Dalit’s Awakening
Discriminatory Practices Should End

By Mukti Rijal

IN A conversation with chair-persons of village development committees of some districts in the Tarai. The scribe was told about the nature and pattern of social disputes in the rural communities. Though the nature of disputes differed from contexts to contexts some VDC chairpersons informed that cases relating to caste-based discriminations have become rather frequent. The complaints originate from those who are prohibited entry into public places especially the temples and also from those who find it difficult to stomach the idea of allowing Dalits inside the temples. In many temples in rural communities rituals, worships and sacrifices could not be executed during Dashain because of the fact that the upper caste people showed no interests to Professor the rite together with the Dalits. The untouchables enthused and emboldened by the government announcement to eliminate caste-based discriminations at the societal level reportedly attempted to dictate terms in face of the opposition presented by the upper caste people. This led to a situation of animosity and misunderstanding in some rural pockets especially in the western part of Nepal.

The plight of untouchables did figure prominently in the UN conference on racism held in the South African city of Durban too. The Nepalese Dalit NGO representatives took part in the conference and the Dalit representatives from India mooted the case of the untouchables spiritedly in the conferences. Caste-based discrimination has been equated with apartheid and racism despite the fact that it is not the inhuman practice based on race and colour.

Legally, the caste based discrimination was abolished during the Sixties in Nepal but it still exists in moderate to extreme forms. In the far western hills of Nepal, discriminations are well entrenched and those facing caste-based discriminations have born the burnt of poverty, illiteracy and social marginalisation. The situation is not as bad in the central and eastern hills of Nepal. The story of Tarai is different from the hills. The Dalits in Tarai are much more oppressed than in the hills.

An event that took place in India should prick the conscience of those applying discriminatory and oppressive social and cultural practices. Nearly fifty thousand Dalits from all over India converted themselves into Buddhism. Dalits assembled in the capital city of Delhi recently vowed, not to recognise anything Hindu be it priests, gods, and rituals. It was a repeatation of the event enacted under the leadership of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar some twenty five years ago in India when half a million Dalits embraced Buddism in Nagpur.

In Nepal Dalits comprise about twelve per cent of the total population spread across the country. They are economically backward, socially depressed and educationally disadvantaged, though following the restoration of multiparty democracy in the country in 1990, there have been some measures taken to provide social uplift to the Dalit community. The Local Self Governance Act 1998 provides for representation of the disadvantaged groups in local bodies including village development committees municipalities and district development committees. Dalits are more educated and more conscious than in the past. They are socially organised and getting more space to articulate their grievances and demand for their redressal. However, effective affirmative actions and measures should be programmed and implemented in order to ensure that they are treated with dignity and have positive access to social opportunities.

The Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990 guarantees right to equality and it prohibits discriminations on the basis of caste, creed, religion, race and political faith. This constitutional provision needs to be translated into deeds so that justice reaches to all segments of the society. Social discriminations and alienation are the source of conflicts and unrest. These can vitiate harmony and tolerance. The discriminations meted out to Dalits should not therefore be permitted to go on. Let me quota Mahatma Gandhi who paid rich tributes to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar-one of the architects of the Indian Constitution-in this context. Mahatma Gandhi is on record to have said in 1931 "I have the highest regard for Dr. Ambedkar. He has every right to be bitter. That he does not break our heads is an act of self restraint on his part."

Harnessing Nepal’s Water Resources
Sub-regional Fact Essential

By Balaram Chaulagain

UNTIL a few decades back the Arab countries had neither the money to develop the crude oil abundantly found in their soil nor the internal market to consume it; so is the case with Nepal’s immense water resources. The rampant poverty in the country can be solved only through proper utilisation of the enormous water resources of the country. The issue of poverty alleviation has been on top of the national agenda of South Asian countries. Poverty is pervassive in Nepal and its other SAARC counterparts. In Nepalese context, every Five Year Plan has set poverty alleviation as the prime objective and seeks to uplift the poor and socially backward people by assimilating them into the national development process. The National Planning Commission, which is believed to be the architect in the whole national development procedures, is involved only in the process of interpreting minor issues as data doctoring for narrow political interests. Nepal is predominantly an agricultural country, as such the need for undertaking intensive agriculture development programmes along with irrigation facilities is indispensable to alleviate poverty. It is an irony to note that Nepal being the second richest country in water resources in the world is listed as one of the poorest countries. In order to accelerate country’s economic development freely available natural resources in the form of water must not be ignored.

Despite having huge potential, Nepal has yet to tap its profuse water resources. The prospects for water resources are enormous, yet problems in the process of executing hydel projects and irrigation are challenging. The urgent need of the hour is to develop the country’s abundant water resources through meaningful sharing with neighbouring countries. Nepal’s landlockedness, poor physical infrastructure and resource crunch are the main constraints to tap the immense water resources on its strength. According to a rough estimation the hydro power potential of Nepal is 83,000 Megawatt (MW). Besides, it is believed that more than eight million hectares of barren lands can be irrigated from the water resources of Nepal. Ironically, only 300 MW of hydro power has been generated so far. In the same way, only a nominal portion of land has been irrigated. More than 90 per cent of Nepalese people have pinned their hopes on snow fed premennial rivers and hydro power development of this poor country. It is so because actual development of the country rests on harnessing water resources that Nepal is endowed with. Burgeoning population pressure, high living standard and industrialisation in our country along with our neighbours will be accompanied by a proportionate demand for power in the near future for which Nepal’s immense hydro-power could be a remedy. Hence, the idea of sub-regional co-coperation between India, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal to exploit the rich potential deserves greater attention.

