Politics of Resistance Politics Tis book illustrates an exciting approach to understanding both Indigenous Peoples of Nepal are searching for the state momentous and everyday events in the history of South Asia. It which recognizes and refects their identities. Exclusion of advances notions of rupture and repair to comprehend the afermath indigenous peoples in the ruling apparatus and from resources of natural, social and personal disasters, and demonstrates the of the “modern states,” and absence of their representation and generality of the approach by seeking their historical resolution. belongingness to its structures and processes have been sources Te introduction of rice milling technology in a rural landscape of conficts. Indigenous peoples are engaged in resistance in Bengal,movements the post-cold as the warstate global has been shi factive in international in destroying, relations, instead of the assassinationbuilding, their attempt political, on a economicjournalist and in acultural rented institutions.city house inThe Kathmandu,new constitution the alternate of 2015and simultaneousfailed to address existence the issues, of violencehence the in non-violentongoing movements,struggle for political,a fash feconomic,ood caused and by cultural torrential rights rains and in the plainsdemocratization of Nepal, theof the closure country. of a China-India border afer the army invasionIf the in Tibet,country and belongs the appearance to all, if the of outsiderspeople have in andemocratic ethnic Taru hinterlandvalues, the – indigenous scholars in peoples’ this volume agenda have would analysed become the a origins, common anatomiesagenda and ofdevelopment all. If the state of these is democratic events as andruptures inclusive, and itraised would interestingaddress questions the issue regarding of justice theirto all. impact With these on thepremises, ways thispeople book live andpresents earn, keep the concerns healthy, ofwrite the indigenousand report, peoples change from regimes, a new angle,and reproduceasks caste. new questions on distance and disagreements between the Gobinda Chhantyal state and the indigenous peoples, and opens up a debate for Yogesh creationRaj is ofResearch a new state Director structure, (Material relationship, Transformations) and culture in atthe Martin country.Chautari, Kathmandu, Nepal. His recent publications include History as Mindscapes: A Memory of the Peasants’ Movement of Editors Nepal (2010), Expedition to Nepal Valley: Te Journals of Captain | Tunga B. Rai Tunga Kinloch (2012), and Sandhya Samrachana: Hindu Newarharuko Mrityuchetana (2013). Partners: 78 Politics of Resistance Indigenous Peoples and the Nepali State Dedication Dedicated to the human rights activist and the star of the indigenous peoples’ movement, Padma Ratna Tuladhar, who was always a source of inspiration in the movement against all sorts of discrimination; to the same great antecedents and ancestors of indigenous peoples who kept protecting their civilization, history, and identity even in complex and difcult situations and to the indigenous peoples who have been waging a difcult struggle in the hope of a bright future. Politics of Resistance Indigenous Peoples and the Nepali State Editors Gobinda Chhantyal Tunga B. Rai Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) Politics of Resistance: Indigenous Peoples and the Nepali State Editors Gobinda Chhantyal Tunga . ai English Edition v.s. Publisher Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN), Secretariat of Federal Council PO Box: 8975 EPC: 1851 Kathmandu, Nepal Phone: 00977-1-5555454 infonen.org.np httpswww.nen.org.np Partnership Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact, Chiang Mai, Thailand httpswww.aippnet.org Tamalpais Trust Fund httpswww.tamtrust.org Copyright © All rights reserved by the publisher ISBN: 978-9937-9041-8-6 Printed copies: 1,000 rice s. Design/layout: Kishor Pradhan Printed at Smriti Printing Press, Kathmandu or purposes other than analysis and research citations, any content from this book may not be reprinted without permission from the publisher. Contents Foreword VII Introduction 1 Gobinda Chhantyal and Tunga B. Rai 1. Indigenous Peoples: Rising from the Margins in Nepal’s Politics 15 Dr. Mukta S. Tamang 2. Issues of Liberation and Cultural Equality of Adivasis in Nepal’s Politics 41 Dr. Dambardhwoj Chemjong 3. The Dialecticism of Single Identity 55 Rajendra Maharjan 4. Ethnic Parties in Nepal: Formation, Rise and Electoral Performance 79 Jhakendra Gharti Magar 5. Political Participation and Indigenous Women of Nepal: It is Not Just about Numbers 111 Kailash Rai 6. Cultural Politics in Nepal 139 Bhogiraj Chamling 7. Indigenous Peoples Movement and the Politics of Minority 159 Tashi Chhiring Ghale-Dolpo 8. Discourse