This chapter carves out the intricate details of the Madhesi suppression ever since the formation... more This chapter carves out the intricate details of the Madhesi suppression ever since the formation of the Nepali state. It provides the historical specifics of the onset to the recent achievements of the Madhes struggle. Further, these arguments, especially the complex debate between regional and social identity of Madhesi, are substantiated by insights from national to local Madhesi intellects. This chapter expands to draw links between the contemporary phenomenon of identity conflict in Nepal to the theoretical framework to envisage the future of identity conflict.
This chapter discusses the development of identity politics as it travelled from USSR to Europe t... more This chapter discusses the development of identity politics as it travelled from USSR to Europe to South Asia. The countries discussed are India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, China and Nepal given that identity politics in the region has had a strong spill over impact across borders. Nepal being situated at cultural and strategic cross-roads of South Asia could not remain impervious to the fast changing ethnic dynamics in the region. This chapter seeks to locate Nepal’s ethnic conflict in the context of South Asia and its neighbours India and China.
This chapter provides an overview of the existence of Nepal from the colonial era to the commence... more This chapter provides an overview of the existence of Nepal from the colonial era to the commencement of “Naya Nepal”. The contentions around redefining Nepali identity vis-a-vis cultural, ethnic and linguistic diversity of Nepal and the rise of Madhesi identity comprises the core content of the chapter.
The new democracies of South Asia, like Nepal, overwhelmed by the idea of advanced democracies of... more The new democracies of South Asia, like Nepal, overwhelmed by the idea of advanced democracies of the West, fail to design a democratic model best suited to its sociopolitical structure. Additionally, defining democracy in a relatively divided society has been a challenging task for any emerging democracy especially in terms of accommodating these diversities. In the process of defining democracy which holds the diversity together, the state automatically becomes hegemonic However, at the same time, this model provides a space for these diversities to retaliate with the state. This chapter elaborates on the process of democratisation vis-a-vis globalisation of Nepal and its relation to the ethnic turmoil in Madhes.
Nepal as a country came into existence as a result of series of treaties. Both China and India ha... more Nepal as a country came into existence as a result of series of treaties. Both China and India have recognised Nepal’s independence and sovereignty through treaties and no residual claim can be made to the territory based on historical connections. However, there is no certainty that such claims will not be made if the circumstances constrained (Rose, 1971). This limited sovereignty of Nepal has impacted Nepal’s internal politics at a profound level. The ethnic turmoil arising amidst this situation and the security interest of India that Nepal pledges to protect is the core content of this chapter.
This chapter summaries the findings and observations of this study. Engaging with the politics of... more This chapter summaries the findings and observations of this study. Engaging with the politics of ethnicity in Madhesh, this chapter also aims to provide important calculation of future of ethnic politics in Madhesh in particular and Nepal in general.
The leadership in Nepal, which has been conformist in nature, has largely failed. A strong leader... more The leadership in Nepal, which has been conformist in nature, has largely failed. A strong leadership never evolved as the monarch occupied the leadership for most part of the nation’s existence.
Studies in Nepali History and Society, 23 (2), 2018
The issue of Madhesi identity in Nepal remains unsettled. This paper explores how citizens in Mad... more The issue of Madhesi identity in Nepal remains unsettled. This paper explores how citizens in Madhesh of Nepal have been trying to analyze the issues of unsettlements to extrapolate rational justifications for participating in local elections of 2017. Further, this paper attempts to unpack how the larger Madhesi identity politics shaped and influenced political sentiments during the local elections. Identity politics, in this paper, is understood as political formation and activities aimed to secure the political freedom of specific marginalized constituency or social group (Heyes 2018). While the national level Madhesi identity movements of Nepal that unraveled particularly in the post-2006 context are well-discussed and documented, the nature of identity politics as it unfolds at the local level in an everyday context remain understudied. Thus, this paper further explores Madhesi identity politics at the local level by taking the case study of Rajbiraj, Saptari district during the 2017 local elections.
