Identity Crisis of Identity Crisis of Muslims: Muslims:

““A Religious Minority in A Religious Minority in Nepal”Nepal”

By:By:

H. M. Zahid ParwezH. M. Zahid Parwez(Researcher, CERID, TU)(Researcher, CERID, TU)

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1. 1. Context:Context: The Muslim population comprises 7% of The Muslim population comprises 7% of

the total population of the country and of the total population of the country and of them 97% inhabitant of Madhesh 20 them 97% inhabitant of Madhesh 20 districts.districts.

Muslim community is a religious minority Muslim community is a religious minority in terms of number and domination both.in terms of number and domination both.

The Muslim community in Nepal loosing The Muslim community in Nepal loosing their sense of belongingness and identity their sense of belongingness and identity due to continuous discriminatory policies due to continuous discriminatory policies of the state.of the state.

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The Muslim people are forced to be The Muslim people are forced to be Sanskritized by the majoritorian Sanskritized by the majoritorian groups in remote places, where they groups in remote places, where they are a handful in number.are a handful in number.

The identity of Muslim community in The identity of Muslim community in Nepal is challenged today even in a Nepal is challenged today even in a secular Nepal.secular Nepal.

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2. Sources of 2. Sources of Discrimination: Discrimination: Legal:Legal: The National Code of Conduct (1854) The National Code of Conduct (1854)

declared Nepal “A real living place for declared Nepal “A real living place for Hindus” based on “empire model” which Hindus” based on “empire model” which worked up to the 1951.worked up to the 1951.

The constitution of 1962 declared Nepal as The constitution of 1962 declared Nepal as a Hindu state and emphasized on a Hindu state and emphasized on Nationalistic Model which did not consider Nationalistic Model which did not consider Muslims as the citizen of Nepal as the Muslims as the citizen of Nepal as the rules and laws of the nation based on rules and laws of the nation based on Hinduism and Pahadi high caste Hinduism and Pahadi high caste dominaton.dominaton.

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Socio-Cultural:Socio-Cultural: The so called democratic constitution of 1990 The so called democratic constitution of 1990

did not response the problems of Muslim did not response the problems of Muslim community and declared Nepal a Hindu community and declared Nepal a Hindu monarchial kingdom.monarchial kingdom.

The present secular constitution which is The present secular constitution which is based on equity and equality of all citizens based on equity and equality of all citizens does not address the problems of Muslims does not address the problems of Muslims embedded in the prevailing social structure embedded in the prevailing social structure and in the minds of planners.and in the minds of planners.

The Interim Constitution did not dare to The Interim Constitution did not dare to formulate a Muslim Commission like others.formulate a Muslim Commission like others.

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Political:Political: The after effects of historical The after effects of historical

discrimination of constitution, laws discrimination of constitution, laws of the nation and social behaviors of of the nation and social behaviors of dominant class and Caste Muslim dominant class and Caste Muslim community is remain at the margin community is remain at the margin of development in terms of social, of development in terms of social, economic, political, educational and economic, political, educational and administration.administration.

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3. Major Issues:3. Major Issues:Identity Crisis of Muslims:Identity Crisis of Muslims: The variation in cultural practices and social The variation in cultural practices and social

behaviors of Muslims in different geographical behaviors of Muslims in different geographical region is reflected with the Hinduism and region is reflected with the Hinduism and assimilated cultural forms.assimilated cultural forms.

The difference is based on their “Politics of The difference is based on their “Politics of Preservation” in majoritarian society.Preservation” in majoritarian society.

The basic identity is based on religious faith, The basic identity is based on religious faith, ritual performance and basic Islamic code of ritual performance and basic Islamic code of conducts which are the determinants of conducts which are the determinants of Muslim identity as a whole. Muslim identity as a whole.

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Social:Social: The influence of Muluki Ain, 1854 considering The influence of Muluki Ain, 1854 considering

Muslim as Malechha remains in practice uptill Muslim as Malechha remains in practice uptill now.now.

Economic:Economic: The economic status of the Muslim is lowest one. The economic status of the Muslim is lowest one.

The Human poverty Index of Muslim is 0.239 The Human poverty Index of Muslim is 0.239 against the National poverty index of 0.325.against the National poverty index of 0.325.

In HDI Muslim is also one of the poorest group In HDI Muslim is also one of the poorest group as national HDI is 0.509 where as Muslim is only as national HDI is 0.509 where as Muslim is only 0.40.0.40.

The Per capita income of National level is 12534 The Per capita income of National level is 12534 where as Muslim per capita income is 10.126.where as Muslim per capita income is 10.126.

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Education:Education: The educational status of Muslim lagging far The educational status of Muslim lagging far

behind national literacy rate which is 53.7% behind national literacy rate which is 53.7% where as Muslim’s rate is 34.72%.where as Muslim’s rate is 34.72%.

