Posted by: Krom June 17, 2009
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Radical as I may sound, I hold a realistic perspective towards contemporary Nepalese politics. An autonomous Newa state is out of the question. As I have researched and written excessively on this matter I will include some excerpts of my older posts and consequent discussions.
On Newa: demands of an autonomous NEPAL BHASA state
John M. Kelleher
On Newa: demands of an autonomous NEPAL BHASA state
Though
the autonomous Newari state would be a pay off to the Newars who have
been consciously subjugated by the Khas Kings, this autonomous region
would undoubtedly contain almost 60% of GDP and 90% of state
infrastructure. Moving the capital elsewhere will only achieve to
disillusion the public to lose faith with the government leading to
demands for autonomous Madhesi state, a kirati state (Rai, Limbu &
Tamang) in the hills belt and therefore fragment Nepal to a pre
unification state. Despite being a conservative Newar, I doubt an
autonomous state would be beneficial for all concerned with Nepal. The
state as a whole is too poor resource-wise to sustain autonomous
regions.
John M. Kelleher
I was genuinely shocked when I first read about the demands of certain
Newar activist groups for an "autonomous state." The Newar population,
far from occupying one contiguous band of territory, is concentrated in
scattered "pockets" within the urban areas of the Kathmandu Valley. The
claim of these Newari actitivists, if I understand them correctly, is that practically the entire Kathmandu Valley should be a Newar autonomous zone [!!!].
Clearly,
that's not realistic. Aside from that, claims of historic victimization
make a rather unhealthy basis for nationalism. Too often, it seems, the
ethnic constituencies of the New Nepal are using "federalism" as a
euphemism for resentment - everyone wants to define their interests in
direct opposition to everyone else's.
It is ludicrous for a
nation the size of the State of Iowa to fragment itself in such a way.
Nepal's diverse makeup must, of course, be respected and accomodated.
But this can be done without balkanization.