News

Kirat Religion in Census Report 2001

The result of census 2001 has been published recently showing enormous changes. One striking change is being shown in the area of religion. The number of Hindu followers has decreased by about six percent and the followers of Buddhist, Kirat and Islam religion have increased. These changes are the result of the campaign organised by Aadivashis/Janajatis organisation during the census.

According to the census of 1991, the followers of Kirat religion were mentioned 1.72 percent of total population. But, in the census of 2001, it increased to 3.60 percent. As a result, Kirat religion stands in the fourth big religion in Nepal. It can be said that the iceberg of Kirat religion is showing its face a little clearly in the sea of census of 2001.

It is obvious that the result of four Kirat organizations i.e. Kirat Yakthung Chumlung, Kirat Yakkha Chumma, Kirat Rai Yayokkha and Sunuwar Sewa Samaj so other Kirati peoples have played significant role to create awareness towards Kirat religion.

Source: CBS 1991 and 2001

Interaction with Politicians

Limbu community discussed with the politicians on the issues of Constitutional amendment on the interaction program on "Sambidhan Sansodhan Ra Aadivashi/Janajati haruko Sawaalharu" (Indigenous Peoples' Issues and Constitutional Amendment), organized by Kirat Yakthung Chumlung on April 13, 2002. Members of Parliament from Limbu community, representatives from the various national political parties, politicians,journalists, representatives from indigenous peoples organizations and Limbus actively participated in the interaction programme.They raised questions in relation to the Constitutional amendment.

Advocate Durga Subba presented a working paper on "Constitutional Amendment and its Rationale", explaining why Constitutional amendment is necessary for Aadivashi/Janajatis. Similarly, Advocate Uttam Sing Thangden presented the agendas made from the various parties regarding the Constitutional amendment.

Representatives from political parties explained their points for constitutional amendment and General Secretary of Nepal Federation of Nationaliities (NEFEN) said, while making clear the stand of NEFEN regarding the Constitutional amendment that indigenous people are excluded from the mainstream politics because of the inclusive policy of the state. Therefore, to bring them into mainstream politics, they need exclusive policy and there is need of changing all the discriminatory provisions towards indigenous people and women in the Constitution of Nepal.

Many participants asked questions to the party leaders, why the strong political parties have not put forward the issues of Aadivashi/Janajati, the questions relating to the state's religion or why they have not put 'secular state' in the agenda, language (i.e. mother-tongue), discrimination under the language to provide citizenship, education in mother tongue, reservation for Aadivashi/Janajati, etc.

Responding to the queries, Rastrya Janamukti Party and Rastrya Janamorcha Party said that they were in full support to the issues raised by Aadivashi/Janajati. The opposition party, CPN-UML representative said that the agenda put forward by his party were only minimum points of agreement but they had 27 other reservations which dealt with issues of Aadivashi/Janajati. Delegate from Sadhvawana Party said there should not be discrimination on the basis of language and colour, and he emphasised on the need of federal system. The Ruling party's (Nepali Congress) representative said that indigenous peoples should unite.

National Council Member of KYC, Nar Kumari Limbu thanked everyone for participating in the interaction. KYC Central Committee President, Manjul Yakthungba, closed the interaction with the comprehensive statement for the initiation of the dialogue between politicians and Aadivashi/Janajati.

Limbu Language in Higher Education

KYC has organized an interaction program on "Uccha Siksamaa Limbu Bhasako Sambhawana Ra Chunaunti" (Possiblity and Challenges of Limbu Language in Higher Education) on January 27, 2002 with the objectives to discuss the possibilities and strategies to start Limbu language classes in higher education. Prof. Dr. Sundar Krishna Joshi and Dr. Chunda Bajracharya were invited as guest speakers, to share their experiences regarding the planning and implementation of Nepal Bhasa in higher education. From 2017 B.S. (1960 A.D.) Nepal-Bhasa or Newar language has been introduced as a major course in college level. Academician Bairagi Kainla highlighted on the materials and literature available in Limbu language. He opined that they could be helpful for the designing of syllabus.

Most of the participants showed their positive response towards KYC's planning on the introduction of Limbu language in higher education and urged KYC to take initiative as soon as possible.

Later the guest speakers emphasized on the need of starting Limbu language keeping in the evidence of having enough materials and literature on Limbu language on hand. Participants expressed that the Limbu language has a long written tradition and it should be introduced in highers education as soon as possible.

Chumlung Him Establishment Committee Formed

Kathmandu Valley Chumlung Him (community hall) Establishment Committee was formed under the coordination of Kirat Yakthung Chumlung's central Chairman Manjul Yakthumba in February 8, 2002. The committee consists of nine members. The committee was formed in mass meeting organising for the discussion on 'Need and feasibility of Chumlung Him'. The Committee has been formed to find appropriate land for the construction site, collect financial resources, and plan and publicise about the construction of Chumlung Him.

