Democracy For Nepal: Your Many Identities

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Your Many Identities

There is talk of launching a new organization to provide some major logistical support to the movement in Nepal. I am all for it. But the task of organizing Nepalis in New York City and possibly in other major cities brings forth other immediate questions.

What about the political plight of the Nepalis in America, in New York City? Do Nepalis experience equality in New York City? The US ambassador to Nepal talks of human rights in Nepal, and I am glad for it. Why does not the Nepali ambassador to the US bring up the topic of police brutality in the US, in New York City? Why the double standards?

Why do taxpaying noncitizens not have voting rights? After all America was founded on the slogan no taxation without representation. Fernando Ferrer brought this up when he ran for Mayor of New York City. He is Hispanic.

The democracy theme has many layers to it. The message applies to Nepal as well to America. The message is of peace and equality. The message is of dignity and pride. You organize to achieve them when you don't have them.

This is also about the social dynamics among the Nepalis in the US. What about the tendency towards Madhesi marginalization? What about the distrust towards ethnic solidarity as expressed by the various Janajati groups? What about women's issues? I have heard of at least one South Asian network that reaches out to the battered South Asian wives. By extension that has got to be a problem also among Nepalis? Has that been pushed beneath the carpet so far? These social issues have to be faced by the diaspora because they are going to be some of the most challenging issues in the constituent assembly. There is no escaping the challenge.

Identities are social, cultural, political constructs. So when you talk of the attack on the Madhesi identity, it does not come only from the Pahadis. Madhesis themselves suffer from much self hate. Pahadis on the other hand have not advanced on to claim their larger identities, namely the Desi, Asian and non-White identies, without which genuine empowerment within the American context might not be possible. The anti-Indian sentiment that the Pahadis heap upon the Madhesis in Nepal gets in the way of their claiming the Desi identity in America. The attitude problems that come with growing up high caste Pahadi male in Nepal lead many of them to subscribe to the ugliest anti-black stories and stereotypes when they themselves are squarely non-White.

Self hate is at least half the battle when it comes to prejudice, discrimination and racism. The self hate among the Madhesis in the Nepali context is the same self hate among the Pahadis in the larger American context. There is a refusal to accept the identity that is yours. There is a resistance to claiming and taking pride in the identities. There is a resistance to coalition building.

People with advanced degrees who work below minimum wage jobs, how much better off would they be if they could also vote, if they could access credit and start small businesses of their own?

Identity has to be about positive pride in who you are and what groups you belong to. It does not have to be about exclusion. The rights one can earn is not eating into the political space of other individuals and groups. There is room for everybody. But that space has to be claimed. Rights have to be earned. That is where organizing comes in.

So if Nepalis organize to aid the democracy movement in Nepal more effectively, this is not exactly social service. This is very much self-interest.

In The News

Nepal situation "very, very serious": Commonwealth NepalNews
Local authorities release 115 detainees
Deuba says he is concerned about democracy, not the king
India to step up vigil along the border
Former PM Deuba, Singh released
10 years of Maoist insurgency costs over 13000 lives
Air fare to increase by 17 percent
NOC empowers private sector to fix retail prices of petro-products
US envoy Moriarty meets NC Chief Koirala
Newly elected representatives of KMC assume office
The DV lottery: A fantastic dream or an unexpected nightmare? Sheela Tripathee

Nepal's meaningless poll exercise Asian Tribune, Thailand
Nepal frees 43 rights activists, student leaders and political ... CBC News, Canada
'No role for Nepal king' Gulf Daily News
Supreme Court Deals Blow to King's Rule in Nepal Voice of America
'Nepal situation very, very serious' Times of India, India
Is China changing its stance towards Nepal? Newindpress
Chinese leader's stalled trip leaves Nepal agog Webindia123
Nepal students appeal to Kofi Annan to investigate killings by arm Webindia123, India

Visitors

13 February