Saroj Dillu, a noted young Nepali writer and a dedicated Dalit activist, has sustained serious head injuries. It is alleged that he was attacked for his life with an iron hammer by a gang of hooligans who charged upon him on his way to Kirtipur in Kathmandu. Also, his motor cycle key, mobile and a sum of Rs. 12,000 have been reportedly stolen during the attack.

Dillu is a talented Dalit intellectual who has written several Nepali dramas and novels; some of them have already been screened as teledramas. More recently, he has written a book that describes what Dalit community should know about upcoming Constituent Assembly in Nepal, and a novel “Abhishapta Swarharu”. He also edits Jan Utthan monthly magazine.

He is currently hospitalized in Kathmandu. A number of intellectuals from Dalit community wishing him a speedy recovery have sought investigation into the incident.

For more (in Nepali) >>> साहित्यकार सरोज दिलुको हत्याको प्रयास

Kathmandu, Dec 30. Former Minister of Nepal Mr. Golchhe Sarki passed away here on Friday while undergoing treatment at Norvic Hospital, reports ekantipur.com. He was suffering from diabetes for a long time.

Late Golchhe Sarki, who was born in a Dalit community of Kathmandu, had arisen from his own traditional occupation of shoe making. His entry to the politics was sudden, and was the direct result of himself being bold, blunt and loud in his voice for the masses. Late Sarki was elected a member of the Nepal’s upper house National Assembly from the CPN-UML seat in 1990, and came to much publicity after he assaulted the then Minister Ram Chandra Paudel during a Parliament session.

His contribution to Dalit movement in Nepal is recognizable especially in enhancing the awareness of Dalits for their rights for nearly two decades. Nepalese Dalit community must remember him for his political popularity during the 1990s that had significant positive impact on the awareness level among the Dalit people, and pay tribute to his departed soul for his share of positive deeds for the Dalit movement.

The downside of late Sarki is that he was among those few in the UML who supported the February 1 move of King Gyanendra, and quit the party to support the erstwhile autocratic royal regime. In rewards, he became the Assistant Minister for Labour and Transport Management in July 2005 in the cabinet of King’s direct rule, when he said “My nomination is an honour for the whole Dalit society.” Later in December 2005 reshuffle of the royal cabinet, he became Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare.

The nepaldalitinfo network, in deep sense of grief on the loss of one of the national level Dalit leaders, expresses its sincere condolence to the bereaved family.

In grief,

The nepaldalitinfo network

___________________________________________________________

Press Release:

NASO Community
Working in the United States and Canada

January 2, 2007

We are deeply saddened by the untimely demise of Mr. Golchhe Sarki. Mr. Sarki has contributed to the movement of the oppressed community in the last three decades. Beyond one’s imagination, he rose from the street to the Minister. No matter where we are, at every step in our life, the wound of caste-based discrimination pinches us all, so did it to him. He fought for it and advocated it throughout his life. Due to his strong desire to serve the community in more organized way, he became first President of Utpidit Jatiya Utthan Munch. The oppressed community has lost one great national leader.

Our sincere condolence goes to the grieved family. May his soul rest in peace.

Dharam Bishwokarma
President, NASO Community.

Justice Konakuppakattil Gopinathan Balakrishnan

India, the largest democracy in the world, is all set to get a Chief Justice from a Dalit community now. On Friday the December 22nd, the President of India has designated the senior most Judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Konakuppakattil Gopinathan Balakrishnan, as the next Chief Justice of India, says a news blog India Daily.

The India Daily adds, ‘With him taking oath on January 14, 2007, a history will be created, as he will be the first Dalit to occupy the highest post in the judiciary. The post of Chief Justice of India is the lone constitutional top post that was not occupied with any person from Dalit community till yet. ”

“The Justice Balakrishnan had sworn–in as the Judge in the Supreme Court on June 8, 2000. According to the Law ministry, the official notification for his appointment will come next week. Justice Balakrishnan will be there at the top post of Indian Judiciary until May 12, 2010.”

