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Prashant Jha, a leading analyist of the Madhes/Terai issue, joins us to talk about his recent trip to the Terai, and shares a fresh and troubling report from the region: a rising popular discontent, criminality, economic stagnation, ethnic tensions and the lack of a state presence. Also, a quick conversation on the ongoing controversy of the newly elected Vice President taking his oath of office in Hindi, and the treatment Kathmandu's mainstream media gives the Madhesi issue.

Inaruwa, Sunsari in the fall of 2007

Prashant is a Contributing Editor of the Himal Southasia magazine and a columnist on the Madesh issue for Nepali Times. He also worked on the International Crisis Group's first report on this subject after the Madheshi uprising in spring 2007.

Talking Points:

What we're seeing in the Madhes is semi-anarchy where the state is not present at all, economic stagnation, popular discontent and institutionalized criminality.

Last week Tharus had called a bandh to oppose the Vice President taking his oath in Hindi, the MJF was saying they'll teach the Tharus a lesson in the future, an armed group called the Terai Madhesi Mukti Morcha had kidnapped a Village Development Committee's Secretary and a school teacher had been killed by another unknown armed group. Government workers had shut down their offices and decided not to work unless they get more security. A Madhesi student was mysteriously killed and is shaping up as an ethnic issue. A Madhesi businessman was shot. And there were 13 small bomb blasts in Dhanusha from end of June to end of July. 

Private sector is reeling in crisis: in the Birgunj area almost 25 factories have shut down in the past year. And there are no fresh investments or infrastructure in the horizon. 

The VDC leaders move to district head quarters for safety reasons and where the state exists, it is criminal: the police take their share from the criminals instead of confronting them.   

Political groups, and even businesses and NGOs are paying off armed groups and using them for their vested interests. 

A conflict economy is developing in the Madhes where there are too many people happy with the lawlessness.  

Deep popular discontent on the rise: the businessman is unhappy because he can't transport his goods due to blocked highways, the Dalits laborer is unhappy because he gets 3kgs of rice during the agricultural season and otherwise remans unemployed, a muslim is unhappy because he feels that he has lost out in the inclusion race. Pahadis and Thaurs are unhappy because they thin the Madhesis are on a hegemony project, and Madhesi upper and mediate classes are unhappy because they feel the government has not fulfilled its promises. There are no institutions to deal with the discontent and street protests are the only means of venting. 

The essence of the Madhesi movement was for identity rights and representation, to be considered a Nepali and to have adequate representation in state and private structures.  I think we need federalism, but one Madhesh as a province is a completely unreasonable demand.   How can a couple of leaders from three distrcits decide for 20 districts in the plains? 

We desperately need a government and the first job would to build the state back. 

Inaruwa, Sunsari in the fall of 2007

Read Prashant Jha's Latest Article on Himal Southasia: 
Southasia's Open Moment

Read Prashant Jha's Latest Column on Nepali Times: 
Slow- Burn In Terai

Photo Credit: 
Kashish Das Shreshta

Music Credits:
Opening and Closing Theme: Young Folk by Peter Bjorn and John
Filler 1: Souvenours by Architecture of Helsinki
Filler 2: Mushaboom by Leslie Feist
Filler 3: New Slang by The Shins