MADHESH / TARAI: A PROFILE OF THE PLAIN LANDS OF SOUTHERN NEPAL

MADHESH / TARAI
PROFILE
MADHESH / TARAI : QUICK FACTS
Location: South Asia – Southern part of Nepal bordering India
Terrain: Plain low-lying land, includes some valleys
Climate: Hot and humid subtropical summer, mild winter
Area: About 23,068 sq. km
Population: About 12 million (2009)
Language: Madhyadeshiya (Awadhi, Bhojpuri, Hindi, Maithili etc.)
Famous Places: Lumbini (Birthplace of Buddha, UNESCO World
Heritage Site), Janakpur (Hindu Pilgrimage Site)
History: Madhesh/Tarai handed over to Nepal by British in 1816 and
1860

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Separate from Nepal even from sky: Satellite Image of Madhesh /
Tarai (The low-lying land appears in green and yellow in the map.)
Geography
Topography
Madhesh or Terai lies at the foothills of Himalayas. It is mostly the
plain land on the southern side of Siwalik range in Nepal. It is situ-
ated in the Outer Himalayan Zone, and has been created by oro-
genic activity as well as by alluvial action in the Siwaliks and the
Himalayan ranges (Spate and Learmonth, 1967). In addition to the
plain land, it includes some low lying inner valleys, north of Si-
waliks, and is referred as „Vitri Madhesh‟ (Inner Madhesh). Its total
area is 23,068 square kilometres
Climate
The climate of Tarai is subtropical, similar to northern plains of In-
dia. The hot and humid summer lasts from March to June, and the
monsoon from late June to late September. The winter from No-
vember to February is mild, though bouts of cold waves hit the re-
gion.
.
Demography
The estimated population of Madheshis is 12 million. Madheshi
community includes many indigenous people such as Tharus and
Rajbanshis.
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Where do Madheshis live?
Economy
Madhesh has an agrarian economy, and once it was among the
top-five exporters of rice in the world. However, due to the gov-
ernment's ban on import of fertilisers and seeds from nearby In-
dia, lack of irrigation systems, and apathy of the government to-
wards the issues of Madheshi farmers, its traditional agrarian
base is dwindling and the society is becoming more and more
dependent upon foreign remittances. Traditionally people used to
go to various Indian states for work, mostly as farm labourers,
but at recent times, some of them also go to the gulf and East
Asian countries. There are some industries in Biratnagar and Bir-
gunj area, but they are under the control of the northern ruling
class people.
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Language and Culture
LANGUAGE
Madheshis speak Madhyadesiya language, with a continuum of dia-
lects as one moves from the east to the west (Awadhi, Bhojpuri, Baj-
jika, Maithili, Tharu).
FESTIVALS
Madheshis celebrate a large number of festivals
around the year, including Holi, Jitiya, Sama
Chakewa, Dashami, Bhardutiya, Judshital, Tila Sank-
rait/Maghi, Chhath, Eid and Muharram.
ART
Mithila art is traditional distinct form of painting. The
unique style of paintings made on house mud-walls is
also very remarkable feature of Madheshi culture.
CUISINE
The staple diet of the region is rice, dal (lentils soup)
and curry. On festive occasions, people prepare a
number of fried items of vegetables as well as many
specialities. Fish is also popular in Terai.
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Visit Madhesh
Getting There
The districts of Tarai are all connected by a single east-west high-
way, with its major towns linked by 20-50km access roads. Buses
travel between these towns regularly. Long route buses depart from
Kathmandu to these towns too.
There are airports in Bhadrapur, Biratnagar, Janakpur, Birgunj,
Bharatpur, Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj, and Dhangadhi, and flights de-
part regularly from Kathmandu. The airports in Indian side near to
border can be also used. The nearest ones are at Bagdogra
(Siliguri), Patna, Varanasi, and Gorakhpur. There are over-land en-
try points for foreigners at Kakarbhitta (from Darjeeling, Sikkim and
Kolkata), Birganj/Raxaul (from Patna and Kolkata), Nepalganj (from
Lucknow), Bhairahawa (from Varanasi, Agra and Delhi), and Mahen-
dranagar (from Delhi and Uttaranchal).
