai - sexism, casteism - part of the conversation.
  
  
• Reach out to the Janajatis. Their grievances are similar. Politics is about building coalitions.
  
  
• Participate in the online forums like Sajha and The Nepal Digest.
  
  
• Sponsor the education of some needy students wherever you come from.
  
  
• Stay in touch with family, relatives and friends. Expand your social circle of madhesis.
  
  

Amen to that. You got my support.

Nice Permendra but why Sadvhawana party alone, why not any other party that have candidates to represent Madeshi comunity.
Don,t be dissillusioned, leaders of Sadhvawana or any other vhawana are only looking for political mileage by exploiting ethnic sentiments, and encouraging them is only helping them fulfill vested interests. Let them face the compition of rejunivated youths-challenging to lead the community in particular and nation in general for its betterment-promised with a selfless service.
Initial begining has to be in mass education and eradication of social evils, then comes the realization of rights, responsibilities and duties.

I sometime wonder 'what is wrong with some people'. You don't have to go anywhere to
see how stupid and narrow pople could be. Just read few postings of this kind will do it.

Good luck with all of you who support such a stupid grouping.

Saroj

Lets break our country into Brahmins, Newars, Chetris, Madhesi's, Gurungs, Magars etc. etc. and under Brahmin lets break them into Purbiya, Kumai, Jaisi and so on..., let break the Newars into Bhaktapure, Kantipure, Lalitpure etc. Lets break the Chetris into- Thakuris, Pure Chetris, and Khatris.....

Lets find out true idendity of who we are. What a load of crap.....

Let's divide Nepal further and give more power to the people who want to see Nepal a failed state and give them more power to control our nation.

This is malicious!

If the divisions did not exist, prejudice and discrimination would not even be there. But they are there, which shows divisions exist. The anti-prejudice, anti-discrimination crowd are the ones trying to heal the divisions.

It seems that we all are marching towards destruction to end human race to start all over again.
Just a thought!
Peace