Stakeholders and Expectations in writing a new constitution of Nepal The bitter lessons learned in the dissolved CA was that the top 3 leaders of the major parties had virtually captured the process of writing the constitution and they didn’t allow the final draft prepared by the thematic groups for the voting even when it was supported by the 2/3 majority members. What is important to understand is the fact that, first, in the history of Nepal, only a few Hindu Brahmins had the monopoly of writing constitutions, but the CA comprising members representing the Mongoloid race of the country was capable enough to check the domination of Hinduism. They were successful to name 9 federal states based on Mongoloid ethnic identity out of the 14 proposed states. Second, the top three leaders were the Hindu Brahmins and they realized that such restructuring concept of the state was a direct threat to the traditional monopoly of the Bahun caste in Nepali politics and they finally dissolved it without promulgating a new constitution. In the changing political context, I realized that unless the Mongoloid race is unified as a non-Hindu Khas Aryan group in Nepal, they would never ever be treated as equal stakeholders in defining national interests and security of Nepal. Therefore, it was very essential to establish a forum in order to bring awareness to the many segmented Mongoloid ethnic groups that they were divided, exploited, and marginalized by Hinduism for the last 240 years. And Indigenous Mongoloid Republic forum (IMRF) was established to bring about a set of political beliefs –an ideology –on which the people or parties should base their actions. They are mentioned as follows: • Democracy: Democratic system means that everyone should have equal rights and the new constitution of Nepal should guarantee the involvement of Mongoloid groups in making important decisions. • Stakeholders of Nepal: this country is basically made up of two races of mankind – indigenous mongoloid race and Indo-Aryans –and they should have equal political power sharing. But in the dissolved CA, the ethno-linguistic Madhesi group came up with a separate identity as a political force. For a lasting peace and stability, the state must now give recognition to the following three groups as stakeholders: a. Indigenous Mongoloid group b. Khas Aryan group c. Madhesi group • The present political setting of Nepal has failed to promulgate a new constitution. The political parties as identified in the CA would fail to come up with a solution in a round table conference –a demand made by the CPN-M. So the viable option is the representation of the above three stakeholders in a round table conference to find the political way out. • Secularization: The country was declared as a secular state in 2008, but the leaders running the state are still encouraging Hinduism in the country. For example, the president has exactly followed the footsteps of the erstwhile Hindu king. The communist prime minister performs his duty as directed in the Hindu custom, reflecting no sign of secularization in the society. The government institutions –ministries –are held by the hardliner Brahmins caste. And they have shown their Hindu intolerant attitude in the recent past when the Buddhist community in Surkhet, west Nepal, was rejected of a request made to erect a Buddha statue in a public place. • Nationalism: Nationalism has two connotations in Nepali psyche. First, it reflects the mind of a citizen as a Nepali, which inspires him to defend the country’s independence and sovereignty with the right to self-determination. Second, nationalism is interpreted as a desire for political freedom of the Mongoloid groups who feel that they are not a segment of Hindu society as interpreted by the Hindu state. They are historically and culturally a distinct race within this country. • The major parties led by Brahmin leaders show concern when India interferes the domestic affairs of Nepal. But when the matter is related to Hinduism, they don’t express a single word against it. For Instance, every time, when the leaders visit India or when they meet Indian BJP leaders, they are asked to make Nepal a Hindu state. This is a mockery to Nepali nationalism. • Inclusive democracy: it is nothing but a design of making the Mongoloid race as the followers of Khas-Aryans in the politics of Nepal. The mongoloid themselves should have their interests defined in the national politics of Nepal. • Progressive restructuring of the state. All the major political parties are not interested in state making, which means restructuring of the government institutions established by the Hindu sate. Though the interim constitution stipulates it, the leaders of major parties are not very keen, except to appoint their men to handle. The state making or progressive institution restructuring is for the access right of the Mongoloid groups. Nation building needs to be understood as power sharing of the three stakeholders of Nepal. • Non-Hindu Aryan Identity: the 56 ethnic nationalities recognized by the state as “janjatis” do actually belong to the Mongoloid race, but many of them still do not know the fact and so consider themselves as a segment of Hindu society. Once they realize that they all belong to a distinct race from the primordial perspective of birth, they would develop a feeling of unity. In the present political context, the Mongoloid have not been able to show their political power. To attain power, the Indigenous Mongoloid Republican Forum (IMRF) has been active to bring Non-Hindu identity awareness–amongst the Mongoloid ethnic groups. This slowly spurs the Mongoloid nationalism in order to attain a political force for them. Though, they are the largest population, they have failed to rise as a political force due to lack of awareness in Nepal. But one day, they will be united as one race under Mongoloid identity. Then the complete political landscape would be changed. They are not in a position to compete with the other political parties led by the Khas-Brahmins in the coming election. For them, a round table conference is the best option, but only if they are recognized as a key stakeholder. This would be in the national interests of Nepal for long term peace and stability of the country. Wednesday, July 10, 2013.
Posted on: Thu, 11 Jul 2013 23:46:20 +0000
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