Places
Lumbini
Lumbini is the birthplace of Buddha. He was born in a garden in
Lumbini in 563 BC. Maya Devi Temple, the exact spot where Queen
Maya Devi of Kapilavastu gave birth to Siddhartha Gautam (Buddha)
is a major attraction. The Ashokan pillar and the ruined foundations
of ancient stupas and monasteries are also remarkable. Tilaurakot,
about 25 km east of Lumbini, has the ruins of the palace, where
Siddhartha Gautam spent the first 29 years of his life. It is a
UNESCO world heritage site.
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Janakpur
Janakpur is a Hindu pilgrimage site. It was the capital of King
Janak and is the birthplace of Sita. The ideal time to visit the city
is on the occasion of Hindu festival of Vivah Panchami around
November-December.
Chitwan National Park
Chitwan national park, with its 932 sq km of reserve area, is
home to one-horned Indian rhino, tigers, leopards and rare
Gangetic dolphins. One can enjoy elephant safari in the park.
Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve
The reserve, composed of grassland and several small islands
around Koshi river, is home to thousands of species of birds.
One can also enjoy watching fresh water Dolphins, wild buffalos
called Arna, deer, wild boars, pythons and crocodiles.
Royal Bardia National Park
This 968 sq km of reserve accommodates Bengal tiger, one-
horned rhinos, grey langurs, rhesus macaques, leopards, civets,
hyenas, and sloth bears. It is also home to more than 250 spe-
cies of birds.
Other Towns
Biratnagar, Rajbiraj, Birgunj, Bharatpur, Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj,
Dhangadhi
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History
NOMENCLATURE
´Madhesh´ is a morphological derivative of Madhyadesh (Sanskrit) or
Majjhimadesh (Pali) and means the Middle Country signifying its lo-
cation in the middle of the Indian Subcontinent.
Terai (also written as Tarai) is presumed to be derived from Persian,
meaning “damp”, and denotes the land at the foothills of mountains,
often damp and swampy.
Madhesh and Terai, both have been in use indiscriminately and syn-
onymously in general context, in present day Nepal, however, the
former includes the connotation of identity and culture of people liv-
ing in the region, whereas the latter refers to geographical feature or
terrain characteristics of the region. The use of Terai was popular-
ised during Nepali colonisation.
Madheshis are residents of Madhesh sharing the correlated histori-
cal, regional, cultural and lingual space.
VEDIC PERIOD
The nation of Madhesh (Madhyadesh) exists since the beginning of
human civilisation on the Indian Subcontinent. Vedas, Puranas, and
other ancient texts have abundant descriptions of Madhyadesh.
The boundary of Madhyadesh is defined in ancient texts of Vedic
era. For example, Manusmirti (circa 1500 BC, 2/21) defines
Madhyadesh as the land between Himvat (Himalaya) and Vindhya
Mountain and to the east of the river Vinasana (invisible Saraswati)
and to the west of Prayag.
According to the Vedic Civilisation, the first significant king of
Madhyadesh is said to be Ikshyaku or Okkāka, the son of Vaivasvata
Manu and grandson of Vivaswan. Thirtyfour dynasties after him
comes the much celebrated generation of Ram, and Sita, the daugh-
ter of King Janak whose capital is said to be at the current town of
Janakpur in Madhesh. The descriptions of various ruling dynasties
can be found in the ancient texts such as Purana, Mahabharat and
various Smiritis.
500 BC – 1400 AD
Around 500 BC, at the time of Buddha, the Buddhist texts calls this
´Middle Country´ Majjhimadesh in Pali language and defines the re-
gion in canonical texts Vinaya Pitaka as extended “in the east to the
town of Kajangala, beyond which was Mahāsāla; on the south-east
to the river Salalavatī; on the south west to the town of Satakannika;
on the west to the Brahmin village of Thūna; on the north to the
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Usiraddhaja Mountain.” At the time of Buddha, the eastern limit
of the Middle Country had extended nearly 400 miles eastward of
Prayaga which was its eastern most point in the Manu‟s time
(Bhandarkar, 1918). According to Pali canon, the Majjhimadesh
was “three hundred yojanas in length, two hundred and fifty in
breadth, and nine hundred in circumference” and it contained
fourteen out of the sixteen Mahājanapadas (Kāsī, Kosala, Anga,
Magadha, Vajji, Mallā, Cetiya, Vamsā, Kuru, Pañcāla, Macchā,
Sūrasena, Assaka, Avantī). Madhesh was ruled by several great
dynasties in ancient and medieval times, from Emperor Ashoka
to King Salhesh (c.500-600AD) and King Harisinghadev (c.