on Autonomous, Protected and Special Areas in Nepal 185 Gobinda Chhantyal Introduction of the Authors/Editors 231 Foreword Respect for identity, collective rights, proportional representation, multi-lingual policy, autonomy, and federalism with self-governance are the major agendas of the indigenous peoples’ movement in epal. It is a wellknown fact that discrimination against indigenous peoples persists, and the constitution of Nepal enacted by the second Constituent Assembly has not been able to address the fundamental issues of indigenous peoples as well as of the oppressed, neglected, marginalized groups, including communities of different caste, gender, religion, region, and class. It is the assertion of indigenous peoples’ movement that without amending the discriminatory constitution, the issues related to the identity and rights of indigenous peoples cannot be addressed. The Nepali state in different time periods in history and on different pretexts has discriminated, exploited, and oppressed the indigenous peoples that have been the most responsible towards unity with due respect to the country’s sovereignty, freedom, territorial integrity, national independence, and diversity. Indigenous peoples became the biggest victim of the so-called epals unication process, which was nothing but an expansion of the orkha kingdom and the subsequent internal colonialism. Indigenous peoples became poorer day by day due to the planned VII VIII Politics of Resistance: Indigenous Peoples and the Nepali State usurpation of their rights to historical territory and natural resources, attack on their cultural heritage and mother tongues, and economic exploitation by seizing their historical and ancestral property. In other words, indigenous peoples want, most of all, economic development and prosperity along with the protection of their languages, religion, and culture. owever, overall economic development and prosperity is not possible without addressing the diversity of epali society. estruction of land and heritage linked with the civilization, history, and identity of indigenous peoples in the name of development can in no way be right. espect for the identity of indigenous peoples, guarantee of access to all the organs and mechanisms of the state, and realization of development and prosperity of Nepali society as envisioned in the acts, laws, policies, and programs are the demands of indigenous peoples movement. There can be long-lasting development and prosperity only when indigenous knowledge, skills, and arts are protected and promoted. In light of Nepal’s political history, indigenous peoples have kept making contributions and sacrices. owever, their lack of partnership in government authority and the fact that their issues have not been addressed for such a long time is a sign of continued discrimination against them. The issues of indigenous peoples are related to epals politics. In other words, it is my conviction that this publication attempts to look into varied aspects of Nepali politics and indigenous peoples movement. This book is the English version of the book published in Nepali, “Pratirodhko Rajniti: Adivasi Janajati ra Nepali Rajya,” which is a compilation of working papers presented during the seminar organized by Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) on ecember , . rticles by wellversed personalities on the issues of indigenous peoples and those who have been a part of the indigenous peoples movement have been included in this book. The subject matter of various aspects of the indigenous peoples’ Foreword IX movement has been dened and analyzed in an objective and realistic manner. ositive aspects of indigenous peoples movement, along with suggestions for reforms on various aspects, have been presented in this book. I believe this book will be useful to all who are interested in the indigenous peoples’ movement and are concerned with and sympathetic towards the indigenous peoples’ movement and the leaders associated with it and those interested in study and research. I express my sincere gratitude to the authors of this book: advisor to EI, r. ukta ingh Tamang hief of the epartment of nthropology, Tribhuvan niversity, r. ambardhwoj hemjong journalist and columnist Rajendra Maharjan; and indigenous peoples’ campaigners and researchers Kailash Rai, Jhakendra harti agar, hogiraj hamling, and Tashi hhiring haleolpo. Likewise, heartfelt thanks go to NEFIN Vice-chairperson, Gobinda Chhantyal, and national coordinator of NEFIN Climate Change artnership rogram, Tunga . ai, who worked day and night editing this book. I express my thanks also to EIs portfolios, ofce bearers and staff who made valuable contributions for this publication. pecial thanks go to ahesh aj aharjan, who copyedited the book, and to