- Lalit Pariyar
Journalist/Active Member, Dalit Movement, Nepal

A young Dalit journalist Mr. Lalit Pariyar (28) born in the district of Rukum of Nepal, who runs the “Nepal Manch” monthly magazine was interviewed by The Telegraph Nepal in its % -Questions column under the title, “Maoists’ led rebellion could not ensure fair participation of the dalits in the overall State structure”. The full text of the interview follows:
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TGQ1: First tell us as a Journalist, how do you visualize the state of Nepal’s Dalit aandolan?

Pariyar: The Dalit agitation has undergone six decades of ups and downs. It is widely believed that discriminations are not to be practiced among people originating from different communities. On the basis of castes, colors and jobs people are not to be categorized as untouchables or even should not be treated inhumanly. If such practices are prevalent in a society, then it is the gross violation of Human Rights. More over, in the Nepal case, since 2024(BS) organizationally people have started coming forward against such traditional practices. In the year 2003(BS) however, Mr. Bhagat Sarwajeet Bishwakarma had for the first time demanded equality…the aandolan continues to date. The fact is that it was only after the political changes brought after the 1990 General Uprising, the dalits too became aware of their plight and the rights they had been denied from time immemorial. Some forms of rights were partially granted to the dalits only after the Janaandolan-I by the State. Then, the non-dalits too joined hands with the Dalits in order to ensure free education for the children belonging to the Dalit community. And, changes since then have been witnessed among the dalits who had been barred from education after the advent of democratic order in the country. The State, National and International organizations are to be commended for bringing about such substantial changes but I admit a lot still needs to be accomplished.

The Dalits too have become aware politically, but unified efforts are still needed among dalits themselves who are currently divided into various political ideologies, to ensure full rights guaranteed by the State. Thus, it is partially true that the division amongst the dalits themselves is responsible for this delay and the major political parties too do treat the community as mere vote banks and simply a low level party cadres. The high level political leadership is plagued with the age old and status quoist mindset, accordingly dalits are divided into several political fronts and the leadership make it for sure that they never unite…the present state of the Dalit aandolan is rather a reflection of the Nepali politics.

Talking of the Maoists led decade old rebellion, the dalits too have played significant role, most of the Dalit organizations became a part of it and more than 1100 Dalit youngsters lost their precious lives in the process. The rebellion made it for certain that the dalits never gave-up while fighting for their rights but could not find an outlet to the problems the dalits were facing since decades and decades. The decade old rebellion could only minimize the prevalent untouchability and other discriminatory practices present in the society, yet could not ensure fair participation of the dalits in the overall State structure. First time ever, 18 people form the Dalit community made their way to the interim parliament with the Maoists Party making their way from decade long rebellion to their participation in the government. These are the benefits of the People’s War and the Final 19 day long Peoples’ uprising. Nevertheless, dalits becoming parliamentarians does in no way guarantee an end to the age old slavery. To the dismay, the State is not made aware of the plight of the dalit community that they are facing even from the parliament where the community itself is represented in a sizeable manner.

The issues of lack of right to land, lack of education, poverty, political unawareness are major problems that irk this community…such issues could have been raised right from the parliamentary premises, those are thus far remain ignored.

So, the dalit aandolan continues to vow an end to all the discriminatory practices, ensure social justice, political rights and a fair participation of the community in all the state organs.

As a journalist, I think the media must support the dalits for their demands guaranteeing Human Rights and the lawful support to their genuine Aandolan.

TGQ2: What role you prescribe the State must play to raise the livelihoods of those endured by age-old discriminatory practices?

Pariyar: It is not only that the Dalits have been facing societal discriminations based on their origin; they are also barred from their economic and political rights. More than 50% of the total 9 million population of the Dalit community are mainly landless and dalits themselves belonging to the labor class and the country being an agriculture based country, it is indeed a pitiful situation that they do not own land. The community that is more known for their hard work is itself living as destitute. Here is a glaring example, recently in the district of Dailekh the government threw away the rotten inedible rice, the dalits in the district came to the venue and took all of the decayed food to feed their empty bowls. Isn’t it a matter of shame for the entire nation?

Thus the point is that it is not just that the dalits are facing age old discriminatory practices they are also barred from their rights to education. The Dalit children must be granted free yet high quality education by the State until they reach the higher levels. Free land must be distributed among the landless dalits. Their rights to Water, Land and Jungle and other natural resources must be provided to them in a justifiable manner. Stringent laws must be enacted to put those under bars charging with acts against humanity if discrimination based on origin is further practiced. Jobs must be ensured to the educated, partially educated and uneducated dalits by the State. Jobless dalits must be guaranteed State’s financial support.
With the restructuring of the State, if the political, social and economic rights of the dalits are ensured, proportional representation of the dalits in all the state organs from top to bottom and also make it for sure that the Dalits can compete with the rest of the communities, then only the livelihood of the Dalit community can be raised and their Human Rights, Economic and Social rights secured.

TGQ3: Why is it that even after amending interim constitution for the third time, Dalit issues could not be addressed?

Pariyar: It is partially correct that dalit issues have not yet been addressed properly by the interim constitution. It is rather the lack of united efforts from the Dalit community itself, more so the Dalit agitation coordinated by Binod Pahari that continued for months could only pressurize the government to address some issues related to the Badi community within the domain of the Dalit Community. Overall, no substantial gains could be made as the government played a repressive role then. Our fault was only that we resorted to peaceful agitation else, the government could have been forced for the fourth constitution amendment.

Recently, the government has declared yet another date for the Constituent Assembly, so the Dalits are more concerned over the timely conduct of the CA election. The point is that the government will address responsibly to the plight of Dalit community after the conduct of election, if not we may have to resort to other forms of protests.

TGQ4: Has the State been successful to put laws into practice that are enacted against the prevalent discrimination based on castes?

Pariyar: No! On 17th August 1963, King Mahendra brought out the civil code (Muluki Ain) and later in the year 1990, the constitution itself declared caste based discrimination unlawful, yet noting as such could be put into practice.

There are examples that when the Dalits and Human Rights Activists filed complaints, the culprits were released charging merely Rs. 1 as a penalty for practicing castes based discriminations.

Last year only in the district of Doti, some Hindu Dalits who entered a temple were attacked by the non-dalits and even resorted to violence, the local administration remained tight-lipped. There are laws but the men in the State organs do not have the will to put them into action. The age-old malpractice, caste and religion based arrogance and feudalistic frame of mind continues unabated among the ruling elites.

TGQ5: Tell us something about the support the Dalit aandolan is getting from the main stream media? What about the representation of dalit journalists in the mainstream media?

Pariyar: It is not that the mainstream media has totally ignored the plight of the Dalit community but it is true that some appear to be prejudiced for reasons obviously unknown.

More than giving space to issues of societal interests, it is seen that the mainstream media provides adequate space to issues that generates financial benefit. The media personnel could have also constraints, I presume, as to how the “owners” will respond taking up of social issues, such as the dalit issues?

The financial constraints are definitely there even in our issues though we are bringing out our own publication. But we are seriously raising issues from our side to pressurize the government and make the society aware of our demands. We are ready to work with international and national organizations to create awareness about the governments’ sheer negligence being exhibited towards the sizeable segment of the society- the dalits.

It is time that the concerned NGOs and INGOs listen to our story. 2008-01-30 09:16:26