The biggest confusion in the minds of Indians in general is about who these "Madhesis" are?
May 14, 2007 (Press Release) --
Because of inadequate coverage about the activities of the "Madhesis" of Nepal at least in the Indian print medium, there are widespread confusion about not only the origins of the Madhesis but what precisely their demands are from the central government of Nepal at Kathmandu. Some of the widespread misunderstandings about them is that the Madhesis are immigrants from India. Secondly, they want separation from Nepal. Thirdly, the R.S.S. and the Hindutva forces in the States of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, bordering the Madheshi –dominated territories of Nepal are fuelling disaffection among the Madhesis against the Maoist dominated government based in Kathmandu.
Probably, the biggest confusion in the minds of Indians in general is about who these "Madhesis" are. At an intimate and frank interaction at a venue in New Delhi where only two media persons were present among others–one being this reporter-Shri Upendra Yadava, Chairman of the Madheshi Janadhikar Forum clarified that the Madhesis (meaning people living in Madhyadesh, between the mountains of Nepal and the plains of India) were fighting "against those who had occupied our territory 238 years ago".
This was an allusion to the historic fact that when the Mughal Empire was crumbling during the latter half of the eighteenth century, powerful feudal lords would occupy some territory in the Bihar- Bengal- Avadh areas where the English too were making forays. Prithvi Narayan Shah, chief of a hill principality called Gorkha (name of a place, not of a community) occupied certain areas on the northern fringes of Bihar and Avadh, under the British and under the Nawabs of Oudh respectively. The Gorkha Durbar had engaged itself in two wars with the British in order to retain the territories on the northern fringes of today's Bihar.
After the two Anglo-Gorkha wars, the Treaty of Sugauli was signed in 1815 after which the southern, eastern and western boundaries of Nepal were drawn, which today form Nepal with an area of 141,181 square kilometers. Within this boundary came people living in the northern fringes of today's Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. They, therefore, became citizens of Nepal that is Nepalis. Mr. Yadava emphasized that his forefathers were already living in the area now called Madhesh since much before the forays by Prithvinarayan Shah and his descendants. (Prithvi Narayan Shah had first occupied Kathmandu Valley from the Newars in 1769, which was 238 years ago). The Madhesis are not immigrants from India, he emphasized.
Replying to questions, Mr. Yadava denied allegations that the Forum had sought secession from Nepal." We want to remain in Nepal and we do not want separation .We, however, would like to have our separate State within the federal structure of Nepal " he said. Mr. Yadava, however, added that "India being a democratic country should extend to us moral support and have a positive approach towards the problems the Madhesis are facing in their country. "Moral support is a big fact
Probably, the biggest confusion in the minds of Indians in general is about who these "Madhesis" are. At an intimate and frank interaction at a venue in New Delhi where only two media persons were present among others–one being this reporter-Shri Upendra Yadava, Chairman of the Madheshi Janadhikar Forum clarified that the Madhesis (meaning people living in Madhyadesh, between the mountains of Nepal and the plains of India) were fighting "against those who had occupied our territory 238 years ago".
This was an allusion to the historic fact that when the Mughal Empire was crumbling during the latter half of the eighteenth century, powerful feudal lords would occupy some territory in the Bihar- Bengal- Avadh areas where the English too were making forays. Prithvi Narayan Shah, chief of a hill principality called Gorkha (name of a place, not of a community) occupied certain areas on the northern fringes of Bihar and Avadh, under the British and under the Nawabs of Oudh respectively. The Gorkha Durbar had engaged itself in two wars with the British in order to retain the territories on the northern fringes of today's Bihar.
After the two Anglo-Gorkha wars, the Treaty of Sugauli was signed in 1815 after which the southern, eastern and western boundaries of Nepal were drawn, which today form Nepal with an area of 141,181 square kilometers. Within this boundary came people living in the northern fringes of today's Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. They, therefore, became citizens of Nepal that is Nepalis. Mr. Yadava emphasized that his forefathers were already living in the area now called Madhesh since much before the forays by Prithvinarayan Shah and his descendants. (Prithvi Narayan Shah had first occupied Kathmandu Valley from the Newars in 1769, which was 238 years ago). The Madhesis are not immigrants from India, he emphasized.
Replying to questions, Mr. Yadava denied allegations that the Forum had sought secession from Nepal." We want to remain in Nepal and we do not want separation .We, however, would like to have our separate State within the federal structure of Nepal " he said. Mr. Yadava, however, added that "India being a democratic country should extend to us moral support and have a positive approach towards the problems the Madhesis are facing in their country. "Moral support is a big fact
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