Plight of Rajbanshi Community in Current Political Turmoil in Nepal and the Way Out

In the official record, as of today, indigenous Rajbanshi people constitute meagre 0.1% of total population of Nepal. Like their counterparts in India and Bangladesh, in Nepal also, these unfortunate people belonging to Rajbanshi community are caught in a vortex of both social and political predicament. Their actual population is almost half a Million. Their estimated population is 508170 as of today. Like Indian Rajbanshi people, for Nepali Rajbanshi people too, census count appears to be biased as most Rajbanshi people identify themselves as mainstream Nepali; thus their actual population is never truly depicted. In the heyday of monarchy and British hegemony, Rajbanshi people enjoyed domineering status in Nepalese society. During those days, they were in majority in Jhapa and Morang districts and sizable part of Sunsari district. In these districts, Rajbanshi community was the most prominent ethnic group. Today, their actual social status is not being shown in the official record as well as to the outside world. As per the media, Tharu group of indigenous people does not include Rajbanshi. Like India and Bangladesh, media is also shying away to highlight the issues of Rajbanshi people in Nepal as well. Today, these unfortunate people have been squeezed amidst party politics, pitfalls of modern day democracy and so-called secularism. 

        Over the years, especially after the end of British hegemony in Indian peninsula and with the air blowing in favour of democracy, lands held by Rajbanshi landlords went to the hands of outsiders and to the government sponsored agencies. With the land ceiling act being implemented, per head holding of land was limited to 28 Bighas only. The land ceiling policy choked the progress of Rajbanshi people as they lost their lands to cash rich outsiders, who came from India. Slowly, outsiders settled in Nepal, the Madhesi people appeared in the political scene of Nepal and started playing a major role in Nepali politics. Indigenous people had no option but to side either with the ruling majority parties or with the growing influence of Maoist and Madhesi people.  

      When monarchy ended in 2007 and Nepal became a Republic in 2008, peace was expected to return in this Himalayan State. But, things have turned from bad to worse, politically. Fallout of chaotic democracy in its nascence and misconstrued secularism have been taking their toll in the erstwhile only Hindu kingdom in the world. Basic tenet of democracy ‘Power to the People’ is not followed in right earnest. Thus, Nepal is bleeding today, politically. So many innocent people have already lost their lives in the present turmoil of Constitution making imbroglio. 

        Rajbanshi leaders in Nepal are shying away from expressing political aspirations of their own people which their people actually deserve. As far as Morang and Jhapa districts are concerned, no political decision is likely to bring fruits in long run if the ethnic Rajbanshi people are not involved in the process of constitution making. Promulgation of a Constitution without giving due share to this community is not likely to succeed. Already, in the recent protest movement, numbers of Rajbanshi youth have sacrificed their lives for seeking justice for their people. Modesty of number of young women has been outraged by the police. Numbers of youth including women have been killed in recent past. Protests against neglecting the political interests of ethnic Rajbanshi people should not be brushed aside. 

Some of the elected Rajbanshi members of Constituent Assembly (CA) are silent on recent excesses caused to the protesting Rajbanshi youth by the government officials and the police.  Party compulsion and diktats of the mainstream people led party high commands force the party workers and leaders keeping their mouths shut. But, this is not the time to keep silence, need of the hour is to hear the voices of all the Nepalese people from all walks of social strata, otherwise these ethnic Rajbanshi people of Nepal will miss the opportunity to have their say in the new Constitution of Nepal. The caretaker government and the constituent assembly should pay heed to the protest rallies organised by certain Rajbanshi social and political groups. Hon’ble CA members such as Shri Bhim Raj Choudhary Rajbanshi (ex-State Minister for Home) of Nepali Congress; Shri Hari Bahadur Rajbanshi of CPN-UML (Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist Leninist); Shri Amrit Lal Rajbanshi of Nepali Congress; Smt. Milan Kumari Rajbanshi of Nepal Ekta Party and other Top Rajbanshi leaders do sympathise with their fellow Rajbanshi people but party compulsion resist them from expressing their independent views. Now, they must come forward to press for rightful and just demands of the ethnic Rajbanshi people. 

Protesting Rajbanshi youth and their social organisations are demanding separate state for them to be named as Kochila State, a sovereign country. This proposition appears to be impracticable in the present situation. However, these hapless people deserve their say in self-governance and political power should go in their hands. This is required for the success of democracy in Nepal. In a democracy, colonialism by mainstream Nepalese leaders over minority ethnic groups cannot survive for long. Keeping in view the interests of the majority Nepali people and Madhesi and different ethnic groups of people; an autonomous region named Kochila Autonomous Region (KAR) can be formed for these ethnic Rajbanshi people, consisting of Morang, Jhapa districts and a part of Sunsari district. Such arrangements are not only likely to bring everlasting peace among the people of Nepal but also, will see the light of all-round development in all fields of social, economic, cultural, linguistic and political. One must remember that ‘Smaller the Administrative Unit more Effective will be the Governance and faster will be the Development’.