Madhesh

Coordinates: 26°57′05″N 85°02′52″E / 26.9515°N 85.0479°E / 26.9515; 85.0479

Madhesh (Nepali: मधेस) is a term given to areas of the Nepali outer Terai or to the outer Terai as a whole inhabited by peoples who are racially, culturally and linguistically related to people on the Indian side of the border. These peoples are referred to or refer to themselves as Madheshi (Madhesi, also Madesi, Mahadhesi, Deshwaali, Deswaali, Deswali). There are also references in which the flat southern region of Nepal which stretches from east to west as part of the Indo-Gangetic Plain is referred to as Madhesh.^[1]

Background

The word 'Madhesh' is derived from 'Madhya Desh' meaning 'country in the middle'or Magadh, it was powerful state after fall the Brijisangh. Some scholars show its origin in 'Matsya Desh' meaning 'country of fish'.

The social groups that constitute the present day Madhesh are Yadav/Ahir, Chaurasia/Barai, Kaanu, Koiri, Dhanuk, Teli, Amat, Rajbhar, Kurmi, Danuwar, Karna, Jha etc. For many years the jungles acted as a buffer between Nepal and India. The eradication of Malaria and large scale clear cutting of the forests made the fertile plains heavily attractive to migrants from the mountains and especially from the densely populated Indian side of the border. The mainly uncontrolled migration from India has always been of concern to the Nepali government and it was reluctant to grant civil rights even in the second or third generations. Today, about half the Nepali population lives in the Terai and a considerable proportion of the Terai population is of Madheshi decent. The Madheshi claim that although Nepal nominally became a democracy in 1990, historical patterns of government employment being won by the Khas people continued to the present day. This has recently lead to demonstrations, the outbreak of violence and the establishment of political parties demanding equal rights, fair representation, greater autonomy within Nepal and even independence.

Movements and parties

The Madheshi movement demands the end to the discrimination to the Madheshi people, greater autonomy within Nepal, and greater representation in the national parliament. The different parties involved in the movement range from the student wings of the ruling parties to the armed Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha. Another group is the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF).

The Madhesi social and political groups are fiercely Hindu Nationalist. Some militant groups include Nepal Defence Army and Dharamvir Sena. The other parties are Terai Madhesh Loktantrik Party (TMLP), Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-loktantrik (MJF-D), Sadhbhawna party (mahato), Nepal sadbhawana party (anandidevi), madhesi mukti morcha (MMM), madhesi janadhikar forum (madhesh).

Nepal sadhawawna party (bikas tiwari)

External links

• madhesh.org (Non-Residents Madheshis Association)
• Association of Nepali Teraian in America
• [1]
• BBC Nepali Service
• Nepalgunj Business and Information Portal
• Conference on Tarai
• Government of Nepal
• Kantipur Online
• Nepal Tourism Board
• Madhes and Madhesi
• Voice of Madhesh

References

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1. ^ The cyclopædia of India and of Eastern and Southern Asia: By Edward Balfour

9. FOR MORE INFORMATION - "TARAI/MADHESH OF NEPAL; An anthropological Study"-book in English; 2011 A.D.,by deepak chaudhary, publisher- Ratna Pustak Bhandar. == www.ratnabooks.com