Fascism in Nepalese Context - Part One

In our everyday life, fascism lurks everywhere and I saw there is a need of
precise definition of it in a very simplest way and easy enough to
understand by all. Originally, "Fascism" is derived from the Latin word
fasces, which means a bundle of rods with an axe blade stuck out of it.
About 2000 years ago, when Jesus was alive, it meant power in Rome or
all over the world in that period of time. With fasces, it was easy to scare
and Impress people. Similarly, in present days, whoever start cracking down
on people's freedoms to say and write stuff, to organize, to protest, are
known as fascist and these fascists suppress, exploit, discriminate, ignore
and do injustice to others which now-a-days people very clearly understand
as "fascism". It will not be an exaggeration of words if I write that in a
more or less developed form, fascist tendencies and the germs of a fascist
movement are to be found almost everywhere in the world. The core of fascist
movement is to suppress and suspend the rights of the oppressed. It is a
social and political agenda of petty industrialists, sections of middle
classes and rich peasantry in the service of elites or big bourgeois and
always aims to create the new ghettoized community by suppressing the social
and political aspirations of Janjatis, Dalits, Workers and Women.
I may sound as a rebel or an iconoclast but history itself is a witness or
evidence that elites or bourgeois and accomplices have exploited Janjatis,
Dalits, and Women since ancient age.  This genuine human endeavour to
understand oneself degenerated into the hands of some people in the
banalities of priesthood, and the philosophical aspect of religion gave way
to ceremonial regimentation forming structures of exploitation. This is how
religion was used to sustain a social psyche where the ruling class could
exploit the ruled as an accepted form of social and political life. As human
awareness increased, Janjatis, Dalits, Workers and Women began to challenge
this phenomenon.
No one can ignore the other facts also that "The Maoist Movement" was grown
up from the genuine grievances of an impoverished, low caste, peasant
majority suffering under the rule of a corrupt, high caste, urban elites.
These elites have discriminated Janjatis (ethnics), Dalits, and Poor Peasant
since ancient age. Nepal embraced democracy in 1990, but the lack of any
real social improvement, has sowed deep disillusion. The poverty,
inequality, discrimination and unemployment still remain intact. Experts
concede that "The Maoist Movement" was the reflection of poverty,
discrimination, injustice, exploitation and unemployment. Co-existing of
democracy, human rights and fundamental rights enshrined in the
constitution, and discrimination against Janjatis, Dalits, Poor, Workers,
Women and Peasants, sounds paradoxical in the present context. Now the right
time has come for the government to make the decision to abolish the
discrimination and injustice against Janjatis, Dalits, Women and Peasants,
the relics of a bygone age. The system of discrimination and injustice
towards them is a blot in the conscience of the nation.
Thirteen years have already elapsed since the ushering in of democracy in
the country. The Constitution of the country prohibits any form of
exploitation of the citizens in whatever form it may be yet the existence of
the discrimination and injustice speaks that the constitutional provisions
were not followed. In the context of modern Nepal, casteism remains a
shameful blot, which, needs to be eradicated once and for all.
It has been observed that people are expressing defiance against the ruling
elites for their monstrous exploitation of the common people e.g. Janjatis,
Dalits, Tribes, Indigenous People and Women. Some of them have already
started to challenge the feudal establishment.

Now a day, most individuals from these "Oppressed" communities are well
educated and articulate and many more are growing and joining day by day. 
Many of them are well acquainted with Lord Buddha's writings and express a
strong sense of injustice when discussing the caste hierarchy inherent in
Nepalese society.  This awareness feeds into social, economical and
political assertiveness.  This group of individuals have a strong sense of
efficacy in their own social, cultural, economical and political activities
and consider government action, action that will not be forthcoming without
pressure, to be the primary way of promoting social equality.  Thus it has
become paramount for them to contribute funds and time to the cause of their
community movements in the hope that the movement will be able to use
government power to advance the interests of these "Oppressed" communities.

Also, the spread of education and the rise of new economic opportunities
have encouraged new attitudes among many ordinary members of these
"Oppressed" communities.  "Dalits", "Janjatis", "Tribes" and "Indigenous"
terms carries the connotation "oppressed people" and it is a rejection of
the range of patronising and derogatory terms used to refer to those who
were categorised as Janjatis, Dalits, Tribes and Indigenous People by the
rules of the caste system.  Younger educated persons of these "Oppressed"
communities are becoming more aware of their rights and are inclined towards
militancy and political dissent.  This is accompanied by a desire for social
equality that requires severe modifications in the way caste rules operate. 
A growing interest in and veneration of Lord Buddha's life and work have
marked this wider process of socio-cultural change.  It aims to break this
system of upper caste oppression by using government power to uplift the
downtrodden.