1300AD).
MUSLIM RULERS, BRITISH EMPIRE AND SEN KINGS (1300
AD – 1800 AD)
Upon the arrival of Islamic rulers from the Mid East on the Indian
Subcontinent, they also called the plains of “undulating former
marshland” of the Middle Country as ´Terai´, a word derived from
Persian (तराई / ‫ترائی‬´wetland´ from ‫تر‬´wet´ ), meaning “moist
land” (Encyclopedia Britannica). The British missionaries and the
East India Company who came after Mughals also refer this re-
gion of Madhyadesh with this name or its variants. However they
also continued to use Madhyades as well, for example, see Mar-
tin (1838), Elliot (1849), Muir (1873).
In 1325 AD, during the reign of Harisinghadev, Sultan Gaya-
sudhin Tuglak attacked on the capital then at Simaraunagadh
and destroyed it. Madhesh became part of Mughal Empire, and
after that, it came under the East India Company. At the later
stage of British Raj, the northern part of Madhyadesh was ruled
by Sen dynasty as suzerainty states and paid taxes to Nawabs
and the East India Company.
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"...the Rajah of Nipal agrees
to refrain from prosecuting
any inhabitants of the Terai,
after its revertance to his
rule, on account of having
favoured the cause of the
British Government during
the war..."
- British-Nepal Treaty 1816

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UNDER NEPALESE/GURKHA EMPIRE (1800 AD –)
With the state expansion initiated by Gurkha ruler Prithvi Nara-
yan Shah in the late 18th century, Gurkhas took control of many
parts of Madhesh by paying tax to Nawabs and the East India
Company. However, the part of Madhesh present today in Nepal
is a result of the memorandum of 1816 and the treaty of 1860
with the East India Company.
Through the memorandum of 8 December 1816, the Company
government handed the region between west of Koshi and east
to Rapti river to Nepal instead of paying two hundred thousands
rupees per year as agreed previously on Gurkhas´ request for
supporting living cost of their employees. The region west of
Rapti and east of Mahakali came through the treaty of 1860 as a
reward to Gurkhas for their support to the East India Company
for suppressing Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 to 1859 in India and is
also called Naya Muluk (“New Country”).
Madhesh Movement
Madheshis fought against Gurkhali occupation since the first arri-
val of Gurkhas in Madhesh. In the Anglo-Gurkha war of 1814-16,
the Madheshis had fought on the side of British leading to an
eventual victory over the Gurkhas. But the British handed over
the Madheshis and their land to the same enemy, the Gurkhas.
However, in the memorandum of 8th December 1816, through
which the British handed over the Madheshis and their land to
the Gurkhas, they put a condition to ensure the safety of the
Madheshis, stating, “the Rajah of Nipal agrees to refrain from
prosecuting any inhabitants of the Terai, after its revertance to
his rule, on account of having favoured the cause of the British
Government during the war”.
1950s-1960s
Tarai Congress
Vedanand Jha had established Terai Congress in 1951. “The
party‟s objectives were (a) establishment of an autonomous terai
state, (b) recognition of Hindi as a separate language; and (c)
adequate employment of tarai people in the Nepal civil ser-
vice.” (Gaige, 1975)
“Madhesh Liberation Movement” & “Madhesh Liberation
Front”
Raghunath Thakur established Madhesh Liberation Movement in
1956 to end Nepali occupation of Madhesh. He under section 73
of UN charter . He later formed “Madhesi Janakrantikari Dal” to
continue Madhesh Revolution. In 1960′s, “Terai Liberation Front”
was established with a guerrilla war strategy. However, Nepal
police and army killed its major leaders one by one including
Ramji Mishra, Raghunath Raya Yadav, and Satyadev Mani Tri-
pathi.
