Mongolian, Muslim and Madhesi in Nepal: A Retrospect

| by Dirgha Raj Prasai

(October 11, Kathmandu, Sri Lanka Guardian) Nepal is known to be the place where human civilization bloomed. A Rishi (one who has renounced materialistic world) has mentioned in a Vedic scripture about 'Himwatkhanda-Nepal', 'Bharatkhande Uttaranarayane Himalaya Tate Swarna Bhumi, Swarga Bhumi.' (The northern part of the subcontinent of India (Bharatkhanda) is the golden land’. The great Indian literary figure in the time of Chandragupt II, Kalidas, has mentioned in his poem that, ‘from east to west this Himalayan land is the Aryan land’ During the time when Himwatkhanda-Nepal existed in separate petty kingdoms Chandragupt’s son Samundragupt had mentioned the land between Kamrup (Assam) and Karkapur (Kumau and Gadawal area) as Nepal in his archives. Himwatkhanda Nepal holds high importance in the Indian subcontinent. The land from Kailash-Mansovar to Ganga is Himwatkhanda.

In Nepal Tharu indigenous people have been residing over a long historical period of time in the plains of Terai that stretches from East to West. In other countries even India Tharu people are not found. From the western to eastern part of Terai, there are Tharus' villages and in eastern Koshi there are Rajbanshis's villages.

In Himwatkhanda Nepal, there are three kinds of inhabitants- 1) Anadibashi (aboriginal people), 2) Aadibashi (indigenous nationalities and 3) Aaprabashi (immigrants) are found. Bhramins, Chetri and some Newars are Anadibashi natives who were born in this land. Magar, Gurung, Tamang, Thakali, Rai, Limbu, Sherpa, Rajbanshi, Tharu, Dhimal such tribes are Aadibashi indigenous nationalities. Muslim, Madwari, Bangali and Madhesi are Aaprabashi (immigrants). The land is with full of friendship between all races of the people always enhancing a better friendship and relationship not the enmities. They always work together to strengthen the nation. We must not be preoccupied with our origins and weigh each other; if we do it, it will be suicidal in a sense that it will be tantamount to breaking the Nepalese unity.

The part which saddens us is that some indigenous groups without any study into their origin have started calling themselves Mongolians. In Nepalese land, there are no Mongolians in our indigenous tribes. Not only in Nepal but in the neighboring country of China, the Mongolian empire could not dig its root. Mongolian warrior Kublai Khan’s empire did not extend beyond China’s northern border to penetrate the south. Then, why are some of the advocates of indigenous nationality trying to become Mongolian and subsequently a crow in the fog? One will not become a Mongolian by simply having a flat nose. There are more than three billion people in the world with such nose and they are not all Mongolians. So, Magar, Gurung, Tamang, Thakali, Rai, Limbu, Sherpa must avoid their illusion that they are of Mongolian race.

We Nepali race are the descendents of the sons of Kasyap Rishi. Kasyap Rishi meditated at Kailash Mansovar and Karnali areas. Kasyap Rishi had married 13 daughters of Dachyaprajapati-the father of Goddess Parwati. Dachyaprajapati had not only married women of Bhramin and Chettri race but the Tibetans. Some of these children resembled the people of Tibetan race. From the Rishi’s eldest wife Diti monsters were born like-Hiranyakashepu. From another wife Aditi Gods were born. Both Diti and Aditi were of Bhramin caste. One of his wives was Rashika. From her the protectors were born. How many and who were born of other wives must be known to the indigenous tribes that still posses the records of their ancestry. Some of the indigenous tribes, who were actually born of Kasyap Rishi and his dynasties, now believe they are of Mongolian race. They are only destroying their lineage. Some have even opened a Mongolian Party and its website, which is hilarious. Such Nepalese tribes that believe they are of Mongolian race must be changed their fallacious approach.

