Let me answer Roshanju’s enquiry as to what has inspired me to raise this issue at this stage.

Newaah De Daboo joined Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities NEFIN despite having very few common issues with indigenous nationalities of Nepal. For instance, illiteracy and poverty are the main issues for them while they are non-issues for us because we have the highest literacy rate in Nepal and are relatively well off compared to other sections of the society. Caste system is a non-issue for them while it is a BIG issue for us. The language issue is a top priority for us but they don’t seem to mind much about it.

I firmly believe that continuing our current policy on indigenous nationalities could seriously hinder our progress in the changed political context of Nepal.

For instance, Nepal has finally been declared a secular state but some of our leaders joined other NEFIN members to burn certain sections of the Interim Constitution because the cow has been maintained the national animal and that some indigenous nationalities ate cow’s meat! Secularism is not anti-Hinduism and we need to be sensitive to others’ sentiments. (See my article, “Defending Secularism in Nepal”, eKantipur 29 May 2006). Such acts could destroy the religious harmony that we Newars have been enjoying for so many centuries.

Newars are on their way to ethnic autonomy in Nepal Mandal. The recently concluded Brihat Newaah Ganataantrik Sabhaa is an example of our progress on this. Most NEFIN members, barring a few, are not yet ready for such action. Dragging them along can seriously affect our own movement towards Ganatantra and Jaatiya Swashaasan.

NEFIN has just announced a two-week long agitation against the Interim Constitution. Such actions could not only help the forces of regression but our affiliation with it could seriously damage our credibility in the current national politics. Our leaders should therefore reconsider our relationship with NEFIN Now!”

Kind regards.

Uday Bajracharya

1. I would appreciate if all the readers also refer - Time magazine of march, 2006 (forgot the issue no.) in which the origin of human being has been illustrated including the whites of Europeans, North America, and South America, with scientific logics.

Basically, the source of human being in all continents dates back to 12000 years from Asia.

So, the people of Nepal. The question is who settled first.

When we say Newars:

1. Based on language
2. Based on local culture
3. Based on ethnic background
4. Based on caste and creed, and race

But if a Nepalese immigrates to USA and after 10th generation or 15th generation, they do not know who they are and they are locally adapted and their native language and food is Engllish in this case.

In the case of Newar too, there are so many ethnic group within Newars who have immigrated and settled in Kathmandu, followed the sampel culture and tradition to adjust in society now called themselves as Newars.

Therefore, it is a complex issue. But personally, i do not consider Newars as the indigenous ethnic group, but I would rather say then as the citizens of First Nation.

However, I look forward to see comments.

Freedom Lover