BROOMS AGAINST BULLETSA Saga of the Madheshi Movement in Nepal

South Asia SeminarHarvard University

CK Raut, PhD (Cambridge)2010 November 15

Where | Who | Why

Nepal mountains and myths

NEPAL

Madhesh the southern plain region of Nepal

Madheshis native and indigenous communities of Madhesh

Madhesh - History the birthplace of Buddha and Sita

…Several Dynasties, Islamic Rulers, The East India Company… 18th century

Source: The Himalayan Beacon

Madhesh Under British and Gurkha Empires

Nepal: Pahad and Madhesh

Kamaiyas the bonded labours

Kamlari sold daughters

Source: NYOF

Literacy Rate

Literacy Rate (15-49 years)Source: NDHS, 2006

Pahadi, 63.4

Pahadi, 86.9

Madheshi, 35.9

Madheshi, 69.9

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Female Male

Muslims

Child Marriage

Girls Age at Marriage in Maithili CommunitySource: CEDA

23.00%

4.10%

56.70%

16.20%

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

1-9 yrs 10-13 yrs 14-16 yrs >16yrs

Source: WWW

Childhood MortalityChildhood Mortality Rate

Source: NDHS, 2006

28

18

47

16

62

42

23

65

21

85

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Neona

tal

Postn

eona

tal

Infan

t

Child

Under

-5

Hill

Madhesh

Perinatal Mortality

Perinatal MortalitySource: NDHS, 2006

52

3538

62

77

48

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Stillbirths Early neonataldeaths

Perinatal mortality

Hill

Madhesh

Untouchables or Dalits

Dalit Literacy Rate (%) Source: NNDSWO, 2006

54.9

74.2

53.1

14.620.2

33.2

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Total Male Female

Pahad

Madhesh

Landless DalitsSource: NPC (Plan 2008/09 to 2010/11)

Pahad, 15%

Madhesh,44%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

Landless Dalits

Madheshis in Media

Government Media

Unknow n, 2Madheshi,

2

Pahadi, 29

Non-Government Media

Pahadi, 128

Madheshi, 3

Source: Madheshvani, 2006

International Agencies

International/Multilateral Agencies in Nepal, Source: UNDP (2001)

Foreigner14%

Madheshi5%

Pahadi81%

Human Development IndexSource: UNDP, HDR 2009

Room to Read Work Area

(Current and Extension)Source: Room to Read

…a long walk to nowhere

Brooms | Bullets

Madhesh Movement

Photo Courtesy: Santosh K. Bhagat and Bhuvan K. Jha

The movement continued to the next year. The Nepalese government’s use of excessive forces killed

more than four dozens Madheshis and injured thousands. The continued curfews and storms of bullets

finally brought the movement to an end.

Thanks.