It is necessary to talk of respected immigrants Muslim people after the subject of aborigines and the indigenous tribes. Being involved in trade and commerce for three hundred years the Muslim people are immigrants. Almost, at 1343 (1400 B.S) under the leadership of Nawab Samsuddin of Bengal, 31,000 Muslim warriors attacked Lumbini, Janakpur, Panauti, and reached Kathmandu where the united Hindu forces under King Jayasthiti Malla chased them away. It is mentioned in Taleju Temple of Bhaktapur (Yogi Naraharinath) that 2,400 Muslim warriors were killed and 600 ran away. There is no other historical record of another Muslim attack after this defeat. After that Muslim attack, this pious land never fights with Muslims.

Gradually, Muslims started entering Nepal. Some of them were invited for the purpose of medicines and treatment and some of them voluntarily entered into Nepal for trading horses and medicines from Kashmir. We can see two mosques- Jame and Kashmiri near by Hindu King's palace in Kathmandu which was erected in 1743 (1800 BS). King Prithvi Narayan Shah had visited Benaras for the devotion of Lord Vishwonath. At that time he purchased some weapons and he returned back by bringing Muslims artisans to safeguard the small Hindu Kingdoms. When Prithvi Narayan Shah conquered Kathmandu, the King had given recognition to the mosques that had already existed. Prithvi Narayan Shah had contributed the unification of Big-Nepal from Tista to Kangada. Let it be the history of East India Company's war with Nepal where the Nepalese land was captured in1816.

After signing the Sugauli Treaty in 1857, the land from Rapti to Mahakali was lost which was again returned back latter as a "Naya Muluk. ". Rana Prime Minister Junga Bahadur invited Muslims from Lucknow to reside in Nepalgunj which was almost a forest area. So Muslims of this nation are known to be a patriotic force. When Nepal was a Hindu nation Muslims’ were not dissatisfied and who neither were been against nor will never be against the nation. Hindus had not harbored any prejudice against Muslim and they were free to recognize their religion. In the world such a harmonious co-existence between Muslim and Hindu is exemplary. However, in India Hindu and Muslim has indulged in emotional wars from the very beginning.

After unification, Nepal feared attack from the British forces. And Muslim Emperor Nawab Bajir of Lucknow pledged support to Nepal in case a war broke out between Nepal and the East India Company. Later when the Anglo-Nepal war did break out in 1815, but the Muslim Emperor Bajir Shah lent his support to the British Empire. And then, in 1857 British sought help of Nepal against Muslim empire. The PM of Nepal Junga Bahadur with a seething temper for revenge quelled the Muslim forces. British forwarded the hand of friendship and in this course returned Nepal’s land that they have previously occupied. After this, English never looked at Nepal with a wrong intention.

Similarly, Madwari and Bengali people (both are Hindus) that have been involved in business in Nepal are also immigrants. They have not caused any losses to Nepal. There are rumors that some Madwari businessmen have been transferring what they have earned to India. If this is correct then they should know that it will not benefit them. The Madwari people living in Nepal must have their inclination towards Nepali nationality.

In Nepal Tharu indigenous people have been residing over a long historical period of time in the plains of Terai that stretches from East to West. In other countries even India Tharu people are not found. From the western to eastern part of Terai, there are Tharus' villages and in eastern Koshi there are Rajbanshis's villages. Tharu and Rajbanshi are Nepal’s true patriots. However some of them latter migrated to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh of India. . Many people of the hilly region have lived in the plains of Terai before Prithvi Narayan Shah’s era.

At the current context in Nepal Madhesi politics is all pervasive. These Madhesi people have turned Terai into their stronghold. Nepal's Terai plain adjoins the Indian border. It is easy to travel in Terai in geographical sense. The castes that have entered Nepal from the southern part are Madhesi. There is no Madhesi named village or district in whole of Terai. Those who call themselves as being Madhesi are not the indigenous tribes. Many workers, horse traders, and those who sold their commodities on mobile stalls came from various states of India including Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. This group that came to Nepal seeking business opportunities and other domestic works was termed as Madhesi. This term ‘Madhesi’ emanated from these Madhesi people that had no permanent residence in Nepal, but were constantly. It has been wrongly interpreted the meaning of Madhesi. Who are actually Madhesis? Are those who live in Madhes- Tharu, Rajbanshi, Dhimal, Muslims, Brahmins, Chhetri, Rai, Limbu, Madwadis and so on Madhesis shifting their shelters.

