Nepal: Christian missionaries seducing low income people

Deep Kumar Limbu

IT Entrepreneur, Jhapa District, Nepal

Mr. Deep Kumar Limbu, a youth from the Jhapa District, is an IT entrepreneur. He is the director of Bhadrapur (town of Jhapa) branch of the College of Software Engineering (CSE). At the same time, he is working as a par-time journalist in the Jhapa based Nagarik FM. Mr. Limbu was in Kathmandu last week and Sujit Sharma for The Telegraph Weekly and its online edition telegraphnepal.com interviewed this young man as a part of our ongoing campaign to promote youth leadership in the country.

Below the excerpts of this interview: Chief Editor

Q1. How are you analyzing the current state of ethnic movement in the Eastern Nepal?

Limbu: I haven’t found the organizational structure of ethnic based groups so strong and vibrant in eastern Nepal. However, they have strong hold in certain section of the youths of their respective community/ethnic groups. With the help of those youths, they can immediately call on strikes and make the whole region to follow it strictly. The ethnic groups who are urging for including the provision of autonomous Limbuwan state of Nepal are, in this sense, more influential in this region.

There are two noted ethnic groups voicing for the formation of federal Limbuwan state. One is headed by Sanjhuhang Palungwa where as the other is headed by Kumar Lingden. These two groups have so far succeeded in drawing the attention of peoples of all section of their community in their structured agenda. Apart from them, Rajbanshi Samaj and other ethnic groups are also active in this region.

Q2. How strong the ethnic sentiment is among the youth of the eastern Nepal?

Limbu: Ethnic sentiment among the youths has gone up dramatically after the second people’s uprising bagged success. After the ouster of monarchy as a key institution of the Nepali society, indigenous communities have come to know how they were made victim through several discriminatory practices.

These days, some Kiratis have discontinued celebrating Dashain festival, calling it as an alien festival of the Hindus. I am also from an indigenous community; however, I oppose ultra fundamentalist ideas based on ethnicity and nationalities. I want the accommodative and tolerant-instinct of Nepali society to remain preserved. At least I am committed to this notion.

Q3. Do you believe the ongoing ethnic movement is heading towards right direction?

Limbu: Like Nepali society, the ethnic movement in Nepal is in the crossroads. If this movement is mishandled or any vested interest groups succeed in manipulating this pressure group, Nepal may get engulfed in protracted social conflict. We should remain ever vigilant in this regard.

Any attempt to strengthen and promote Nepali culture should be admired and such campaign deserves adequate support from the State. However, some people are trying to abuse the ethnic movement for the fulfillment of their personal interests. Such tendencies should not be accepted by anyone at any cost. In the rural areas of eastern Nepal, threat of ethnic confrontation is looming large. It must be handled in a serious manner and with proper care. But in the urban areas, I haven't found any antagonism between people on the basis of ethnicity. They are living in a harmonious manner as they used to live in the past.

Q4. There is huge debate on whether to make federal provinces on the basis of ethnicity or not? What is your personal view in this issue?

Limbu: The cultural identity of each ethnic group must be acknowledged and should be respected by the State. It should treat each cultural group in an equal manner. Some ethnic groups like Limbu, Kiratis, etc, have their own age-old history and culture. The state must respect the peculiarity of those ethnic groups. For this, the State may form separate Limbuwan province for the people of those community. However, there are several ethnic groups in Nepal and if we make ethnicity the basis of division of the federal states, this may create problem like ethnic discord, economic disparity among the state, etc in the long run.

Creating a large number of federal states may add up to the burden to the national treasury. Thus, at the personal level, I prefer the idea of creating minimum number of federal states. Right now, we have five development regions and this division is so far more scientific in nature. If these development regions are developed as a federal state, it will, I believe, benefit the nation. Restructuring of the State is the serious matter, and hence we must remain alert in understanding its long term consequences while making any decision on it.

Q5. It is being rumored that the Christian missionaries are now strongly trying to Christianize the Kirati population in eastern Nepal. Is it true? Or just a rumor?

Limbu: Up to some extent, it is true. The people from the lower strata of several ethnic groups like Rai, Limbu, Rajbanshi, Santhal, Mushar, etc, of the eastern Nepal are in grave danger of being Christianized. The ethnic movements have raised the ethnic consciousness of those peoples and have, up to some extent, tried to limit this terror of Christianization. The Christian missionaries are now targeting the peoples which belong to lower strata in the society, those with low economic and socio-cultural status, for example. This process must be stopped immediately, or else the peculiarity of the Nepalese culture will vanish and age-old social harmony may get derailed forever.

Q6. Being a member of youth from the indigenous community, what do you expect from the state?

Limbu: I strictly oppose the idea of positive discrimination on the basis of ethnicity. The government has awarded several quotas for the people of ethnic groups; however, the actual needy people have not yet benefitted by this scheme. The Newars, being a member of indigenous community, are reaping benefits from this provision. But do you think it is appropriate to award Newars, who are living in the capital of the country and are enjoying several facilities since hundreds years, be awarded with quota(s)?

The basis of positive discrimination should be the economic condition of the people, but not their ethnicity. The state should empower the people of every ethnic group with adequate education. If the people become educated, they can enrich their competency on their own. Whenever I hear that I am provided with a quota, I feel as if I am being insulted. I want other peoples to count my competency, but not my ethnicity. I believe on fair and open competition. But before this, the government must provide the deprived and marginalized group with adequate quality education.

Q7. Now let's change the topic of our discussion. The government has recently decided to induct 3000 Madhesi Youths in Nepal Army (NA) despite the stay order of the Supreme Court. How do you see this move of the government?

Limbu: This move of the government is deplorable. Every ethnic group has their own professional competency. For example, the Rai and Limbus are physically strong and therefore their number in armed forces like police and army is considerably higher than any other ethnic groups of Nepal. The people from Brahmin and Chhetri community are more educated and hence their presence in academic sector and bureaucracy is higher. Similarly the Madhesi population prefers to engage themselves in the technical field like mechanic, engineering, etc.

I do not have any objection on any attempts to make the NA more inclusive. However, the ethnic composition of Nepal should be considered before making any decision in this regard. There are several ethnic groups in Nepal struggling for their identities and many groups are claiming that they have their own military structure. What will happen if those ethnic groups, in the days ahead, will begin asking for the bulk integration of their combatants in the mainstream NA? If it so happens, do any moral ground will be left with the government to reject the demand of those ethnic groups? Is the NA ready and capable enough to absorb the bulk-wise integration of youths from several ethnic groups of Nepal in the name of making the NA apparatus more inclusive?

Exclusive for telegraphnepal.com

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Comments

Posted on - 2012-03-04 by basanta limbu
There is no doubt that Mr. Limbu really seems in support or in impression of unitary, hegemonic centralized state. Still he is in dilemma... somewhere he says state should respect the respective ethnic communities' norms... somewhere says state should be reconstructed in the base of regional way ... As a whole, after reading his ideas, we can say that he is no more the member of the ethnic community... and his idea won't put of any positive energy to make really a beautiful Nepal. but finally, he can just fulfilled his personal satisfaction.. just a personal satisfaction.. nothing else..