This chapter carves out the intricate details of the Madhesi suppression ever since the formation... more This chapter carves out the intricate details of the Madhesi suppression ever since the formation of the Nepali state. It provides the historical specifics of the onset to the recent achievements of the Madhes struggle. Further, these arguments, especially the complex debate between regional and social identity of Madhesi, are substantiated by insights from national to local Madhesi intellects. This chapter expands to draw links between the contemporary phenomenon of identity conflict in Nepal to the theoretical framework to envisage the future of identity conflict.
This chapter discusses the development of identity politics as it travelled from USSR to Europe t... more This chapter discusses the development of identity politics as it travelled from USSR to Europe to South Asia. The countries discussed are India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, China and Nepal given that identity politics in the region has had a strong spill over impact across borders. Nepal being situated at cultural and strategic cross-roads of South Asia could not remain impervious to the fast changing ethnic dynamics in the region. This chapter seeks to locate Nepal’s ethnic conflict in the context of South Asia and its neighbours India and China.
This chapter provides an overview of the existence of Nepal from the colonial era to the commence... more This chapter provides an overview of the existence of Nepal from the colonial era to the commencement of “Naya Nepal”. The contentions around redefining Nepali identity vis-a-vis cultural, ethnic and linguistic diversity of Nepal and the rise of Madhesi identity comprises the core content of the chapter.
The new democracies of South Asia, like Nepal, overwhelmed by the idea of advanced democracies of... more The new democracies of South Asia, like Nepal, overwhelmed by the idea of advanced democracies of the West, fail to design a democratic model best suited to its sociopolitical structure. Additionally, defining democracy in a relatively divided society has been a challenging task for any emerging democracy especially in terms of accommodating these diversities. In the process of defining democracy which holds the diversity together, the state automatically becomes hegemonic However, at the same time, this model provides a space for these diversities to retaliate with the state. This chapter elaborates on the process of democratisation vis-a-vis globalisation of Nepal and its relation to the ethnic turmoil in Madhes.
Nepal as a country came into existence as a result of series of treaties. Both China and India ha... more Nepal as a country came into existence as a result of series of treaties. Both China and India have recognised Nepal’s independence and sovereignty through treaties and no residual claim can be made to the territory based on historical connections. However, there is no certainty that such claims will not be made if the circumstances constrained (Rose, 1971). This limited sovereignty of Nepal has impacted Nepal’s internal politics at a profound level. The ethnic turmoil arising amidst this situation and the security interest of India that Nepal pledges to protect is the core content of this chapter.
This chapter summaries the findings and observations of this study. Engaging with the politics of... more This chapter summaries the findings and observations of this study. Engaging with the politics of ethnicity in Madhesh, this chapter also aims to provide important calculation of future of ethnic politics in Madhesh in particular and Nepal in general.
The leadership in Nepal, which has been conformist in nature, has largely failed. A strong leader... more The leadership in Nepal, which has been conformist in nature, has largely failed. A strong leadership never evolved as the monarch occupied the leadership for most part of the nation’s existence.
Studies in Nepali History and Society, 23 (2), 2018
The issue of Madhesi identity in Nepal remains unsettled. This paper explores how citizens in Mad... more The issue of Madhesi identity in Nepal remains unsettled. This paper explores how citizens in Madhesh of Nepal have been trying to analyze the issues of unsettlements to extrapolate rational justifications for participating in local elections of 2017. Further, this paper attempts to unpack how the larger Madhesi identity politics shaped and influenced political sentiments during the local elections. Identity politics, in this paper, is understood as political formation and activities aimed to secure the political freedom of specific marginalized constituency or social group (Heyes 2018). While the national level Madhesi identity movements of Nepal that unraveled particularly in the post-2006 context are well-discussed and documented, the nature of identity politics as it unfolds at the local level in an everyday context remain understudied. Thus, this paper further explores Madhesi identity politics at the local level by taking the case study of Rajbiraj, Saptari district during the 2017 local elections.
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