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"...The British Government
hereby bestows on the Ma-
harajah of Nipal in full sov-
ereignty, the whole of the
lowlands between the Riv-
ers Kali and Raptee, and
the whole of the lowlands
lying between the River
Raptee and the District of
Gorukpore..."
- British-Nepal Treaty 1860

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Assassination attempt of King in 1962
Durga Nanda Jha attempted to assassinate King Mahendra of
Nepal in January 1962 in Janakpur to oppose imposition of the
autocratic Panchayat Regime in 1961. He blasted a bomb target-
ing the car in which the king was travelling. He was later shot to
death on 1963 AD (2020 BS). He was inspired from martyr Bha-
gat Singh of India.
1980s-1990s
Ram Raja Prasad Singh’s 1985 bombings
Ram Raja Prasad Singh demanded in 1971 that the country be
declared republic. He was put behind bars for several years for
that demand. He blasted bombs in Kathmandu near the royal
palace, at the deluxe Hotel de l'Annapurna owned by the royal
family, and at the Singh Durbar. The bomb also exploded in
Bhairahawa, Birgunj, Janakpur, Biratnagar and Jhapa. He was
sentenced to death, but he managed to escape and live on an
exile in India.
Sadbhavana Council and Party
Gajendra Narayan Singh established Sadbhavana Council in
1985 to fight for the issues of citizenship, language, dress and
interests of Madheshis. Sadbhavana Council turned into Nepal
Sadbhavana Pary in 1990.
2007-2008
In December 2006, in Nepalgunj, Pahadis attacked violently on
Madheshis peacefully protesting against the interim constitution
failing to address their issues. The ruling class people supported
by local police and administration went on rampage for days and
beat Madheshis and burnt their houses and shops. Similar inci-
dence took place in Lahan, flaring the movement all over Mad-
hesh. The movement continued for three weeks. Then, on and
off, it continued to the next year. During the movement, the gov-
ernment deployed a large number of armed police forces , and
imposed curfews for several weeks. United Nations reported “an
excessive use of the force” and “the forces taking quick action
against individuals violating curfews in an excessive and unnec-
essary way” during the movement. More than fifty-three Mad-
heshis were killed and thousands of them were injured in the
movement.
Gajendra Narayan Singh attacked by
police. The ruling class mob pelted
stones and beat Madheshis in their first
ever mass gathering in Kathmandu,
Khula Manch.
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Timeline
- (Vedic/Mythical
Period)
Ikshyaku or Okkāka becomes the first signifi-
cant king of Madhyadesh (Madhesh)
- (Vedic/Mythical
Period)
King Janak rules, capital at Janakpur
Sita, the heroine of Ramayan, born (after 34
generation of Ikshyaku)
c. 1500 BC Manusmiriti (2/21) defines the boundary of
Madhyadesh (Madhesh)
563BC Siddhartha Gautam (Buddha) born in Kapil-
vatthu, Majjhimadesh (Madhesh)
268-31 B.C Emperor Ashoka rules
249 BC Emperor Ashoka visits Lumbini, tax reduced
and entitled to the eight part only.
ca. 353-73 AD Emperor Samudragupta
c.500-600 AD King Salhesh rules, capital at Mahisautha,
Siraha
c. 1300 AD Harisinghadev rules, capital at Simrauna-
gadh (currently Simra)
1325 AD Sultan Gayasudhin Tuglak attacks Simrauna-
gadh
1513 - 1774 AD Sen Kingdoms in Palpa, Makawanpur, Chau-
dandi, Bijaypur, Morang
1526 AD Mughal Empire established
c. 1764 AD British East India Company gains control
over many parts of Madhesh
1768 AD Gurkha ruler Prithvi Narayan Shah attacks
Kathmandu
Dismisses 12000 Tirhutia (Madheshi) armies
of Jay Prakash Malla
1774 AD Prithvi Narayan Shah attacks Makwanpur
1814-16 AD Anglo-Gurkha War
Madheshis fight on the British side
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1816 AD British-Nepal Treaty on 8th December; British
hands over Terai region between west of Ko-
shi and east to Rapti river to Nepal
1846 Kot Massacre takes place; Jang Bahadur be-
comes prime minister
1860 AD British-Nepal Treaty; British gifts Terai region
between Rapti and Mahakali rivers to Nepal
for their support to the East India Company
for suppressing Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 to
1859 in India
1911 AD King George V of Britain visits Terai and
hunts 21 tigers, 8 rhinos, and a bear.
