Dalit activist Late Chhabilal Bishwakarma of Dhurkot, Syangja

It is to note with immense grief that Mr. Chhabilal Bishwakarma of Dhurkot in Syangja district of Nepal has passed away on 9th this month of October. Mr. Bishwakarma is not an unknown name in the early Dalit movement of the country. He served as the main contact in the district for national and regional matters of Dalit movement particularly during the third quarter of the 20th century. He worked and collaborated very closely with Late Mr. Riplal Bishwakarma of Palpa district, a well known Dalit leader and writer of early years.

“I am very much shocked to know the demise of Mr. Chhabi Lal Bishwokarma. He was a great hero of his time from our Dalit community.”, said a Dalit intellectual Mr. Om Prakash VK Gahatraj. “I had heard of him when I was a student. I met him many times when I was a civil servant. He was our respected leader, he travelled many places of Dalit community with our leader late Mr. Rip Lal Bishwokarma, who is known for his contribution to Dalit movement in Nepal.”

Mr. Chhabilal Bishwakarma was 84, and is survived by a large joint family. Mr. Dharam Bishwakarma, the current President of NASO Community (USA), is his youngest son.

Paying homage to the departed soul, the nepaldalitinfo expresses its heartfelt condolence to Mr. Dharam Bishwakarma and all members of the bereaved family in this great loss to his family and to the whole Dalit movement of Nepal.

दलित आन्दोलनमा राजनीतिक पार्टीको ऐक्यवद्धता

धनगढी, २९ असोज । शैलेश्वरी मन्दिर प्रवेश गरी फर्केका दलितहरुमाथि सांघातिक आक्रमण भएको विरोधमा भइरहेको दलित आन्दोलनमा सात राजनैतिक दलहरुले ऐक्यवद्धता जनाएका छन् । आइतबार धनगढीमा शैलेश्वरी काण्ड र राजनीतिक पार्टर्ीीवषयक अन्तरक्रियामा बोल्दै नेपाली कांग्रेस कैलालीका सचिव प्रेमराज जोशीले दलितको आन्दोलनमा कांग्रेसको ऐक्यवद्धता रहेको जनाउनुभयो । उहाँले हरेक सामाजिक समस्याको समाधान राजनीतिले गर्ने बताउनुभयो ।

दलित आन्दोलनको नेतृत्व पनि सात राजनीतिक दलमा आवद्ध दलितहरुले नै नेतृत्व गर्नुपर्ने उहाँले बताउनुभयो । शैलेश्वरीमा भएको घटनाको विरोधको आन्दोलन गैर सरकारी संस्थाको नेतृत्वमा भईरहेकोमा उहाँले चिन्ता प्रकट गर्नुभयो ।

कार्यक्रममा नेकपा एमाले कैलालीका सदस्य यज्ञराज बास्तोलाले राज्यको ऐतिहाँसिक घोषणालाई उल्लंघन गर्नेहरुलाई कडा कारवाही गरिनुपर्ने माग राख्नुभयो । उहाँले डोटीका अन्य गाउँहरु भन्दा सिलगढीका बासिन्दाको चिन्तन अत्यन्तै साघुरो रहेको बताउनुभयो ।

उहाँले शैलेश्वरी काण्डको विरोधमा भइरहेको दलित आन्दोलनमा एमालेको सक्रिय र्समर्थन रहेको बताउनुभयो । त्यसैगरी नेपाली कांग्रेस-प्र.) कैलालीका सह-सचिव नरनारायण शाहले सिलगढीको घटना मण्डलेहरुको संरक्षणमा भएको आरोप लगाउनुभयो । सो घटनाको दोषी माथि कडा कारवाही हुनुपर्ने उहाँले माग राख्नुभयो ।

कार्यक्रममा जनमोर्चा नेपाल कैलालीका नेता जयराज भण्डारी, अर्को जनमोर्चा नेपालका केन्द्रीय सदस्य दान बहादुर विश्वकर्मा, कैलाली बहुमखी क्याम्पसका स्ववियू सभापति यज्ञराज ढंुगाना, नेविसंघका लेखराज जोशी, दलित नेता गणेश बि. के., मुक्ति समाज कैलालीका अध्यक्ष भानसिंह बि. क., हरि श्रीपाईली र लक्ष्मण तुलाचन लगायतले बोलेका थिए ।

Report by Ganesh BK, RDN Nepal

Kathmandu, October 16. A Dalit Children Fair (Dalit Bal Balika Bhela) program was organized yesterday in a small Dalit Village, Tushal, and Kritipur on the auspices of Dalit Welfare Organization, Dalit Women Committee and Italian group CLOWN ONE ITALIA ONLUS. The program was hosted by Ms. Roshana Kaliraj in the chairmanship of Miss Sunita Sentury, president of DWO, Dalit Women Committee. Mr. Italo Bertolasi, president of the Clown one group was the chief guest of the program. Newly elected president of DWO Mr. Gajadhar Sunar and General Secretary Mr. Chakraman Biswokarma was also present in the program. Mr. Om Prakash VK Gahatraj interpreted the English speech presented by the Italian guest into Nepali for the villagers.

