This is to note with heavy heart that the living history of Dalit Movement Mohanlal Kapali is no more in this world. He passed away on 28th of November around 11 am NST because of cardiac arrest. He was 84 but living almost a healthy life as other than old age complications; he was not seriously ill. At around 8 am he felt uneasyness in his heart and was taken immediately to the heart care centre of Sahid Gangalal Cardiac Hospital. He was checked thoroughly and given only some iron tablets to return back home. When he was about to enter his home, he passed away.

I would like to remind everyone concerned that since the time of Rana autocratic and oligarchy regime his whole family was very revolutionary, and did not accept the practice of untouchability of any form. To combat such inhuman practices of the time, Mr. Kapali developed himself as a sports man and worked out for his body building. He along with his some other friends were able to create fear among the upper caste society that if caste based discrimination is practiced with him he will revolt and even beatup everyone who practices. He was also politcally conscious and affiliated himself first with the founder of Nepali Communist movement Pushpalal. Later on, he was associated with Late Ganeshman Singh until his death and his family and Nepali Congress.

Because of his sportsmanship he became famous and was able to establish linkage with the royal family (King Tribhuwan and Mahendra) that link was instrumental to bring new civil code 2020 replacing the old civil code of 1910 B.S.

During 2019-20 B.S., the then Dalit leaders including Mohanlal Kapali did various movement activities, many in the form symbolic to influence King Mahendra, eventually having gotten a big gathering of Dalits at Khulamanch. Only after that time, King Mahendra brought the new civil code. Here I would like to reiterate that had not been the new civil code brought in place I am quite sure that our movement would not have been to this current stage. Therefore, Mohanlal Kapali needs to be regarded as one of the founders of the Dalit movement.

We could not pay our sincere homage to this great leader of Dalit movement as none of us were informed of his death by his Kapali family in time. It is may be due to the fact that Kapali family did not inform any of us; even his life-time close associate Mr. Omprakash VK was informed very lately.

We (DNF, Omprakash VK and myself) feel very proud to have prepared his biography a year ago and any one having interest in the Dalit rights and movement can read it and learn more about his contribution.

I am quite sure that you all join me to pay our due respect and homage to this great history of the Dalit movement.

His thirteen day of death falls on 9th of December 06, and we will be organizing a mass meeting to condole his sad demise. I hope, those of us who are around Kathmandu will come and join. Time and venue will be informed later on.

In mourning,

- Hira Vishawakarma
________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I thank Hiraji tor bringing up the information of sad demise of our great hero Mr. Mohan Lal Kapali. The life of Mr.Mohan Lal Kapali was itself a precious history of Dalit movement. I have never seen such a bold, strong and courageous Dalit leader like Mr. Kapali who could take the challenge and face any kind and shape of caste discrimination in any moment. He deserved to be taken as the sole full path finder of modern Dalit movement.

Whatever we could pay homage to his departed soul [may not] be sufficient compared to his contribution to Dalit movement. He was highly influenced by his conversation with Dr. Ambedkar on 1956. Since then, he had been a strong Ambedkarite leader. I hope his contribution will stand alive in the history of Dalit movement.

May I also correct that 10th December (Sunday) 06 is the 13th day of his mourning.

In mourning,

Om Prakash VK

_____________________________________________________________________________________

I am shocked and deeply saddened to hear that our great leader Mohanlal Dai is no more. At this time of mourning for him, I feel myself also extremely sorry for two another reasons- one, I could not have a moment spared to go and meet him when I was in Kathmandu early this month, even though Mr. Om Prakash VK and I had remembered and talked in length about him and his leadership; second, I have not been able to give time for translating the Biography of Mohanlal Kapali, a book written by Mr. Om Prakash VK, as I had promised with Hiraji. Hopefully, I will complete this assignment one day, sooner than later, as I have not given up yet.

Paying my sincere homage to Mohanlal Dai, with whom I was in close association in the early days of my living in Kathmandu (early 1970s) , I would like to express my heartfelt condolence to bereaved family.

In mourning,

- Drona Rasali

__________________________________________________________________________________

We are saddened by the demise of one of our great leaders. I have taken him as a genuine leader who has no self interest but lead the movement with his pure heart. I remember him shedding his tears of happiness in one of the programs organized in Kathmandu. Since then, it was not difficult to know him how kind hearted he was.

We would like to pay sincere homage to Mohan Lal Kapali ji and express our heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family. May his soul rest in peace!

In the meantime, I would like to thank DNF, Omprakash VK and Hira Vishwakarma for bringing out his short biography.