For further details on this story:
www.indiadaily.org

Report by:

Dinesh Kumar Pariyar
News Reporter, IMAGE CHANNEL
Lazimpat, Kathmandu.
www.imagechannels. com

Excerpts of an article by Prakash Bom,

“The devastating consequence of this school (Mimansa that advocates Vedic rituals and rites) on humanity is the caste system that sprung from Vedic spiritual attribution ‘varna’ as hereditary system of social stratification. No rationalist or humanist can justify the place of untouchable ’sudras’ in Hindu caste system. Unfortunately, the untouchable conditions of Dallits ’sudras’ are still prevalent in Hindu hereditary system of social stratification. It is a shame on those Hindu religious leaders who see the flaw in their social stratification system against humanity yet do nothing about it. Those leaders who sustain caste system have committed human rights violations in Hindu society. “

“The Nepali people have been the victim of the caste system for the last two hundred and fifty years under the reign of the Hindu monarchy. Vedic rituals and rites were restricted to be practiced by the untouchable. Only the members of the upper caste were allowed to practice Vedic rituals and rites. What kind of Hinduism was given to people to practice? Obviously not enlightening, but superstitious, animal sacrifice, idol worshipping - the grossest of all. “

“What was Nepal before the reign of Hindu monarchy? It was the cushion for Buddhist scholars from China, Tibet and India. It was the birthplace of Buddha who discarded the varna-jatti of Veda for social stratification. It was the kingdom of Licchivi and Malla dynasties whose rulers were dedicated to teachings of Buddha. “

“Nepal is a country of multi-culture and multi-religion. The ethnicity is her inherent existence. Nepal, therefore, cannot afford a reign whose rule is based on one religion, one language however democratic. The Nepali people have had carried that burden for so long and now are unwilling to carry that any longer. “

“The aspiration of Nepali people is for secular republic state and we have already laid the cornerstone of it. Now we are committed to building it with restructuring nation by abolishing all Hindu feudal oligarchic establishments.”
“The Nepali people have demonstrated with the historic mandate of people’s movement to institutionalize the (humanistic) democratic value that separates state affairs from the interference of religion. This is a very significant achievement of Nepali people to secure their nation’s sovereignty in them. “

“No religion has the right to interfere in the affairs of the secular state unless they have power to crusade the war against it. The contemporary Hindu leaders’ desire for political power is against the principle of their religion. With their lack of religious integrity, if they are serious to crusade against the will of the Nepali people, then people can demonstrate their strength to wipe out such elements from the land of Nepal. “

Please click here for >>> full article (Source: ekantipur.com.

When local Dalit women of Danda in Nawalparasi district were not allowed to worship in a Mayayagya puja (a grand Hindu worshiping) intended for raising the fund for a community hospital, they revolted against the caste discrimination at the site of puja. They succeeded in achieving their rights to puja.

डण्डा, नवलपरासी, पौष, १२,२०६३ । मध्यविन्दु स्मृति सामुदायिक अस्पताल स्थापनार्थ भैरहेको धन धान्याचल महायज्ञमा स्थानिय पुजारीले दलित महिलालाई पुजा गर्न नदिएपछि आक्रोसित भएका दलितहरु यज्ञस्थल होम मण्डप भित्र नै गएर पुजा गरी आफ्नो अधिकारको प्रयोग गरेका छन् ।

अघिल्लो दिन पुजा अर्चना गर्न गएका स्थानिय सकुन्तला सुनार, लक्ष्मी सुनार, अन्जु सुनार लगाएतका दलित युवतीहरुलाई मण्डप भित्र रोक लगाई अन्य संगैको साथीलाई स्थानीय पुजारीले पस्न दिएका थिए । सो घटनाको लगत्तै केहि दलितहरुले उजुरी गरि लिखित रुपमा मूल समितिलाई निवेदन दिएपछि भोलिपल्ट समितिले सबैलाई भित्र जान रोक लगाएको थियो । घटनाको छानबिनगर्न दलित नेता प्राध्यापक श्री झब बहादुर सुनारको नेतृत्वमा गएको दलित समुदायको टोलीले मूल समितिसंग यज्ञस्थलमा पुजा गर्न पाउनर्ुपर्छ भन्ने माग राखि विरोध गरेका थिए ।

वाचन शिरोमणी पण्डित नारायण पोखरेलका छोरा पण्डित पं. दीनबन्धु पोखरेल प्रमुख बाचकत्वमा सम्पन्न हुन गईरहेको सो महायज्ञमा यज्ञ सम्पादनका मुलसमितिका अध्यक्षर् इश्वरी पोखरेलले यज्ञमा विभेद नगरिने पहिलेनै निर्ण्र्ाागरेको बताउनुभयो । स्थानिय पुजारीलाई आफ्नो गल्ति स्वीकार गर्न लगाई अघिल्लो दिन रोकिएका दलित महिलाहरुलाई स-सम्मान यज्ञस्थलको होम मण्डपमा पुजा गर्न लगाई सबै दलितहरुलाई टिका प्रसाद ग्रहण गरि स्थिति सामान्य गर्राईएको थियो ।