And, after the Loktantra (Indiacracy) 2006, Madhesis were successful into tricking the government to grant them citizenship certificates. After 2006, in the name of federalism, and under Indian effort, 4 million citizenship certificates were distributed illegally in which some native party's brokers were used. These people are now advocating the slogan of ‘One Madhes One Pradesh (state)’ to disintegrate Nepal, which is an old scheme, but which has now gathered momentum under this Madhesi leadership. What can be a bigger betrayal by Madhesi than this?

The other residents of Terai as Jha, Thakur, Yadav, Dev, Gohit and other castes have been living in this region since time immemorial, and they are the native people. The holy land of Janakpur is not Madhes, neither are Lumbini and Barahachhetra. At the eastern side Birat is not Madhes. Since the era of Birat King the area east of Koshi is not known as Madhes. Mithila Pradesh is a center of civilization. Likewise, Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Budha is not Madhes. For example, Tibet lies north of Nepal; Tibetans have been traveling to Nepal’s northern area for trade purposes. Can Nepal’s northern sector be called Tibet on this basis? It must not be forgotten that King Rana Bahadur Shah had married a Bhramin of Jha caste in Janakpur. His son Girvana Yudha Bikram Shah became the king and his subsequent descendents have sat on the throne of Nepal. The Jha daughter's ancestors are the Kings- Girvana Yudha Bikram Shah, Rajendra, Pritbibikram, Tribhuwan, King Mahendra, Birendra and Gyanendra. To understand this it would be appropriate for us to understand Mithila. The holy land of Janakidham and Mithila has been the center of civilization and culture.

Now, the Madhesis' scheme is starting to politicize the Nepal Army, which will inevitably destroy its norms and values, has been a subject of dissatisfaction among Terai’s indigenous tribes as Tharu, Rajbanshi, Mithila residents and Awadhis. Bijaya Gachhedar is Tharu, but he is also converted to Madhesi as the traitor by the hint of RAW. As per Indian design a four point agreement was signed between Maoist and Medhesis party. And then, the Maoist leader Dr. Baburam Bhattarai- the most suspicious man became the PM of Nepal whose body is Nepali and mind is Indian. This four point deal includes 10,000 Madhesi youths into the Nepal Army, and the subject of ‘One Madhes One Pradesh’. In connection to this, Defense Minister Sharat Singh Bhandari gave a warning of national disintegration that 22 Terai districts would be separated from Nepal. His warning is highly condemnable. So, the pro-Indian Madhesis are very dangerous for all.

Hiwatkhanda Nepal is the land where various Holy Scriptures as Vedas, Upanishads, and other Shastra (religious guidelines) had taken birth. This region is decorated by the splendidly curving rivers bringing the fresh waters of Himalayas, and the knowledge emanating from the meditative aura of many divine Rishis flows as thoughts. Saptagandaki’s- Kasyap Rishi, Pulastya Rishi, Koshi bank’s- Kausik Rishi (Bishwamitra), Gorkha’s Vedbyas, Yagyanbalkya Rishi from the philosophical and wise king Janak’s land, Gargi Maitreyi, Balmiki Rishi of Gandak river, Bagmati bank’s ‘Ne’-Muni Rishi and Aakuni of Kirat people in Rig Veda are all famous. Veda, Shruti, Smriti and the knowledge of Yoga have purified this land. In this sense Himwatkhanda- Nepal is the origin of human civilization. In this land Gautam Budha was born and the world was illumined with his wisdom. It is said, ‘Bodhisatya Mahasatya; Swayambhu Chaitya Namanyaha’. Before India was termed as Hindusthan, the creator of this nation Prithvinarayan Shah had said- 'Nepal is pious land. It is a right Hindusthan for all castes and 36 races.' In such a context the aborigines, natives and immigrant nationalities of this nation must answer against the conspiracy being hatched by the so-called Madhesis party.