The main objective of the program was to entertain the children including orphan children of the village and to provide 10 Yrs schooling scholarship to the neediest children of the village with very weak economic condition. Children presented group dance and song to the Italian Group.

Most of the children of the village from the age 3-16 were present in the program. After the formal session, Italian group presented children cartoon (Joker) play to the children and tried to entertain them. They presented rubber balloon, clown nose and paper made hat to the children. The main attraction of the program was the Italian Cartoon play presentation to the children, the bamboo swing which was made by local villagers and typical Nepal food items like Sel roti and Kheer. Handicraft products prepared by local women group were also presented in different stalls in the program.

The children enjoyed both the swing and food items very much after the very funny children play performed by the Italian Group as well as the group dance performed at the end of the program by all the participants.

The program venue is a very beautiful village, having some 50 dalit houses surrounded by hills and green rice field. There is a big open ground with fresh wind blowing continuously and from where Shyambhu, Dharahara and Kritipur Town are clearly visible. Pleasant weather, clear sky and continuous wind added the beauty to the program venue. The program venue is very close to the heart of our country at the distance of 30m on bus from Ratnapark, Kathmandu and some 5
mins distance from Kritipur main town.

Report by: Sachin Amatya, DWO.

Dalit NGO Federation, Nepal pays to tribute to Indian Dalit leader Late Kashi Ram, expresses heart felt condonlence to his followers

Fresh incident of atrocities against Dalits in yet another remote district

A fresh incident of atrocities against Dalits has been reported from a far western remote district. The scuffle reported to have flared up following a minor dispute between the [so called] upper caste and Dalit people in Sonali Atichour VDC-3 of Achham district. A group of Brahmins and Chhetris then attacked Dalits, according to the National Dalit Network, Nepalnews.com reports.

According to the report, the District president of the Network and few Dalit activists were injured in the clash. Dalits staged protest against the attack Sunday afternoon. District president of the Network and few Dalit activists were injured in the clash. Dalits staged protest against the attack Sunday afternoon. The incident is the latest in a series of violent confrontation between the Dalit and non-Dalits in the far-western region. Few weeks earlier, non-Dalits had attacked a group of Dalits when they tried to enter into a temple for puja in Silgadhi of Dolit district, injuring 50 Dalits.

The nepaldalitinfo condemns any such incident occurring in Nepal, and emphasizes that all the people of Dalit community must consolidate their strength and also seek solidarity from all friends of Dalits to fight against the feudal elements who are going against Dalit community even in recent times, when the country is seeking major shakeup in the socio-economic and political structure.

NASO Community Meets Dy PM Oli and MPs in Washington DC

On behalf of NASO Community, its representatives Mr. Dharam Bishwokarma, Krishna Sob, Hari Hemchuri and Prakash Nepal met the visiting Nepalese delegation to the United Nations led by Deputy Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli at the Nepalese Ambassador’s residence in Washington DC on September 28, 2006. In a 2-hour long meeting, the members introduced NASO Community, and briefed its objectives and goal in the long run.

The NASO community representatives also told Mr. Oli that the declaration of “country free of untouchability” does not mean anything unless an explicit law is made and implemented. “It must be made punishable to those who break the law. Despite the declaration, more barbaric and challenging incidents are taking place like Saileswori temple incident in Doti.” they told the Nepalese Deputy Prime Minister.

NASO Community wanted to let the Government know that there is a strong support for the dalit movement from the organizations in the United States of America and Canada. Deputy Prime Minister was found very positive about the movement, and assured of what they can do to provide more access of Dalits to opportunities and resources in the country. They have also assured NASO representatives that they will be informed of having reasonable representation in the Constituent Assembly.

NASO Community warns everyone concerned, however, not to forget that Dalits have to fight their own battle to create a casteless, dignified and respectful society for basic fundamental human rights.

The others present in the meeting were MP Tek Bahadur Chokhyal and MP Mahendra Pandey.

Report by:
Prakash Nepal
NASO Communtiy
Washington, DC
www.nasocommunity.org