1923 Dec 21 Nepal changed from British protectorate to
independent nation. (MC, 12/21/01)
1934 AD Jan 15, An 8.4 Richter scale earthquake kills
thousands of people in Nepal/India
1950-51 AD Ranas fall; King Tribhuvan regains control;
interim constitution promulgated
1951 AD Terai Congress formed led by Vedanand Jha
1952 King Mahendra ascends throne
1952 Nepal Citizenship Act promulgated
1955 Nepal admitted to the United Nations
1956 Nepalese government starts malaria eradica-
tion
1956 Raghunath Thakur established the Madhesh
Liberation Movement
1957 Imposition of Nepali as sole language for
education sparks protests
1958 End of visa provision for Madheshis to enter
Kathmandu
1960s Terai Liberation Front established
1962 King Mahendra issues constitution unfavour-
able to Madheshis
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1963 Nepalese Police kills Ramji Mishra, the
leader of Terai Liberation Front
1964 New Citizenship Act makes it harder for Mad-
hesis to acquire citizenship.
1964 "Land Reformation Act" promulgated; mas-
sive land seized from Madheshis
1967 Royal Nepalese Army kills Raghunath Raya
Yadav, the leader of Terai Liberation Front
1969 Chairman of Terai Liberation Front Satyadev
Mani Tripathi killed
1972 King Birendra ascends throne
1981 Raghunath Thakur dies (June 21)
1983 Nepal Sadbhavana Council formed under
Gajendra Narayan Singh to raise Madheshi
issues.
1989 Nepal‟s failure to renegotiate trade and tran-
sit treaties with India, India imposes sanction
across “open border”
1990 New constitution promulgated following the
agitations
1994 Dhanapati Upadhyay Commision finds 4 mil-
lion people without citizenships
1996 Maoists launch insurgency.
1997 Supreme Court voids 30 thousands citizen-
ship certificates of Madheshis
March 18 1998 Supreme Court bans the use of Maithili
(local) language in Rajbiraj and Janakpur
Municipalities
2000 Maoists set up Madhesi Rashtriya Mukti
Morcha (MRMM) under Jai Krishna Goit in
Siliguri.
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2000 Dec 26, racial riot against Madheshis began
all over the country, following a rumour that
Hrithnik Roshan, an Indian film star, allegedly
spoke of his dislike for Nepal. At least 4 peo-
ple killed.
2002 Supreme Court mandates people to get work
permit in the lack of citizenship certificates.
Many Madheshis out of work.
2004 Jay Krishna Goit forms the Janatantrik Tarai
Mukti Morcha (JTMM).
2006 April Following nineteen-day mass movement,
king announces reinstatement of parliament.
2006 December Nepalgunj Riot; 26-Dec, Pahadi attacks on a
Madheshi gathering and the racial riot be-
gins; Madheshis houses and shops burned,
and Madheshis attacked; police and admini-
stration found supporting the attack. 30 De-
cember, Ian Martin, special representative of
the UN Secretary-General, voices his con-
cern about violent activities
2007 Jan-Feb Madhesh Movement; 19-Jan: Maoists clash
with Madheshi activists in Lahan, killing stu-
dent Ramesh Kumar Mahato. 20-Jan: Curfew
imposed. 21 January-7 February: Movement
picks up against the government, with huge
public support and mass defiance of curfews,
clashes between police and protestors; Al-
most 40 killed.
2008 January Madhesh Movement; Massive protests
against the government. A series of bomb
blasts kill and injure dozens.