Most of the literate people are literate from Most of the literate people are literate from non formal Madrasa (Islamic educational non formal Madrasa (Islamic educational institution) which are unrecognized by the institution) which are unrecognized by the state.state.

There are a large number of Madrasas have There are a large number of Madrasas have been running since long in Nepal, but these been running since long in Nepal, but these were untouched by the NGOs/INGOs.were untouched by the NGOs/INGOs.

A large majority of Muslim children were A large majority of Muslim children were enrolled in Madrasas i.e. 42%, only 18% in enrolled in Madrasas i.e. 42%, only 18% in mainstream schools and rest 40% were out mainstream schools and rest 40% were out of schooling of any types. (Parwez, 2006)of schooling of any types. (Parwez, 2006)

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Political:Political: Interim Constitution is based on Interim Constitution is based on

inclusive democracy and proportional inclusive democracy and proportional representation in every wing of the representation in every wing of the state, but the Muslim community still state, but the Muslim community still has been victim of discrimination.has been victim of discrimination.

The government of Nepal has been The government of Nepal has been formulating a number of programs for formulating a number of programs for deprived and disadvantaged people deprived and disadvantaged people but the Muslim community is still but the Muslim community is still untouched.untouched.

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Role of NGOs/INGOs:Role of NGOs/INGOs: There are a large number of NGO/INGO There are a large number of NGO/INGO

for the support of those people residing for the support of those people residing in the lowest rung of the social in the lowest rung of the social structure.structure.

The NGO/INGO devoted to enable The NGO/INGO devoted to enable deprived people to emerge from their deprived people to emerge from their destitute situation and live a human life.destitute situation and live a human life.

The NGO/INGO initiated their programs The NGO/INGO initiated their programs on their own agenda without assessing on their own agenda without assessing the needs and observing the social the needs and observing the social dynamism and context.dynamism and context.

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It is observed that the deprived people are It is observed that the deprived people are unable to achieve required empowerment from unable to achieve required empowerment from NGOs/INGOs in terms of enabling capacity.NGOs/INGOs in terms of enabling capacity.

The NGO/INGO seems totally failure in helping The NGO/INGO seems totally failure in helping to unleash their critical perspectives of the to unleash their critical perspectives of the reality where they live and invision what might reality where they live and invision what might be enabling initiative which are ignored by be enabling initiative which are ignored by NGOs/INGOs programs.NGOs/INGOs programs.

The NGOs/INGOs are totally relactant to The NGOs/INGOs are totally relactant to attract Madhesi people, including Muslims in attract Madhesi people, including Muslims in the field of empowerment and awareness the field of empowerment and awareness raising activities to lead a dignified human life raising activities to lead a dignified human life and exercise human rights.and exercise human rights.

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4. Recommendations:4. Recommendations:NGOs/INGOs:NGOs/INGOs: NGOs/INGOs should mobilize Muslim NGOs/INGOs should mobilize Muslim

population from grass root level to be active to population from grass root level to be active to exercise their basic human right.exercise their basic human right.

NGOs/INGOs should develop long term, NGOs/INGOs should develop long term, medium term and short term strategies to medium term and short term strategies to create critical perspectives of prevailing create critical perspectives of prevailing reality in present social context.reality in present social context.

NGOs/INGOs should implement a targeted NGOs/INGOs should implement a targeted development program for Muslims development program for Muslims encompassing their cultural norms and values.encompassing their cultural norms and values.

NGOINGOs should play a critical role in NGOINGOs should play a critical role in creating belongingness of the Muslim creating belongingness of the Muslim community to the nation and state buildingcommunity to the nation and state building..

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Government:Government: Government with support of donor agencies Government with support of donor agencies

should launch a targeted programs should launch a targeted programs mandatory inclusion of Muslim community in mandatory inclusion of Muslim community in all development activities.all development activities.

State enhance participation of Muslim State enhance participation of Muslim community in political process including community in political process including Constitution and other public spaces.Constitution and other public spaces.

Government should create a Muslim Government should create a Muslim Commission for a holistic development of the Commission for a holistic development of the community.community.

The new constitution being drafted by the The new constitution being drafted by the CA needs to make provisions to ensure the CA needs to make provisions to ensure the rights of Muslim community.rights of Muslim community.

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Appropriate policies should be Appropriate policies should be developed to promote cultural, developed to promote cultural, social, economic and political social, economic and political development of the Muslim development of the Muslim community.community.

Specific policies and programs for Specific policies and programs for holistic development of Muslim holistic development of Muslim women need to be developed and women need to be developed and implemented.implemented.

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Thank You.Thank You.