- Prakash Nepal
NASO Community
Washington, DC
http://www.nasocommunity.org
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Related Biography:
Mohanlal Kapali: Ek Sangharshashil Chhabi (A Struggleful Image) - A Biography by Om Prakash VK Gahatraj (in Nepali language)

रेडियो नेपालबाट यसै नोभेम्बर महिनाको दोश्रो हप्तामा प्रसारित् दलित जनजागरण कार्यक्रमको रेकर्ड, जस्को मुख्य भागमा नेपालदलितइन्फो नेर्टवर्कबारे यसका संस्थापक डा. द्रोणप्रकाश रसालीले कार्यक्रम संचालक दिनेश परियारलाई अन्तरवार्ता दिनु भएको थियो ।

In a recent public speech, Maoist Supremo Prachanda is reported to have said that he would like to be known by his nom de guerre ‘Prachanda’, as his real name Puspa Kamal Dahal is evocative of bahunbad (Brahminism). The name of any person is as worthy as his identity, but nothing more than that. There are fullnames of many persons in the world that are no more than three letters. All one needs is to be able to uniquely identify oneself. In that matter, the person who is known world-wide by the name “Prachanda” definitely does need any further name to identify him.

I think, Prachanda as a peoples’ distinguished leader should maintain this spirit of exemplary statesmanship representing all the ethnic groups of Nepal, and also go a step further by acquiring his citizenship certificate by this name ending a feudal hangover tradition of having to tag one’s name with a caste. There have been many reports in Nepal that many dalit Karmajans had been denied their righful citizenship certificates, if they did not agree to write their caste names instead of their sub-caste names (Thar) in their certificates.

- Dr. DP Rasali

सुदूर पश्चिमाञ्चल संयुक्त दलित संर्घष्ा समिति
मिति ः २०६३/७/२३ गते

नेपाली जनताले २००७ सालदेखि हालसम्म पटक पटक गर्दै आएका ऐतिहाँसिक संर्घष्ा र जनआन्दोलनबाट अर्थपर्ूण्ा शान्ति सहितको लोकतन्त्र प्राप्त हुने महान आशा र विश्वासका साथ २०६३/७/२२ गते राति सात दल र माओवादी बीच भएको शिखरवार्ताद्वारा भएको ऐतिहाँसिक सम्झौताप्रति र्सवप्रथम सुदूरपश्चिमाञ्चल संयुक्त दलित संर्घष्ा समितिका तर्फाट स्वागत गर्दछौं । यसका साथै सो सहमत्रि्रति निम्न कुराको ध्यानाकर्षा गर्न चाहन्छौं ।

१) सम्झौताको बुँदा नं. ३-३) मा ४८ जनाको मनोनयनमा दलित समुदायको स्पष्ट उल्लेख नगरी उत्पीडित, पेशागत आदि अमर्ूत शब्दावली राखिएकोले सो ठाउँमा स्पष्ट संख्या सहित दलित समुदायको आरक्षणको ग्यारेण्टी गरियोस् ।

२) शान्ति प्रकृयाका क्रममा प्रस्ताव गरिदा विभिन्न उच्च स्तरीय आयोगहरुमा दलितहरुको प्रतिनिधित्वको सुनिश्चित गरियोस् ।

३) अन्तरिम संविधान मस्यौदा ०६३ जारि गरेका दलित जनसंगठन तथा संघ/संस्थाहरुद्वारा पेश गरिएका आरक्षण लगायतका मागहरु संवोधन हुने गरी र्सार्वजनिक गरियोस् ।

४) जनआन्दोलन २०६२/६३ बाट स्थापित संसदले गरेका ऐतिहाँसिक घोषणा जेठ ४, जेठ १६ र छुवाछूत मुक्त राष्ट्र -जेठ २१) लगायतका घोषणाहरुको व्यवहारिक कार्यान्वयनको मार्ग चित्र यस सहमतिमा नदेखिएकोले सो सहमतिमा ती घोषणाहरुको व्यवहारिक संम्वोधन गर्न जोडदार माग गर्दछौं ।

५) प्रस्तावित अन्तरिम व्यवस्थापिका-संसदका लागि तय गरिएका ३३० वटा सीट मध्ये मुलुकका ५ वटै विकास क्षेत्र र कर्ण्ााली समेतको प्रतिनिधित्व हुने गरी दलितहरुको अर्थपर्ूण्ा समानुपातिक प्रतिनिधित्वको ग्यारेण्टी का लागि स्पष्ट आरक्षणको व्यवस्था गरियोस् । यसका साथै ८ वटै राजनीतिक दलहरुले समेत आ-आफ्नो दलका तर्फाट सोही अनुसारको दलितहरुको प्रतिनिधित्वको व्यवस्था गरियोस् ।