2008 May Nepal becomes a republic.
2011 January UN peace monitoring mission ends.
2011 March 31 Historic meeting of Madheshis took place in
Kathmandu after 22 years. Dr. C. K. Raut
appeals for a stronger coalition to take the
Madhesh Movement to the global level
2011 May 21 Alliance for Independent Madhesh (AIM) an-
nounces manifesto and plans
2012 May Prime Minister Bhattari dissolves the parlia-
ment
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Issues
COLONISATION
Madhesh or Tarai was annexed to Nepal only in 1816 and 1860. British
handed over the eastern part of Madhesh to Nepal in 1816, instead of pay-
ing two hundred thousands rupees per year. British gave the western part
as a gift to Nepal for its support to the East India Company for suppressing
Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 to 1859 in India. Thus Madhesh became the colony
of Nepal. Some of the remarkable features of Nepali Colonisation are: aboli-
tion of Madheshi Army and ban on the entry of Madheshis into Nepal Army;
establishment of Nepali Army barracks and check posts throughout Mad-
hesh; heavy and unfair taxation; seizing of land of indigenous people and
distributing to the ruling class landlords, retired army and police staffs;
planned migration of ruling class people from the north; requirement for a
visa to enter Kathmandu (until 1958); imposition of Nepali language and
dress on Madheshis.
RACISM AND DISCRIMINATION
The racism and the hatred of Gurkhas/Nepalis against Madheshis, the
"emphatic contempt of Madhesias" and their non-tolerance to "black-folks,"
existed since they first came into Madhesh. Brian Hodgson, the British
Resident for Nepal in 1816, wrote of Gurkhas: "I conceive that their gallant
spirit, emphatic contempt of Madhesias [people of the plains], and unadul-
terated military habits, might be relied on for fidelity." Similarly, Philip Mason
(1974) quotes, "...around the time of the Mutiny Gurkhas asked to be al-
lowed to pitch their tents with British solider, not with 'the black folks'. That
racism ballooned as the Nepali state became stronger. In recent times, not
only Madheshis are treated based on the colour of their skin and discrimi-
nated for rights including job, payment, and facilities, but they frequently
become victims of racial attacks and riots.
SLAVERY
Once the government eradicated malaria in the region and made the land
less dreading to the ruling class in 1950s, the government officials and rul-
ing class people seized land from tens of thousands of indigenous Mad-
heshis and made them “bonded labourers”, on their own ancestral land.
Those indigenous Madheshis worked essentially as slaves, under their
masters, and the slavery passed from generation to generation. They are
called Kamaiyas and Kamlaris. They do not only
have to do menial work since the early age of four
or five, but they are also the victims of sexual ex-
ploitation from their masters.
DISPLACEMENT
The government‟s so-called “land-reformation”
and “resettlement” programmes seized land of
indigenous communities and settled the ruling
northern people in the south, sometimes with the
aid of foreign governments. The US, Australian
and Israeli governments funded several of these
projects. This caused displacement of indigenous
communities like Tharus, Rajbanshis and Satars
in many districts, prominently in Jhapa, Chitwan,
Navalparasi and western districts.
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ETHNIC CLEANSING & RIOTS
There have been many organised efforts for “Nepalization of
Terai” (Gaige, 1975), demographically, culturally, and linguistically. The
worst form has been direct physical attacks on Madheshis, burning their
villages, shops, and industries and so on. There are several violent
groups for ethnic cleansing of Madheshis such as Khukuri Group and
CBES. They frequently attack and force Madheshis to leave their land
and go into exile. Sometimes, the government, administration and po-
lice have been found to be directly involved in supporting these racial
riots. Some of these racial riots include Hrithik Roshan Scandal (2000),
Nepalgunj Attack (2006), and Kapilvastu Incidence (2007).
DENIAL OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS
Many Madheshis have been traditionally denied several fundamental
rights such as citizenship, ownership of land, access to government
jobs, access to local natural resources, freedom to open business or
migrate to other places. Madheshis lack freedom of expression to much
extent, as they are subjected to banishment, harassment, torture and
even firing from the jobs by administration.
ECONOMIC EXPLOITATION
The land, water, and forest of Tarai are being exploited by the govern-
ment. The taxing, custom duties and trade regulations are unfairly tar-
geted at Madheshis. The control over local forests of the region has
been given to the people from the north. The unfair pricing, ban on ex-
ports, and curbing of markets for the produces of the region are all ex-
ploiting in nature.