नेपाल दलित संघ, दलित मुक्ति मोर्चा, मुक्ति समाज, दलित सेवा संघ, फण्ड नेपाल, स्थानीय स्वयंसेवक सुन्दर न्यौपाने, दलित प्रतिनिधिहरुको उपस्थितिमा समस्याको समाधान गरिएको थियो । बारम्बार छुवाछुतका घटना दोहोरिनुले जातीय छुवाछुत मुक्त राष्ट्र घोषणाको कुनै अथर् नभएको र सभ्यसमाज र नया“ नेपाल निर्माण हुन नसक्ने दलित समुदायले अझै थुप्रै संर्घष गर्नु पर्ने सो टोलीको निश्कर्ष थियो ।

Report by Santosh Kumar Bishwokarma

ध्रुवराज गौतम

काठमाडौं, पौष ११, नेपाल युवा सामाजिक मञ्चले यहि पौष १५ र १६ गते उपत्यकामा राज्य पुन:संरचनाको सवालमा एक सम्मेलन गर्ने भएको छ । उक्त कार्यक्रममा दलित संघ संस्थाहरु दलित गैर सरकारी संस्था महासंघ, महासंघका सदस्य संस्थाहरु, राष्ट्रिय दलित आयोग, दलित विकास समितिको तर्फबाट समेत सो सम्मेलनमा एक्यवद्धता जनाउदै विभिन्न कार्यक्रम आयोजना गर्ने भएका छन् । more click here

नेपालको पुर्व मेची देखि पश्चिम महाकालीसम्म परम्परागत रुपमा चलिआएको तथा जातिय छुवाछूतको रेखा काट्ने काम; गुल्मी जिल्लामा समेत बालि घरे प्रथाको रुपमा निरन्तर रुपमा चलिरहेको छ । एक विश्वकर्मा जातिका युवक परम्परागत रुपमा चल्दै आएको फलामको काम गर्दै …. more click here

Ruplal Bishwakarma
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

If you know substabtial information about Nepal’s great progressive leader late Ruplal Bishwakarama and his contribution to freedom of Nepalese people, please email to: info@nepaldalitinfo.20m.com, or submit the information in the box provided below as your comment, if it is short (only a paragraph or two).

नेपाल युवा सामाजिक मञ्चले यहि पौष १५ गते उपत्यकामा राज्य पुन:संरचनाको सवालमा एक सम्मेलन गरिरहेको सन्धर्वमा दलित संघ संस्थाको तर्फबाट समेत सो सम्मेलनमा प्रतिवद्धता जनाउदै भाग लिन प्रारम्भिक छलफलको लागि सम्बन्धित सबै संस्थालाई निमन्त्रणा गरेको छ ।

उपरोक्त सम्बन्धमा >>> दलित गैर सरकारी संस्था महासंघव्दारा प्रकाशित सूचना

नेपाल युवा सामाजिक मञ्चको कार्यक्रम तयारीको प्रारम्भिक बैठकमा उपस्थित हुन आव्हान्

उपरोक्त सम्बन्धमा नेपाल युवा सामाजिक मञ्चले यहि पौष १५ गते उपत्यकामा राज्य पुन:संरचनाको सवालमा एक सम्मेलन गलिरहेको सन्धर्वमा दलित संघ संस्थाको तर्फबाट समेत सो सम्मेलनमा प्रतिवद्धता जनाउदै भाग लिने भएकोले सो कार्यक्रम आफ्नो तर्फबाट के के गर्न सकिन्छ भन्ने बिषयमा छलफल गर्नु पर्ने हुदा प्रारम्भिक छलफलको लागि सम्बन्धित सबै संस्थालाई निमन्त्रणा गरिन्छ ।

मिति : २०६३ पौष ११ गते
स्थान : दलित गैर सरकारी संस्था महासंघ, कमलपोखरी, काठमाडौं
समय : बिहान ९:३०

बोम बहादुर बिश्वकर्मा
महासचिव
दलित गैर सरकारी संस्था महासंघ