६) संयुक्त दलित संर्घष्ा समिति समक्ष रीता पुन सुनारले मिति २०६३/७/२३ गतेका दिन दिनुभएको निवेदनमाथि गंम्भिरतापर्ूवक छलफल गर्दा एक दलित महिला माथि कुनै पनि वहानामा जातीय आधारमा धोका दिन नहुने ठहरका साथ नीज रीता पुन सुनारको न्यायपर्ूण्ा मागप्रति ऐक्यवद्धता र र्समर्थन रहेको जानकारी गराउँदै दोषी माथि कानूनी कार्वाहीको लागि सम्बन्धित पक्षसँग जोडदार माग गर्दछौं ।

१. दान बहादुर बिश्वकर्मा ः केन्द्रीय उपाध्यक्ष, नेपाल राष्ट्रिय दलित मुक्ति संगठन तथा सु.प. इन्चार्ज

२. छत्र बहादुर टेलर ः केन्द्रीय उपाध्यक्ष, नेपाल दलित संघ तथा सुप इन्चार्ज

३. गणेश बि. के. ः अध्यक्ष, राष्ट्रिय दलित नेर्टवर्क ९च्म्ल्०, नेपाल

४. नृप सुनार ः दलित गैसस महासंघ सुदूरपश्चिमाञ्चल तथा केन्द्रीय सदस्य, नेपाल विद्यार्थी संघ

५. मनिराम देवल ः केन्द्रीय उपाध्यक्ष, ल्ल्म्क्ध्इ

६. तपेन्द्र भुषाल ः म्ध्इ कैलाली

७. चक्र बि. के. , दलित एक्टीभिष्ट, कैलाली

November 9, 2006; Kathmandu. A reception to welcome Dr. Drona Rasali was organized by a Network of International Development Professionals here today. Dr. Rasali, who is currently visiting Nepal from Canada is one of the very prominent intellectuals of Dalit community. He provided very enthusiastic ideas and tips to the network which might help gear up its activities in future. In this very informal discussion, all the members introduced themselves sharing the detailed background of everyone’s working experiences. Dr. Rasali emphasized the importance of such a loosely voluntary network of development professionals in order to put collective efforts on Dalit movement. The professionals from INGOs, Bilateral and Multilateral organizations, who are the members of this network as of now are: Mr. Dandiram Bishwokarma- SDC, Mr. Man B. B.K.-Save the Children US , Mr. Dharma Swarnakar-UNDP, Mr. Tek Tamrakara-UNDP, Mr. Mitra Pariyar-British Embassy, Mr. Raj Kumar Trikhatri-Action Aid, Ms. Saraswoti Gahatraj-Save the Children US, Mr. Mom Bishwakarma- UNICEF, Mr. Gobardhan Sunar-UNICEF, Mr. Danee Luhar-UNICEF, Mr. Jayandra Bishwakarma- UNICEF, Mr. Saroj Dilu-DNF.
Report by:
Mom Bishwakarma
Kathmandu, Nepal

Comprehensive Peace Accord Reached between CPN (Maoists) and Nepal Government

KATHMANDU, Nov 22. The much awaited comprehensive peace agreement has been reached yesterday between Government of Nepal and CPN (Maoist) with commitment to transform ceasefire between Government of Nepal and CPN (Maoist) into sustainable peace.

Under the article 3 of the landmark accord,

“3. Political - Economic - Social Transformation and Conflict Management” the statement describes that both the parties are in agreement to adopt some 13 points of policy and program for political-economic and social transformation and to affirmatively resolve existing conflict in the country.”

The accord promises to address the problems related to Dalits through the following point (3.5):

“3.5. To address the problems related to women, Dalit, indigenous people, Janajatis, Madheshi, oppressed, neglected, minorities and the backward by ending discrimination based on class, caste, language, sex, culture, religion, and region and to restructure the state on the basis of inclusiveness, democracy and progression by ending present centralised and unitary structure of the state.”