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CULTURAL IMPERIALISM
Madheshis are the victim of „one language, one dress‟ policy and cultural
purification initiated by the ruling class. The government prohibited use of
other languages in education, administration and broadcasting. It halted
FMs broadcasting in other languages. The Supreme Court banned the use
of local languages in Tarai. The state took the policy of: "No other lan-
guages should be taught even optionally...Other language will gradually
disappear". It enforced the dress of northern people upon the Madheshis.
UNFAIR LAWS
„Muluki Ain‟ (The Law of the Land) ensured a superior status of the northern
people and made Madheshis second-class citizens or subjects of the ruling
class. There were separate laws and provisions for Madheshis. They were
fined or punished heavily for the same crime compared to the ruling class
people. They were taxed in a larger portion, and yet giving no or less rights.
Even today, laws regarding citizenship, land, language and culture, move-
ment, assembly etc. are unfairly targeted at Madheshis.
BORDER AREAS TORTURE
Madheshis have cultural and family ties across the current border of Nepal-
India since millennia. Recognising this, even the 1950 India-Nepal treaty
allowed open border without which Madhesh would not have been annexed
to Nepal. But Madheshis are often tortured by armed police forces and gov-
ernment officials in border areas. They are harassed, their properties are
often confiscated, and they are beaten on several occasions.
EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS
In 2010, United Nations published a report on extra-judicial killings of at
least 57 persons in the region. Similarly, THRD published a report of 1131
cases of jailing in 8 districts of Terai during a four year period, many among
them claimed to be fake and misuse of the Arms and Ammunition Act to
eliminate Madheshi activists and human-rights defender in Terai. The gov-
ernment forced the closure of UNMIN and UN OHCHR offices in the region,
and with the absence of human-rights monitors, the case of extrajudicial
killings and encounters have surged largely.
LACK OF DEVELOPMENT
The region has one of the lowest human-development index in the country.
Literacy rate is much lower than the northern part, and with not much ac-
cess to the government jobs, the unemployment is towering. Rather than
opening up industry, hospitals, education centres and schools, the govern-
ment has closed even the existing ones and is in the process of migrating
the remaining to the north. People suffer from poverty and malnourishment.
A majority of women in the region suffer from anaemia. Child mortality rate
is several times higher than in the north.
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About Alliance for Independent Madhesh (AIM)
AIM is an alliance of Madheshi people, activists, parties and various organi-
sations working for establishing an independent and sovereign Madhesh /
Tarai. In the same way as Gandhi and Mandela fought for the independ-
ence of their countries and finally liberated them, it aims to achieve inde-
pendence through peaceful and non-violent means. It demands an end to
the Nepali colonisation, racism, slavery and discrimination imposed on
Madheshis. It aims to institutionalise a democratic and just system in Mad-
hesh / Tarai.
Goal
To establish “The Republic of Madhesh/Tarai”.
Ideology
Alliance for Independent Madhesh has three main pillars:
 Independence of Madhesh/Tarai,
 Democratic System,
 Peaceful and Non-violent Means.
Demands
 Declare Madhesh as a sovereign and independent nation and form
the interim Madhesh Government which will take care of the tasks
of state transition, administration, holding election and drafting con-
stitution.
 Withdraw Nepali colonial administrative structures and administra-
tors from Madhesh.
The Flag of The Republic of
Madhesh / Tarai
Meaning: Protected by our
sacrifice (red) from all sides,
in our evergreen and fertile
Madhesh (green) flourish
peace (white disk) and pros-
perity (lotus).
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21
 Withdraw occupying Nepali colonial army from Madhesh and
immediately form Madhesh Army.
 Withdraw Armed Police Force and Nepal Police from Madhesh,
and immediately form Madhesh Police.
 Remove all tax collection from Madhesh by Nepal Government.
 Return the land seized from Madheshis.
 Remove the control of Nepal Government on land, water, forest
and other resources in Madhesh.
 Take initiatives to open diplomatic and consular offices of the
United Nations and other sovereign nations of the world in
Madhesh.
Plans
 Develop human resources and infrastructures required for an
independent Madhesh. (Establish sustainable administrative
and physical infrastructures in every districts, villages and
wards; Prepare national infrastructures such as national plan-
ning commission, think tank, media house, national newspa-
pers, radio and TV channels for Madhesh; Train administrators,
army and police.)