It must be admitted that in many cases, the evil of casteism has come down
in Nepal. Despite our Constitution, which categorically promises equality to
its citizens, sometimes people question; Why does casteism in its most
blighted form of inequality, of the concept of purity and impurity, continue
to bedevil the minds of the so-called bourgeois?

If we want to put effort to actually wipe out this benighted practice of
casteism and want to make sure that it is no longer exists. Then Nation
needs to mandate reservations for the Janjatis, Dalits, Tribes and
Indigenous People in educational institutes and in government jobs, which is
a must to fight casteism. We can earnestly believe that in 15 years,
casteism would cease to exist. These "Oppressed" communities will benefit
from reservations. This will be a great step taken by the government for
social change and if nation want casteism to die a natural death.

History has shown that if society is left to itself, equality among the
people diminishes, as does liberty decline. That is why corrective action is
required time to time.

Since the constitution outlaws caste discrimination, the government should
reserve jobs or issue quotas for these people and initiate other caste
affirmative action programmes.

At least 50% seats or quotas must be reserved at all levels of the academic
programme, or in professional institutions for higher education, or in
educational institutions including technical, engineering, and medical
colleges or in sending abroad for higher study through various embassy of
different countries.

And give 50% seats or quotas for employment (key posts also) either in civil
services or in army departments or in police forces, or in government jobs,
or in all ministries, or in the secretariats of the prime minister, and in
the judiciary. This step of government will remedy past injustices done to
these "Oppressed" communities

Education on Human rights to remove deep-rooted prejudices and to end
discrimination and atrocities on these people as a preventive measure is
urgently required.

Government and political parties should launch a nationwide awareness and
education campaign for elites and their families to make them understand and
make them aware with the philosophy of "person becomes noble by his heart
and not by caste" (manis thulo dille hunchha, jat le hudaina) as great poet
late Luxmi Prasad Devkota had indited long time ago. The elites and their
families should put into practice and turn into reality the education they
have gained regarding equal rights, liberty, justice and the right to live
with dignity for all human beings are same.

Government should ensure that every family get land and all the children of
these "Oppressed" communities are educated, free of cost, up to the
university course. Primary education is the first step in breaking the cycle
of discrimination and caste-based employment.

In upholding constitutional guarantees of equality, freedom, justice and
human dignity, the government of Nepal should demonstrate its commitment to
the eradication of caste-based discrimination by implementing the following;

Government and political parties should launch a nationwide public awareness
campaign regarding the legal prohibition of "untouchability," "atrocities"
and other forms of discrimination and violence against these "Oppressed"
communities This campaign should explain in simple terms what actions are
legally prohibited, what recourse is available to Janjatis, Dalits, Tribes
and Indigenous People and their families.

The Constitution of Nepal embodies the principles of equality, freedom,
justice, and human dignity and requires government to provide special
protection to these "Oppressed" communities, to raise their standard of
living, and to ensure their equality with other citizens. To women, the
constitution guarantees equal rights, liberty, justice and the right to live
with dignity. Discrimination on the basis of religion and gender should be
prohibited.

Government should focus on increasing the self-sufficiency of these
"Oppressed" communities through financial assistance for self-employment
activities through development programs to increase education and skills

Government should eradicate pervasive discrimination practiced against
Dalits which include, inter alia, prohibiting entry into places of worship,
denying access to shops and other public places, denying access to any water
supply, prohibiting entry into hospitals, refusing to sell goods or render
services, and insulting someone on the basis of his or her caste. It should
be the duty of every citizen of Nepal to promote harmony and the spirit of
common brotherhood amongst all the people of Nepal transcending religious,
linguistic and regional or sectional diversities; to renounce practices
derogatory to the dignity of women.
Watching, experiencing and living under these fascism scenario have caused
all human virtues such as kindness, gratitude, compassion, pure love and
positive thoughts fleeting away from the heart of Nepalese people. People
have become so rigid that their heart does not melt at the plight of the
poor, the disabled and at the sight of peoples in a sorry state, anymore. 
Everyone is now running after their personal needs, dreaming about power,
prestige and luxury and they have lost kindness, sympathy and the courage to
help the needy.
I would like to acknowledge that I am thankful to various scholars for the
discussions, which helped me formulate my ideas and opinions. However
responsibility and weaknesses of these formulations are entirely mine.

Adieus,

Krishna B. Thapa
Hong Kong
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