A letter to Kathmandu
I know you probably don’t approve of posting such a status on social media, you might think it is seditious. Despite so much difference in opinion, we aren’t different as humans. It’s your notion that the identity of being Nepali supersede the identity of Madheshi but if you think rationally, there’s no clash in these two different aspect of identity. Nepali is a nationality and Madhesi is ethnicity. You can take Green Card and become an American national but yet remain an ethnic Madheshi, ethnicity is embedded in your DNA.
Your definition of Nationalism is reinforcement of your cultural identity of Daura-Surwal and language over the rest of the ethnicities. In fact, more than half of population of Madhesh have never seen national bird as it’s not found there, haven’t seen national flower, as its only found on mountains. I feel the parochial definition of nationalism is excluding the majority of diaspora in Nepal.
I remember when I said, #NotMyConstitution, because I thought that the constitution brought over the blood of people, has already been rejected and sowed seeds for future confrontations while you not only accepted this constitution but went ahead to celebrate “Diwali”, while Janakpur, Biratnagar, Birgunj and Nepalgunj was mourning those martyred by the state. You proclaim that this is the best constitution in the word, I only see a beast.
I assume we both agree that there is a problem in the constitution, what we disagree on is the cause of the problem, the scale of the problem and the solution of the problem. While you have your own biases to believe that there’s a foreign hands for people speaking against the constitution; if I may, I raise my concern, that this constitution fails the women to put at par with any male Nepali citizen. As a liberal and progressive male, I’m ashamed of this. The article 82 A and B, ensures that no question shall be raised in court regarding the working procedures of Nepal Government; does that not lays a basis of an authoritarian rule in future. Although the article 42 A and 282 A, 40 A, ensures the provision of proportional inclusion we fail to see the same in recent selection of ambassadors, The blatant silence on your behalf, gives me feeling that maybe you yourself don’t believe in the very same “world’s best” constitution you proclaim it to be. If you believe in the very same constitution you should thank Raksha Ram, a THRD lawyer, for going to court against this exclusive selection. But alas, Raksha Ram, who’s fighting for the very same constitution you supported so much will probably remain an unsung hero.
Deep inside, we both know that protests are not productive and eventually the state has to has to become inclusive; else I’m sad to reveal the grim reality, the protests have enough power that Nepal, as we know of today, may not remain the same in future, if the protests are suppressed by force. If you read history, since French revolution in 16th century, seldom a people’s movement failed. We both can stop it from happening; we both can change the grim reality into a beautiful dream of a proposers Nepal. The fight is not between you and me, it’s against an inefficient system, against the parochial narrative of Nepal and against those who want us to fight. If you fail to understand these basic facts, there shall be killing, deaths, terror and destruction and then peoples’ will have to prevail in the newer constitution. But what’s the point of taking this long and mutually destructive route, why can’t you and I join hands to bring a better constitution which is welcomed by all.
If your definition of being Nepali doesn’t include my culture, custom, language, ethics, values and society, don’t you think you’re preventing us from being a Nepali by your own parochial notion of nationalism. Recon, many of those living in Nepali, around 23% don’t have citizenship, majority don’t wear Darua-Surwal, majority don’t speak Khas-Bhasa (modern day Nepali language), yet, they live in the landlocked nation of Nepal and let them become as Nepali as much as you are. Make them feel that it’s the country of the aboriginals, who were here even before Nepal was formed as a nation. If you fail to expand the old-school narrative of dress-food-clothe nationalism, you’ll fail Nepal. Unlike today, who still take pride in being Nepali, maybe the future generation might stop feeling Nepali. Nation stay in the minds of people, once a society stops feeling of being a Nepali, I will have to congratulate you on making the minds of that society believe in your version of parochial Nepal. Those who don’t read history, make the mistake of repeating it. Let’s learn lessons from Eritrea and Ethiopia, Sudan and South Sudan, Sri Lanka. Lastly, if you believe that this constitution is discriminating against your own sisters and mothers, join hands to correct what was wrong in its inception and voice for #NotMyConstitution.