Full text of Comprehensive Peace Accord:
| Nepali | English |

मितिः २०६३ ०८ ०४

श्री दलित अधिकारको सरोकारवाला महानुभावज्यूहरु,

विषयः आरक्षण सम्वन्धी मुद्दाको अन्तिम सुनुवाई आज हुन नसकी मिति सरेको सम्बन्धमा ।

महोदय,

उपरोक्त सम्वन्धमा देशको संविधान र अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय कानून बमोजिम आरक्षण सम्वन्धी स्पष्ट कानून अविलम्व निर्माण गर्न परमादेशको आदेश सम्वन्धी सार्वजनिक सरोकारको मुद्दाको अन्तिम सुनवाई आज मिति २०६३ साल मंसिर ४ गते समयाभावको कारणले सम्पन्न हुन नसकी अर्का समय मिति २०६३ साल माघ ३ गते सम्मानित सर्बाेच्च अदालतबाट तोकिएको ब्यहोरा जानकारीको लागि अनुरोध गर्दछौं ।

रत्नबहादुर बागचन्द
कार्यकारी निर्देशक
संस्थापक अध्यक्ष
ल्यानकाउ नेपाल

प्रेस विज्ञप्ती: उपाध्यक्ष रामप्रित पासवान माथि भएको हातपातप्रति महासंघको घोरभर्त्सना

मुलुक आमूल परिवर्तनको दिशातिर उन्मुख भई समानता, स्थायी शान्ति, दिगो विकास र समृद्धिकेा लागि सवै नागरिकहरु एकवद्ध भईलाग्नु पर्ने घढीमा फेरिपनि उग्रवादी व्राम्हणवादी मानसिकताको कुण्ठनमा पालिएका केही ब्यक्तिहरुले क्षेत्रीय स्वाभिमानको नाममा यही मंसीर ३ गते आईतवार, जनकपुरको मिथिला महोत्सवमा सम्वोधन गर्नपुग्दा राष्ट्रकै सम्मानित ब्यक्ति, राष्ट्रिय सभाको उपाध्यक्ष माननीय रामप्रीत पासवानमाथि सांघातिक हमला र नेकपा एमालेका महासचिवमाथि अभद्र ब्यवहार गरेकोमा महासंघ गहिरो खेद् ब्यक्त गर्दछ ।

संविधानसभामार्फ जातिगत तथा क्षेत्रगत समस्यालाई समेत सम्वोधन गरी मुलुक र मुलुकवासीको नयँा भविश्य निर्माण गर्नुपर्ने यस मौकामा मधेसी-पहाडी वा उच्च- नीच वा भेषभूषाको क्षणीक फरकमै कुनैपनि नागरिक लगायत यस्ता ब्यक्तित्वमाथि यस्तो किसिमको निन्दनीय र क्रुर ब्यवहार दर्शाउनु मानवीय कार्य हुनसक्दैन, वरु केही सन्तुष्ठी वा असन्तुष्ठीहरु भए वौद्धिक दवाव दिनु, त्यसैअनुकुल नीति निर्माण गर्न प्रेरीत पार्दै आवश्यक सरसल्लाह प्रदान गर्नु, आजको आवश्यकता हो भन्ने महासंघको राय छ । अतः क्षेत्रगत भेषभूषकै आधारमा वा विखण्डन र अशान्ति उत्पन्न गराउने यस्ता खालका गुण्डागर्दी संस्कार तथा कृयाकलापको घेार-भर्त्सना गर्दै सो घटनाका दोषीहरुलाई यथास्रि्र पक्राऊ गरी कारवाही गर्नका लागि नेपाल सरकारसमक्ष महासंघ जोडदार माग गर्दछ ।

तेज सुनार
(सचिव)
दलित गैरसरकारी संस्था महासंघ (DNF)
केन्द्रीय कार्यालय, काठमाण्डौं
Mon, 20 Nov 2006 16:11:42 +0545

सातदल-माओवादी सहमति र दलित सरोकार विषयक अर्न्तकृया कार्यक्रम सम्पन्न

मंसिर ३, काठमाडौं । दलित गैरसरकारी संस्थामहासंघले सातदल र नेकपा माओवादीवीच कार्तिक २२ गते भएकेा शान्ति सहमतिमा दलितका सरोकारलाई समेट्न नसकेको सर्न्दर्भमा यही मंसीर ३ गते आईतवार हिमालयन होटलमा एक अर्न्तकृया कार्यक्रम सम्पन्न गरेको छ ।

सातदलका नेताहरु लगायत दलित अगुवा कार्यकर्ताहरुको उपस्थितिमा भएको उक्त कार्यक्रममा वक्ताहरुले यो सहमतिले दलित तथा जनजातिलाई उचित सम्वोधन नगरी फेरि पुरानै प्रकृयाले मुलुक चलाउन खोजेको गुनासो गरेका छन् ।