It is not the first time that issues of consensus on exploiting water resources of Nepal have been stressed. Still nothing really happens. Much has been told and written about this issue. Urbanisation, growing population, economic growth and high living standards are putting imprecedented demands on water and hydro-power supplies. The demands of water and hydro-power is a matter of serious concern not only in Nepal but also in the neighbouring countries, more particularly in India. If we are able to tap the huge hydro-power potential of Nepalese territory existing power crunch and water demand in these two countries can be overcome for ever. Now, we have entered into the 21st century with a new vision, vigour and dynamism. As such, Nepal along with India and other South Asian countries should not lag behind to tap the freely available water resources of this Himalayan kingdom.

If we are successful in harnessing the vast water resources of Nepal, the neighbouring countries like India will also benefit. Therefore, we should not lag behind to forge co-operative partnership and put in collective effort for proper utilisation of water for the betterment of this region. It is known to all that ratification of Mahakali treaty, Melamchi, drinking water project, Arun III, Pancheswor dam etc. are the major issues issue of this sector raised time and again. Though all major political parties of Nepal seem to be unanimous about the urgency of harnessing Nepal’s abundant water resources, no significant development has been achieved so far. So long as a specific regional co-operative scheme for proper utilisation of water resources of Nepal is not sought high sounding slogans and announcements lead us nowhere.

Lastly, it goes without saying that Nepal’s water resource is the key to uplift the socio-economic status of poverty stricken people. Instead of developing time consuming mega hydel projects small water related projects can be chosen. In the past the whole responsibilities of developing water resources in the country was undertaken by the government alone. In this connection recently the country has adopted a policy of bringing the private sector in the field of hydro-power generation with a view to utilise the available water resources to the maximum possible level. As a result some national and international agencies are working in this field. It is high time we acted to discontinue the present situation created by shortage of portable water and electricity crunch. For this, a sub-regional pact to harness the immense water resources of Nepal is a must. To achieve this goal the government of Nepal should play the role of facilitator and to encourage international participation in harnessing water resources of the country. Let us hope in the days to come Nepal’s natural gift will be fully utilised and the face of people of this region be brightened permanently.

The Absent Minded Professor

By Anantayatree S. Khanal

ASHUTOSH Ganguli was one of the best professors of mathematics in Tri-Chandra College. He was also one of the best Bengali teachers brought from Kolkata, India during Rana Regime. Professor Ganguli was liked very much by the students particularly for his style of delivering lecture in the class. There was always a piece of chalk in his hand while he lectured in any branch of mathematics, i.e. arithmatic, algebra, geometry and trigonometry. While explaining an algebraic equation or a geometric figure, he spoke what he wrote on the black-board. He lectured in such a loud voice that any person standing below outside the college building could hear every word. It was said that Professor Ganguli did not need to explain any mathematical problem twice to the class. The students could clearly understand his lecture, once they heard it. Whenever a student requested him to repeat something in the subject that he had already treated, the professor sternly ordered the student to get out of the class because he had attended the lesson absent-mindedly. Other students supported Professor Ganguli’s ruling and admitted that they had thoroughly understood his lecture. The student had to gloomily get up and go out.

Professor Ganguli, unlike other Indian teachers, came to college everyday with his panama hat on. Before entering the class, however, he put the hat off and placed it on a table in the teacher’s room. It was a large room with a very high calling and was located in the lowest chamber of the Clock-tower. It remained vacant when the teachers were engaged in taking classes. On one such occasions, the student whom Professor Ganguli had turned out of his class happened to pass by the teacher’s room. He saw the professor’s panama hat on the table. He stopped and looked around. No one was nearby. He entered the room and scanned it. He saw a peg high up on the wall and a long pole in a corner of the room. The bat, the peg, the pole and his intention of harnessing Professor Ganguli made a nice combination for his mischief. With the help of the long pole, he hung the hat on the peg, put the pole in its place and left. Professor Ganguli entered the teacher’s room for his hat and was surprised to find that his hat was not on the table. He tried to remember whether he had left it somewhere else. No, had put it on the table as usual. He even asked a few persons whether they had seen his hat.

Assuming that he had forgotten to put his hat on and it must have been left in his residence, the professor went home hatless that day. Next day, he came hatless to the college for the first time. Other professors asked him why he had not worn hat, that particular day. He told them that it was lost. His colleagues merrily laughed and one of them pointed the hat out hanging on the peg high. The Professor was taken aback. He burst into laughter and said that he himself had hung the hat on the pig and forgotten about it. He did not know that the student (I) had purposely come earlier that day and I had asked some other professor how Prof. Ganguli had managed to hang his hat on the peg so high. But he saw the long pole which I had kept in its proper place. He picked it up and took out the hat with it. Then he put it on and laughed merrily. Again he put it off and hung it on the peg with the pole. Thereafter he said. "From now on you will see my hat either on my head or on that peg. This is the best way of keeping my hat outside the reach of evil persons. Thank God that I coincidentally discovered it for the first time." Because of his absent-mindedness, he was in illusion that he had hung the hat on the peg the day before.