From the Nepali Press
Translated excerpt from interview with Sociologist Chaitanya Mishra in Nagarik, 4 December
Nagarik: What is your take on federalism?
Chaitanya Mishra: Federalism is not just about federal units, but also the centre. We carved out provinces on the basis of identity and viability, but what about the centre? How powerful should Kathmandu be? What should be its foreign policy? What should be its relations with neighbouring countries? Geopolitics should have been a key aspect in defining the role of the centre in our federal set up. We should have also discussed what kind of federal units we need for defending our national integrity, or what kind of federal structure could be harmful to our sovereignty.
What do you say about the way federal units have been created in Nepal?
The way it is being done does not strengthen national integrity. We should have created north-south federal units. We are now just concerned about India. China's presence and pressure are not as strong only because Tibet is still underdeveloped. But we will face the same level of pressure from both sides in future. If a north-south federalism model is not accepted, let us use language as a basis to create federal units. This model has worked in India. Biharis can go to Mumbai and speak Maratha. But a Bahun can never be a Limbu. Creating provinces on the basis of ethnic identity will only harm the nation.
But isn’t the demand for ethnic enclaves on the wane?
Yes. This is because DfID has stopped funding pro-ethnicity activists. The earthquakes and border blockade were also a distraction.
How do you see India's role in the drafting and promulgation of Nepal's constitution?
We cannot get to the bottom of it without considering India's role. But we are too afraid to question Indian leaders. Not just our politicians, even journalists failed to ask Indian President and Prime Minister exactly how it is that Nepal's constitution is more regressive than India's. We have failed to understand India's long-term Nepal policy. But understanding Indian interest should not lead us to discriminate against Madhesis, and being suspicious about their loyalty to the Nepali state.
What is India's long-term Nepal policy?
India's economy is booming, it needs vast natural resources like water and construction materials. Exploitation of Nepal's Chure hills shows the huge demand in India for sand and aggregates. Security is India's other big concern. For these reasons, India needs a sympathetic leadership in Nepal. If we remain poor, we will have to rely on India for everything. Nepalis living along the border will go to India for jobs and medical services. India wants a dependent Nepal.
India is also trying to divide Nepal between Pahad and Madhes, so it will keep fueling tension between Nepalis and eventually trigger a conflict to fragment Nepal into two nations. To foil this plan, the hill people have to be accommodative towards the Madhesis. They have to make the Madhesis feel that they are equal, not discriminated against and not looked down upon.
Nepal’s mountain dwellers must show that they are not suspicious about Madhesis, but India. India will take advantage of the Madhes-Hill divide to interfere in Nepal. We suffered a crippling blockade, which was neither the first nor will it be the last. We can resist every Indian attempt to strangle us as long as we stand united. If we are divided, the hill and the Madhes both will be defeated. Only India will triumph.