The New York Conference, “Nepal Today: Challenges of Inclusive Democracy”
New York, May 22, 2007- I have had the opportunity of attending a conference entitled, “Nepal Today: Challenges of Inclusive Democracy” here in New York City. The conference was organized by India China Institute of the New School University.
The key note address was delivered by Mr. Subas Nembang, Speaker of the Interim Parliament of Nepal. The opening remarks were given by Mr. Bob Kerry, President of the New School.
This conference was extremely important for the Nepali diaspora due to presence of prominent politicians of Nepal and personalities of international stature participating as moderators, panelists and discussants to exchange opinions on most talked about subject in a most critical time in Nepal’s history.
Most of the discussions were pretty much focused on Janjati, Women, Dalit and Madheses’ poor situation in every segment of the society and government, owing to suppressive attitude and oppressive rule of minority upper castes for centuries. These discussions were substantiated by amazing amount of data, facts and evidences.
The conference had also spent good amount of time o discuss various forms of federalism, inclusive democracy, proportional representation based on ethnicity, autonomy, local government, conflict situation, self-determination, affirmative action, time bound reservation, truth and reconciliation commission and election of constituent assembly, etc.
Dalit issues got pretty good emphasis and attention in most of the discussions. One of the discussants, Dr. Navin Rai, underlined the fact and said eloquently that Dalits are the most suppressed and oppressed people in Nepal among any from centuries. Dr. Rai is Lead Specialist and Team Leader with the World Bank for Social and Sustainable Development.
I believe this conference will give new impetus to Dalit issues within US and Nepal.
For more, go to India China Institute website, www.Indiachina.newschool.edu, as the conference reports are likely be posted in this site within a couple days.
Thanks.
Amrit Sunar
New York
Nepaldalitinfo adds (June 16, 2007) :
The comments on social attitude towards Dalits that Amrit Sunar made during a Questions & Answers session of the conference can be viewed here:
Nepali Dalit activist DB Sagar Bishwakarma had spoken in the session of taking stock of the Nepal’s inclusiveness situation. He was one of the panelists in the New York conference.
This clip shows a brief beginning part of nearly 20-minute deliberation of DB Sagar that can be viewed from the proceedings of the conference at the site given below.
The New School University has posted the conference proceedings (in video clips) on “Nepal Today: Challenges of Inclusive Democracy” at: http://www.indiachina.newschool.edu/work/Events.aspx#2007_Events.
Follow up comments from other Nepaldalitinfo members:
“Many thanks to Amrit ji for attending this important conference and raising the flag representing the dalit community. We appreciated your efforts for providing the conference synopsis. It feels good to know that the social scientists and development planners are slowly recognizing the fact that the dalits are one of the most marginalized communities in Nepal and they need a special attention. Every such event plays important role in the history to contribute towards the success of dalit movement. ”
- Krishna Sob
“Thank you very much, Amritji, for giving us a glimpse of the conference on “Nepal Today: Challenges of Inclusive Democracy” held in New York. We are proud of your presense there. ”
- Om Prakash VK
“Thank you, Amritji, for participating in the conference and posting details on the conference. Your and other friends’ presence definitely contributed to support the minority’s agenda. Since you will be following up with the publication of this report on their website, could you please post it in this forum once it is available?”
- Prakash Nepal
“This was a great opportunity to make an international business case of the Nepali women, Janajati, Madheshis and Dalits in the context of restructuring new Nepal. Although Dalit issues could not have been fully represented due to the limited participation from Dalit community, the representation made by prominent intellectuals like Amritji and others from the community was noteworthy. Obviously, any national or international forum for inclusive democracy can no longer ignore the burning issues of Dalits, who are indeed the most oppressed lot among all ethnic groups of Nepal.”
- DP Rasali
“I thank you, Amrit ji, very much for participatingin the workshop on our behalf and providing us with the synoptic inferences of the workshop. Indeed it was a great opportunity where you and other friends represented our community and shared the vital issues at the event. I am very much overwhelmed to know that other communities like Janajatis and Madheses have also shown their deep concerns about the bottom line of the social and eonomic situation of our community, and at the same time our issues have been emphatically raised in the international forum like this workshop.”
- Hari Hemchuri