A talk given at the Harvard University on 15th November 2010.

1. BROOMS AGAINST BULLETS
A Saga of the Madheshi Movement in Nepal
South Asia Seminar
Harvard University
CK Raut, PhD (Cambridge)
2010 November 15

3. Where | Who | Why

4. Nepal mountains and myths
NEPAL

5. Madhesh the southern plain region of Nepal

6. Madheshis native and indigenous communities of Madhesh

8. Madhesh - History the birthplace of Buddha and Sita

10. …Several Dynasties, Islamic Rulers, The East India Company
… 18th
century

12. Source: The Himalayan Beacon

13. Madhesh Under British and Gurkha Empires

14. Nepal: Pahad and Madhesh

16. Kamaiyas the bonded labours

18. Kamlari sold daughters
Source: NYOF

19. Literacy Rate
Literacy Rate (15-49 years)
Source: NDHS, 2006
Pahadi, 63.4
Pahadi, 86.9
Madheshi,
35.9
Madheshi,
69.9
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Female Male

20. Muslims

24. Child Marriage
Girls Age at Marriage in Maithili Community
Source: CEDA
23.00%
4.10%
56.70%
16.20%
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
1-9 yrs 10-13 yrs 14-16 yrs >16yrs
Source: WWW

25. Childhood Mortality
Childhood Mortality Rate
Source: NDHS, 2006
28
18
47
16
62
42
23
65
21
85
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Neonatal
Postneonatal
Infant
C
hild
Under-5
Hill
Madhesh

26. Perinatal Mortality
Perinatal Mortality
Source: NDHS, 2006
52
35
38
62
77
48
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Stillbirths Early neonatal
deaths
Perinatal mortality
Hill
Madhesh

27. Untouchables or Dalits

28. Dalit Literacy Rate (%)
Source: NNDSWO, 2006
54.9
74.2
53.1
14.6
20.2
33.2
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Total Male Female
Pahad
Madhesh
Landless Dalits
Source: NPC (Plan 2008/09 to 2010/11)
Pahad,
15%
Madhesh,
44%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
Landless Dalits

30. Madheshis in Media
Government Media
Unknow n,
2Madheshi,
2
Pahadi, 29
Non-Government Media
Pahadi,
128
Madheshi,
3
Source: Madheshvani, 2006

31. International Agencies
International/Multilateral Agencies in
Nepal, Source: UNDP (2001)
Foreigner
14%
Madheshi
5%
Pahadi
81%

32. Human
Development
Index
Source: UNDP, HDR 2009
Room to Read
Work Area
(Current and Extension)
Source: Room to Read

33. …a long walk to nowhere

34. Brooms | Bullets
Madhesh Movement
Photo Courtesy: Santosh K. Bhagat and Bhuvan K. Jha

43. The movement continued to the next year. The
Nepalese government’s use of excessive forces killed
more than four dozens Madheshis and injured
thousands. The continued curfews and storms of bullets
finally brought the movement to an end.
Thanks.