National 6 (Spotlight Weekly)

Unity In Diversity

Human Development Report 2004 recognizes cultural diversity as a key factor to national stability

By KESHAB POUDEL

Nepal is placed in the 140th rank in terms of Human Development Index (HDI). Had Nepal been judged on the basis of cultural, linguistic and ethnic diversity, there are only a few countries in the world like Nepal with such a diverse population.

One of the important aspects of Nepalese society is its strength of adaptability with other cultures. In the course more than 2000 old history, Nepalese culture developed in accommodation rather than conflict.

The Census of 2001 recorded 60 caste and ethnic groups while the National Ethnic Groups Development Committee has identified 65 such groups. The census listed 103 caste/ethnic groups including unidentified groups. In terms of religion, Nepalese have practiced Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Kirant, Christianity, Jainism and others.

The cultural integration and harmony is the strength of the country. Despite the call for extremism, Nepalese society follows the path of harmony recognizing each others’ identity. After the unification of Nepal, Prithivi Narayan Shaha, the great King, called Nepal as a garden of various ethnic and linguistic groups.

The Human Development Report 2004: Cultural Liberty in Today’s Diverse World argues that state must actively devise multicultural policies to prevent discrimination on cultural grounds - religious, ethnic and linguistic. The HDI points out that the expansion of cultural freedoms, not suppression, is the only sustainable opinion to promote stability, democracy and human development within and across societies.

“We have already initiated the effort to internalize the issues of cultural and ethnic diversity,” said Dr. Shanker Sharma. “Tenth Plan has already made efforts to encourage ethnic groups in the development.”

Others do not agree. “Restoration of democracy in 1990 opened up the opportunity but ethnic groups are still discriminated and ignored in the mainstream development,” said Parshuram Tamang, vice chairperson of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. “There are more than dozens of discriminatory articles in the present constitution and five dozens acts – which discriminate the indigenous community.”

Geographically, Nepal is small but it is known as a rich country in terms of cultural, linguistic and ethnic diversity. Sandwiched between the two bigger countries India in the south and China in the north, Nepal consists of all kinds of diversity.

“UNESCO has been supporting programs to protect the diversity of languages and ethnicity in Nepal,” said Koto Kanno, UNESCO country representative. “I am proud to say that this report highlights the importance of cultural liberty advocated by our organization.”

Nepal has over 125 languages belonging to a number of different language families (ethnolouge 1996), including the recently developed Nepali sign language. Other sources claim that there are 16 languages of Indo-Aryan, 73 of Tibeto Burman, one of Dravidian and four languages of Austro-Asiatic extraction. The languages like Kushunda are on the verge of extinction.

“Nepal is a country so rich in culture. I am convinced that what it has to say on this subject should be not only of great interest but also of great value,” said Nicholas Brown, UNDP’s acting Resident Representative.” The report evaluates the importance of the identity and role of multicultural societies and asks the questions: “Do cultural differences necessarily lead to social, economic and political conflict?”

Sriram Raj Pande, senior advisor on Pro-poor Policy and UNDP Assistant Resident Representative presented the detailed review of the HDR’s finding and conclusion.

According to the Report, Nepal secures 140th rank among 177 countries in the world and Nepal’s GDP per capita rank is 151st with HDI value of 0.504. Maldives ranks first in South Asia region with a value of .752 (84th rank). In terms of Human Poverty Index Nepal ranks 69th out of 95 countries with the HPI-1 value of 41.2. Bangladesh was the worst performer in South Asia securing 72nd rank. In the issue of building capabilities of women, Nepal ranks 116 out of 144 countries. Sri Lanka is the best in South Asia securing 73rd rank in the Gender Development Index.