Tihar, Terai and Tribulation (Commentary)
Deepraj Sanyal / Kathmandu: Tihar, the festival of lights, which is the second biggest festival of the Nepalis, has just concluded. This five-day festival used to be celebrated with much enthusiasm and fervour, especially the last three days. However, this year Tihar was tepid. It failed to generate the kind of festive passion and rejuvenation which it used to during normal times.
Needless to say, the country is presently passing through abnormal times. Abnormal, because the country is yet to fully recover from the devastation wrought by the April 25 earthquake and the subsequent powerful aftershocks. The political instability which has rather been the norm than an exception in this part of the world in the last two decades or so is another reason for dampening the Tihar celebration.
The promulgation of the constitution from the Constituent Assembly, a long cherished dream of the Nepali people, on 20 September also could not bring cheer and the much-awaited political stability because the Terai-Madhes region was in agitation. The United Democratic Madhesi Front, an alliance of Madhes-centric political parties had launched a movement in protest against the new constitution.
The protest movement is still on, even after claiming 48 lives in its throes. The shutdowns which were organised as part of their protest movement by the agitating parties had already crippled the normal life of the people in the Terai for more than two months. Schools were closed, movement of people and goods was hampered and there was charged atmosphere in the southern plains due to this movement.
As is often the case in these kinds of uprisings which are undertaken with the hallowed promise of securing the rights of the people, unfortunately it is the poor people themselves who are the hardest hit and who have to bear the brunt of the andolan. The much-quoted definition of democracy – by the people, for the people and of the people – seems to be out of place in our country, when the political parties who claim to work for the rights and welfare of the people and often describe themselves as the champions of democracy resort to violent means of protests such as general strikes and shutdowns, crippling the life of the people and closure of schools thereby denial of the right of the children to education, and of the right to business and work.
And, as if this was not enough, there came like a bolt out of the blue the unofficial border blockade by our immediate southern neighbor, India, with which Nepal has ‘special relations’. Perhaps, this is the Dashain, Tihar and Chhath ‘gift’ to the Nepalis from the Indian establishment. While New Delhi would not like to describe this paralyzing blockade at the Nepal-India border as blockade as such and until now continues to point the finger at Nepal saying it is due to the Madhes movement here, this is only half true. Indeed, there is some degree of nudging from India in all this. Otherwise, why would it keep on hold hundreds of trucks carrying essential goods, crucial raw materials and fuel supply at the border check points where there is no sit-in or protest demonstrations by the agitating parties? This shows that New Delhi is showing its strong-arm tactics against its smaller but geo-strategically crucial neighbor.
In the past few months Nepal has faced far too many problems than it deserves. Nepal is heading towards a grave humanitarian crisis, with millions affected through earthquake and now from the blockade. The past months of civil strife in the Terai and India’s shrewdly imposed blockade has affected the country more adversely than the earthquake that took place in April and May this year. Economists estimate Nepal has suffered a loss of more than $ 4 billion due to the blockade alone. There is shortage of fuel, essential goods and life-saving medicines. Due to the fuel shortage, schools have been closed and people are dying for lack of medicines. Nepal is clearly on the brink of a humanitarian crisis if this situation drags on any longer. But even so, there is no seriousness shown by the government and the agitating political parties to the plight of the people and the gravity of the situation. They continue to test the patience of the people. There is a hazardous complacency on all the three sides to this crisi – the government, the agitating Madhes-centric parties and India.
It is little over a month now that the current government headed by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has assumed office. While this government inherited the present crisis from its predecessor, the Nepali Congress-led coalition government, it is now urgently time to act. There is no doubt that the Terai movement is Nepal’s own, although New Delhi has clandestinely chosen to dabble in it through the undeclared nakabandi, instead of what was expected of it – jugalbandi – in the true spirit of SAARC at such difficult times that the country is passing through. Since the Terai movement is Nepalis’ movement, it should be addressed to further consolidate the national unity. The government should pay heed to the genuine demands of the Madhes movement and tide over the crisis before it degenerates into an ethnic and separatist conflict – between the Pahadi community and the Madhesi community. All sides should play responsible here because it is a delicate situation that demands wise and far-sighted vision. The Madhesis should also keep in mind their duties as responsible citizens of the country while demanding their rights.
Thus, it is no time for PM Oli, and for that matter to the major political forces to indulge in complacency, for the agitating Madhes-centric parties in political brinkmanship and for India to look the other way and further alienate Nepal. This crisis could be resolved only by addressing the valid demands of the Madhes. Thus, the ruling parties, with the support of the opposition Nepali Congress, should immediately amend the constitution and normalize Nepal’s trade and diplomatic relations with India.
Like all big crises have something to teach those who are responsive and responsible, this crisis has also come as a ‘wake-up call’ for the Nepalis to work towards making their country self-reliant. Even in this period of tribulation, people should work to strengthen national unity and seek to make the country economically stronger. Let us hope that reason, rather than rashness, prevails on all sides and this crisis will end soon, with its obvious lessons for all. But even if the crisis is settled, it will always leave one question in the Nepali psyche regarding India’s unannounced blockade against Nepal – Why this kolaveri di? RSS