Numafung: A Unique Nepali film

Numafung is a Nepali feature film based on Limbu culture and traditon.It is directed by Nabin Subba under the banner of Menchhyayam Pictures. The film shows both good and bad aspects of Limbu tradition.

It was launched in Nepal by organising press show on 7th May 2002. It was able to attract the attention of film producers and veiwers. Nepali cinema veiwers got the opportunity to get a real taste of Nepali film through Numafung.

Director of Numafung, Nabin Subba claimed during the press show that the Numafung is free from the trend of commercial movies and it is in the new track of Nepali film culture. It is a starting point of making real Nepali film.

Senior journalist, editor and publisher of Himal Magazine, Kanak Mani Dixit comments, "Numafung is a model film of Nepali film industry". Similarly, environmental activist Renchhen Yonjon comments, "Numafung is Numafung because it is Numafung." The literal meaning of 'Numafung' in Limbu language is 'beautiful flower'.

Kipat Research

KYC has started a research on the abolition of Kipat system and its impact on the Limbu indigenous peoples. The research is being conducted under the leadership of Academician Bairagi Kainla. Dr. Krishna Bahadur Bhattachan, Dr. Chaitanya Subba, Dr. Ballav Mani Dahal, and Siddhi Tumbahangphe are in the research team.

Kipat system is a communal land ownership system of the Limbus and it was enjoyed till 1964. It has been made defunct in practice by the implementation of the modern land tenure system.

Sanohattiban: Recognized as sacred site of Kiratis

Sanohattiban or the sacred forest of the Kirat communities has been registered as the Kirat religious forest on 29th March 2002. The forest has became the property of HMG under the Forest Act 2049 and Forest Legislation 2051. HMG has handed over the forest to Kirat to use it as a religious site from the year 2002 to 2006. This jungle is situated in Dhapakhel - 1, Lalitpur and has the area of 2.34 Hectare.

Sanohattiban Kirat Manghim (Temple) Management Committee, Lalitpur District Forest Office, District Geo-Protection Office, and Lalitpur Integrated Water Resource Management Program have struggled jointly to register it as a religious site.

Kirat of the Kathmandu valley have been using this forest 'Sanohattiban' as sacred site from the time of immemorial. They have been performing various rituals such as workshipping, marriage ceremony, etc. Every year on the full moon day of Baisakh and Mangsir (first and eighth month of Nepali calender), they celebrate their festivals in this forest.

Public Holiday on Kirat Festival

The government announced one day public holiday for all the Kirat to celebrate their festival.

This festival falls on the full moon day of Mangsir (eighth month of the Nepali calender i.e. 'Bikram Sambat', falls in the end of November). All Kirat - Limbu, Rai, Yakkha and Sunuwar, celebrate this festival in different ways and have different names for it. Limbu call it "Chasok Tangnam", Rai call it "Sakela", Yakkha call it "Chasuwa" and Sunuwar called it "Pholsadar".

Four Kirat organizations, Kirat Rai Yayokkha, Kirat Yakkha Chhumma, Sunuar Sewa Samaj and Kirat Yakthung Chumlung (KYC) had approached Prime Minister Mr. Sher Bahadur Deuba asking for the holidays on the festivals of Kirats on the 21st of November 2001. Member of parliament, members of the four Kirat organizations, and politicians were present in the delegation.

Foundation for Nationalities

Parliament passed the much awaited bill on the establishment of Foundation for the upliftment of Indigenous peoples/Nationalities. It took six long years for drafting the proposed bill.

The bill has identified 59 indigenous peoples/nationalities (Aadivashi/Janajati) on the basis of their mother tongue, traditional custom, ritual, social structure, culture and oral or written history. The preamble of law states that the Foundation is established with the purpose to develop and uplift the social, economic and culture of indigenous peoples/nationalities and bring them in the mainstream of development with equal participation. The management council is composed of representatives from the indigenous peoples, government officials, and intellectual of Aadivashi/Janajatis under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister.

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Some Thoughts

Constitution Amendment: does it incorporate the spirit of Janajati ?

- Arjun Limbu

Mainstream political parties seem to be ready to amend the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990 to resolve the present crisis in Nepal. The article 116 (1) and (2) of the Constitution clearly stipulate that with two-third majority of the Parliament can amend or repeal any article of the constitution without prejudicing the spirit of the preamble of the Constitution. Despite the state of emergency in the country, civic society comprised mainly of the Indigenous Peoples/ Nationalities (Aadivasi/Janajati), Dalits and women are demanding that their issues be incorporated in the constitutional amendment in order to secure their rights. (more)

Political parties should stop being stingy

As pointed out by rights and janajati activists, political parties have remained stingy in transforming their commitment-to mainstream the oppressed and the disadvantaged groups - into action.
Going by experience, issues such as empowerment, reservation or mainstreaming the backward section of the society moreover, has remained a political slogan. For the double standards of political power centres, raise issues but don't put them into action has been the mantra. Political or state administered intervention so far has been superficial. (more)

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