 Make Madhesh caucus in the parliaments of India, USA, UK,
EU and other countries and gather international support for an
independent Madhesh.
 Form the Government of Madhesh, and institutionalise Mad-
hesh as a sovereign nation and establish democratic process
and structure in the country.
 Issue citizenship certificates and passports of Madhesh
 Establish diplomatic relations with other sovereign nations of
the world, open diplomatic offices in their countries and request
them to open their offices in Madhesh; establish multilateral
relations with world bodies like World Bank, Asian Development
Bank etc.
 Apply for a membership in the United Nations and establish
Madhesh on the world stage.
 Obtain the rights for the Madheshis in India according to the
Nepal-India friendship treaty of 1950 and further advocate for
the privileged rights of Madheshis in India.
 Voice against the racism and discrimination Nepal imposed on
Madheshis in the International Court of Justice and demand for
the compensation; Arrange for lifelong security and support to
martyrs' families, injured ones and others tortured by the Nepali
state.
 Expand the network of Madheshi organisations in the world,
and raise awareness about Madhesh and Madheshis in the
world.
Anthem
कोशी कमऱा गण्डक काऱी
जनक सीता बुद्ध धारी
अनन्त उर्वर मधेश जय
सहस्र तऱार् सरस मृणाऱी
सुऱभ समृद्ध सतत हररयाऱी
मनोरम महान मधेश जय
ऩररत्राता ऩररऩाऱक ऩरमभर्शाऱी
अजजत अधधऩ आभा भारी
मेधार्ी महारथी मधेश जय
जय जय जय मधेश जय
जय जय जय मधेश जय
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Leadership
Dr. C. K. Raut leads the Alliance. Born and brought up in Madhesh, he holds a
PhD from Cambridge University, UK. He worked as a scientist in the USA, prior to
returning to Madhesh in 2011 to serve the cause of Madhesh and Madheshis. He
has been also the founding president of the Non-Resident Madheshis Associa-
tion, which works to promote the cause of Madheshis internationally. He is also
the founder of the Injot Movement, an initiative for social transformation targeted
at Nepal, Bangladesh and Ethiopia. He is a recipient of Youth Engineer Award,
Mahendra Vidhya Bhooshan, Kulratna Goldmedal, Trofimenkoff Academic
Achievement Award among others. His autobiography „Vairagdekhi Va-
chavsamma‟ is also published (Nepali translation of 'Denial to Defence').
23

24
Dr. C. K. Raut chairing the conference on "The Role of NGOs/INGOs in Developing Madhesh"; With the Honour-
able Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Dan Bahadur Chaudhary; Mr. Rajib Upadhya, Sr. External
Affairs Specialist from World Bank; H. E. Robert Piper, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nepal; H.
E. John Tucknott, the UK Ambassador to Nepal; H. E. Dr. Alexander Spachis, the Ambassdor to the EU Delega-
tion to Nepal; Shri Jaideep Mazumdar, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India; (2011 November 14) [above]
Dr. C. K. Raut representing Madheshis at the United Nations Meeting on LDC, at New York Headquarter on April
1, 2011. [below]
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References
Alliance for Independent Madhesh
http://madhesh.com
Non-Resident Madheshis Association
http://madhesh.org
Nepal's Troubled Tarai Region
Asia Report N°136, International Crisis Group, 9
July 2007.
Investigating Allegations of Extra-Judicial Killings
in the Terai,
United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights in Nepal (OHCHR-Nepal),
23 September 2010.
Regionalism and National Unity in Nepal,
F. H. Gaige,
University of California Press, 1975.
A History of Nepal,
J. Whelpton,
Cambridge University Press, 2006.
Nepal
Lonely Planet Publications, 2006.
History of Terai in Nepal,
J. K. Goit, 2007.
Whole Terai belongs to Madhesh: Historial
Facts,
Vivaswan Kumar, 2009.
Social Inclusion of Madheshi Community in Na-
tion Building
Shree Govinda Shah, 2006.
Restructuring of Nepali State: A Madheshi Per-
spective
A. Singh, 2003.
25

MADHESH / TARAI: A PROFILE OF THE PLAIN LANDS OF SOUTHERN NEPAL

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