Over the top

One of the Southasian headlines last week had to do with federalism. The announcement by the Indian government of its plan for the state of Telangana in the present-day Andhra Pradesh created waves of sorts. A large team of state ministers resigned, claims for other new states – mainly in Uttar Pradesh – surfaced, and the ongoing struggle for Gorkhaland found reasons to feel betrayed.

The proposed flags for the autonomous state Momoland

Federalism is the ‘in-thing’ in Nepal these days. The Maoists have started declaring ‘autonomous republics’ in various parts of the country and they’ve already called a three-day general strike next-week, in support of their call. Why and how have the Maoist Party’s (UCPN- Maoist) earlier demands for states (rajya, राज्य) based on ethnicity transformed into the recent calls for autonomous republics (autonomous ganarajya, स्वायत्त गणराज्य) based on ‘nationality’ remains a mystery. The logic behind the demarcation of such republics appears:

• at best, to appease the voters in the form of underrepresented ethnic-minorities and
• at worst, arbitrary

There are disputes within the Maoist party regarding the number, nature and borders of such republics. Various other forms of autonomous states are also proposed by other groups, both heard and unheard of. Some fringe parties and groups have been protesting against federalism itself (and for highly decentralized governance) while others are demanding that to-be or not-to-be federal be decided by a referendum. Whatever comes out of this hurlyburly in Nepali politics is out of the foresight of an ordinary citizen like me.

Maoist have called a general-strike in support of their 'autonomous-republics' declaration

Meanwhile, some people have demanded a “Kaanth” (काँठ) state (link in Nepali) in the areas surrounding the Kathmandu city. Disappointed of all the news surrounding the states and reservations for non Brahmin-Kshetri in all public-positions, the Brahmin-Kshetris (they are the largest ethnic group in Nepal) have started demanding (a) state(s) of their own. News of such demands from the far-eastern district of Jhapa (link in Nepali) and the central district of Chitwan (link in Nepali) were published last week.

In an unreported incident, two of my friends have, for the first time, announced plans for their own states. One comes from the Western region and the other hails from Kathmandu. Amidst a tea-shop ceremony yesterday, the Momoland (म:म: ल्याण्ड) and Tuppiwaan (टुप्पि वान) states were declared. Speaking on the occasion, they threatened to take up arms if their demands were neglected. They said that any attempts against their movements may result in separatist movements. In front of a very excited audience in the packed-room, the leaders released the initial designs of the flags for their states.

The proposed flags for the autonomous state Tuppiwaan

The leader of the Momoland Liberation Party informed me that the dumplings that give the name of the state will be the symbol of national-unity in Momoland, while the fatigue-dressed leader of Tuppiwaan National Congress said that his state will adopt monarchical system of governance. Both the leaders have agreed to join hands in their fight for self-determination and liberation. They have inked a secret deal with promises of mutual-cooperation between the two states and of joint-struggle if needed, against any outside aggression. As an insider, I know of at least one another point of mutual agreement: both the states will grant citizenship to any beautiful woman upon entry into the state, but such privilege will not be extended for a woman’s spouse, who could instead be exiled from the state at any time, without providing any reason. The leaders both the states will be engaging in further discussion next week and come up with further points of agreement.

• MoMo is a popular food in Kathmandu.
• Tuppi is a lock of hair left on top of the shaven head of a male Hindu priest.
• The term “ganarajya” गणराज्य, translated to English means ‘republic’, the Czech Republic is called Czech Ganarajya in Nepali- here’s a link to a Hindi-English dictionary translation.

“The role of democracy in preventing community based violence depends on the ability of inclusive and interactive political processes to subdue the poisonous fanaticism of divisive communal thinking.”–Amartya Sen, The Idea of Justice.

The Liberhan Ayodhya Commission of Inquiry set up after some 12 days of the demolition of Babri Masjid on the fateful day of 6th December took 17 years to submit its report. The 13 page Action Taken Report along with the Liberhan Report were tabled in the Parliament today amidst chaos and (ironically speaking) unparliamentary stunts. While justice in state sponsored evils have a tendency to get delayed and oft denied, what is somewhat surprising is that the Report, freezing for 17 years, is in reality a walking talking paper tiger. The slips between the cup and the lip–the conclusion and recommendation part for example, are simply astonishing! While it points fingers at 68 odd leaders of BJP, RSS and VHP for destruction of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid structure and ‘bringing the country on the brink of a communal discord’, no action plan has been suggested to bring them to trial. Mother of all surprises–The recommendations do not speak of bringing anyone to trial! What went probably missing from it was the thought that ran in the minds of the fathers of the Constitution when they separated religion from politics. The intention was to insulate issues of governance from that of theology.

The government’s ATR also does not recommend or foresee a punitive action on these 68 perpetrators. Evidently, the excuse is Liberhan Commission is a fact finding commission

The ATR however talks about a Communal Violence Bill in the offing. While a Communal Violence Bill was also tabled in the Parliament after the systematic mass killings in Gujarat and subsequently got lost in the politics of legislation, it is to be seen how much water the ATR promise holds.

The law minister expects a follow up response. So do we, most certainly!