कार्यक्रममा महासंघका सचिव तेज सुनारले सम्वन्धित विषयमा एक अवधारणा प्रस्तुत गर्नु भएको थियो । जस्मा समालोचना गर्दै नेकपा एमाले स्थायी समिति सदस्य केशव बढालले यस सहमतिले दलितलाई फेरिपनि यथोचित सम्वोधन गर्न नसकेकोमा खेद प्रकट गर्नु भएको छ । वहाँले भन्नुभयो -”दलितको समानुपातिक प्रतिनिधित्वका लागि हामीले समानुपातिक निर्वाचन प्रणाली र जनमत संग्रहको सर्न्दर्भ उठाएका थियौं, तर त्यसमा सहमति हुन सकेन यो दुःखका कुरा हो ।” यद्यपि, आगामी दिनमा दलितहरुको यथेाचित समावेशीकरणका लािग नेकपा एमाले र आफू सदैव तयार रहेको कुरा वढालले वताउनु भएको छ । कार्यक्रमका अर्का वक्ता नपाली काँग्रेस प्रजातान्त्रिकका मिनेन्द्र रिजालले आफ्नो पार्टर्ीीलितको पक्षमा सधै रहेको प्रष्ट्याउंदै आफ्ना पार्टर्ीीट ३ जना दलितलाई अन्तरिम संसदमा पठाउने निर्ण्र्ााभईसकेको जानकारी दिनु भयो भने वहाँले दलितहरुले उठाएको दलित मन्त्रालय गठन गरिनु पर्ने सम्वन्धमा भने आपति जनाउन भएको छ । त्यसैगरी नेपाली काँग्रेसका खेमराज मायालुले सहमतिमा नअटेका वुंदाहरु आपसी छलफल गरी दलितलाई समानुपातिक प्रणाली अनुसार नै प्रतिनिधित्व गराउनु पर्नेमा आफ्नो पार्टर्ीी्रतिवद्ध भएकेा कुरा दोहोर्याउदै राजाका सम्पति भूमिहिन दलितहरुको उत्थानको लागि वितरण गर्नुपर्नेमा समेत जोड दिनु भएको छ । वहाँले आन्तरिक रुपमा रहेको जातपात र छूवाछूतलाई पनि आफैंभित्रबाट निर्मूल गर्नमा पनि दलित कार्यकर्तासंग आग्रह गनर्ुृ भएको छ । त्यसैगरी नेपाली कांग्रेसका सुनील कुमार भण्डारीले जवसम्म मुलुकमा साँस्कृतिक परिवर्तन हुदैंन, तवसम्म समान ढंगले राज्यको सेवा सुविधाहरु प्रदान गर्न नसकिने हुनाले शिक्षा, स्वास्थ्य, रोजगारी र हरेक क्षेत्रमा समावेशीकरणका लागि दलितहरुले शान्तिपर्ूण्ा आन्दोलनलाई निरन्तरता दिनुपर्नेमा जोडदिनु भयो । कार्यक्रममा अर्का वक्ता तथा दलित आयोगमा पर्ुवअध्यक्ष पद्मसिंह विश्वकर्माले राज्यसत्ताले दलितहरुलाई इतिहासदेखि नै ठग्दै ल्याएकोले अवको नयाँ राज्यसत्ताले दलितहरुलाई त्यसको क्षेतीपर्ूर्ती स्वरुप जनसंख्याको आधारमा हरेक क्षेत्रमा सहभागिता गराउने खालको विशेषाधिकार प्रदान गर्नुपर्ने माग राख्नुभएको छ ।

महासंघका कार्यवाहक अध्यक्ष टेकवहादुर रैकाको अध्यक्षतामा आयोजित कार्यक्रममा विजुल विशवकर्मा-नेका), दलसिंह कामी-नेका प्रजातान्त्रिक), जगतवहादुर वोगटी-माले) समेतले आफ्ना धारणाहरु राख्नु भएको थियो भने त्यसमा ओमप्रकाश भिके, रत्न वागचन्द, शम्भुहजारा पासवानर्,र् इन्द्र अर्याल, भोजमान लामगादे, लुमासिंह विश्वकर्मा आदिले नेताहरुको वोली र ब्यवहारमा फरक भएको र त्यही अनुसार दलितहरु फेरीपनि पछाडि पर्न सक्ने विषयमा ध्यानाकर्षा गराउनु भएको थियो ।

Supreme Court of Nepal Tuesday issued a show cause notice to Nepal Government, asking why it had not taken action against the security personnel, (Police Inspector Prakash Raj Sharma and his team) responsible for the murder of Human Rights Commission’s staff Dayaram Pariyar.

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