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Federalism Is Not Like those Baise-Chaubise Rajyas
by Smita Magar
काठमाडौं, January 26, 2008 -Just a day after the Interim Parliament declared the nation of Nepal a Federal Democratic Republic, the Speaker of the Interim Parliament Subash Chandra Nembang was in Baglung. There, he addressed the gathering of more than 2000 Magar youth in the Baglung Bazaar who were participating in the inauguration program of Nepal Magar Student Association’s 5th National Convention. He told them “Nepal was already on its way to becoming a Federal Democratic Republic, and has thus confirmed that no one can stop this from happening now”.
Then, just a day later, representatives of Nepal Magar Student Association approved its agenda emphasizing the importance of pressuring the government to immediately implement a Federal Democratic Republic with the guarantee that the Magar ethnic communities main land would be declared Magarat Autonomous state with the right to self determination.
However, in that group were some Magar students who live outside Kathmandu valley and in surrounding areas. They expressed mixed feelings about implementation of a federal system in the nation. “When every ethnic community residing in Nepal will demand a separate autonomous state, the situation in Nepal could evolve into a time similar to Baise-Chaubise rajyas, as described in our history,” said Jhalak Purbachhane Magar from Janakpur.
Similarly, Jay Magar of Sindhuli said that he was not clear about Federalism. “I think federalism will finally lead to divisiveness in our nation because there will be a myriad of complications, even in autonomous states, where minorities will have difficulties resulting from their dependency upon the majorities of that autonomous state,” he added.
Both said that they have never had any kind of orientation programs about federalism from the organizations who are raising voices for a Federal system in Nepal.
In contrast, Apsara Rana Magar of Nuwakot, who has independently studied federalism and has been actively participating in interactive programs organized by concerned institutions and organizations, believes that federalism will give space to the preservation and promotion of endangered culture of indigenous communities along with minorities. She said, “The concept that the federal system would split Nepal and nationalism is just a fallacy. In fact, giving equal rights and proportional representation to every community will work as a uniting force for equality for each citizen.”
Bhoj Bikram Budha Magar, President of NMSA accepts the fact that the NMSA central committee has been unable to organize enough orientation programs to Magar students nation-wide at grass roots level. “Trying to get the federalism system in Nepal with a one day orientation program is just a delusion,” he said. “We need to organize nation-wide orientation programs informing the grass roots Magar community about federalism and the immense need to participate in nation building and to save our cultural ethnic identity,” he added. He further added that there will be decentralization in creating awareness, informing people about federalism. “Through national, regional and local committees we will be organizing nation-wide programs to inform people about federalism and Magarat autonomous state,” he said.
“Our friends doubts about federalism is based on their misunderstanding of the system; it could also be due to their superficial study of federalism and lack of information on why we are demanding federalism,” he said.
He stressed, “It is very necessary for us to understand that federalism is the system which fosters ‘unity in diversity’.” If a government runs with a concept of ‘one language-one dress-one religion-one nation’ policy then it becomes a unitary government where other languages, cultures, religions are neglected while one is favored. In Nepal, Nepali language, Hindu religion, Hindu culture, Brahman-Chhetri dress were favored while other all indigenous cultural identities were neglected and faced endangerment during the Hindunization process in the name of creating unity in diversity”.
He added, “But in a Federal system everyone will be regarded as an equal citizen and respected for her/his own ethnic identity. That will preserve and promote all communities’ cultural identities with equal representation. The result will be peaceful co-existence with equal respect regardless of differences.”
The President of Nepal Magar Association, Jhak Bahadur Thapa Magar said “ A Unitary State can never represent every ethnic community, gender and region. There is an illusion among some people about Federalism splitting the nation. We are not demanding Magarat or federalism to replace others’ existence,” he said. “We are demanding this system to make every Nepali feel that they are equal citizens of this country and that this is their country as well by dint of their equal representation in the government and respect for their ethnic and cultural identity.”
“Although we may have different political ideologies we need to have one voice for Magar issues and Magarat,” he added. In talking about future plans to raise a strong voice for Magarat and Magar issues he said: “A committee has already been formed to determine a Magarat autonomous state on the basis of geography. We will organize a nation-wide awareness campaign through our sister organization, the Magar Youth Association.”
Suresh Ale Magar, a founding General Secretary of Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) said that Federalism is needed because Nepal is a country of minorities. “As it is the country of diversity, a Federal system is the preferable system; through its inclusiveness and proportional representation it will serve us better than a Unitary system.”
He asserted that people who are saying federalism splits the nation are the people who have actually been benefiting from the unitary system and do not want their ethnic supremacy to end. “They fear that their long monopoly over everything will end if federal system is allowed in the country.”
“When every ethnic, caste and community receives equal rights, there is no way a country will split,” he added.
“We have not even dreamed of splitting our country. We are demanding federalism to establish equality and unity among Nepalese,” Ale said, and added “We are also not demanding Magarat to dominate other ethnic communities and minorities of the autonomous state.”
“Today Federalism is inevitable and indispensable for the advancement of our nation. In order to raise this issue strongly and to guarantee Magarat in the Constituent Assembly, training among Magar campaigners to go nation wide to inform about Magarat and Magar issues at grass roots Magar communities is the obligation of this hour,” he said.
So far, they are not acting with sufficient speed.
The problem is that the institutions and organizations who are demanding a federal system in Nepal are only centralizing their demands, mainly in Kathmandu and urban areas. The pressing need for the moment is for these organizations to decentralize their demands and reach the ‘target people’, those who are not well informed about why they are demanding. This burning need is not only among Magars but in almost every community that is demanding federalism.
Therefore, without any further delay, there exists a pressing need for the voices of intellectuals to reach the grass roots level to combine voices to bring about Federalism in our nation.
Our Special Contributor/Representative Smita Magar is an intern at The Kathmandu Post (Kantipur Publication) in Kathmandu. She can be reached at: Tel: +977-984-160-0316, or email her at: smitamagar@usnepalonline.com.
To read her blog visit: http://www.smitazcorner.blogspot.com
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