Kathmandu – Beyond the towering heights and the hues of various flags on top of the tallest mountain in the world lies the vibrant community of Nepal and its residents. In perhaps one of the most prominent geographical locations in the world live a great number of Madhesi, which is a collective term for the ethnic groups living in the southern region of Terai. They are found within the wide terrain that spans from east to west of Nepal, near the Nepalese and Indian borders. Nearly 30 percent of the Madhesi people can be found within this border adjoining the Indian states of Bihar, Uttar, Pradesh, and West Bengal. They share a distinct tradition, history, language, and religious practices. However, this ethnic group also covers various lifestyles, cultures, colors, and even linguistic associations.
More than a Tourist Destination
Travelers and adventure-seekers come to Nepal for its breathtaking sceneries and the challenging hike to the top of Mount Everest. As a part of numerous historical achievements of famous personalities, the country seems to be the perfect place for extremely satisfying explorations. However, once the attractions are discovered, there is a need for the public to notice and understand the lifestyle and culture of the Nepalese on a deeper level.
In 2015, the government of Nepal promulgated a new constitution. As part of the country’s need for political change, there has been an uprising as well as a continuous call to hear the voices of marginalized groups, including the Madhesi, JanJatis, and Muslims. The Madhesis make up a large portion of the population, including the Bhojpuri, Rajbanshi, Maithili, Tharu, Awadhi, and other smaller tribal groups. Despite these prevalent calls, the seeming apathy of people from the northern portion of the country to be unaffected by the protests of people from the South is of particular concern.
Treat them Fairly
The Terai is one of the most fertile and productive regions of Nepal. This region dominates the agricultural sector, producing crops such as rice, tobacco, sugar, herbs and spices, jute, and mustard. Although the location of the Madhesi people and their source of income has great economic significance to the country, the Madhesi’s rights to education, development programs, health access, and concrete economic activities seem to have been neglected.
Similar to many cases of discrimination and marginalization among ethnic groups around the world, the Madhesi face similar struggles of being treated as outsiders. The government is still looking for effective ways to address the different tribal groups’ needs and rights. Nepal is also trying to reconnect and build strong relationships with China and India for better chances of economic advancement for their people in the future.
The new constitution may seem to be an empowering move for the Nepalese, but the Madhesis continue to express their resentment over the important social and political aspects of this change. This problem is not exclusive to this ethnic group. It is common to many of the ethnic communities all over Asia and the rest of the world.
Image in use from United We Blog (UWB), https://blog.com.np/2006/11/28/being-nepali-citizen-bill-brings-madhesis-joy/
