Nature reflects our nature
region of Nepal which is bordered with India . Maybe we have used it too . Do we use it as a go to word while addressing people from Madhesh or is it used deliberately to bully them ? It ’ s an important question that we should ask ourselves to know the dimensions of racism .
Similarities of racism as that in Nepal can be seen in American society among white and black communities in the form of White Privilege . Francis E . Kendall , the author of Understanding White Privilege says , “ White Privilege is white people having greater access to power and resources than people of color [ in the same situation ]. White people become more likely to move through the world with an expectation that their needs will be readily met . People of color move through the world knowing their needs are on the margins . The situation of madhesis is alike that of black communities in those societies dominated by pahadis in terms of number as well as the benefits they get . To reduce such a gap and to come in the state of equality , there is the quota system for madhesis . It has given opportunity for madhesis and other underprivileged communities to excel . But , it has also led to the arguments such as , “ not all pahadis are privileged since birth ”, “ not all madhesis are dominated since past ” to arise . Which in turn has led to racial profiling , stereotypes , lack of compassion for each other ’ s struggles and severed the bond between people of these races .
Racism is more than a bias ; it is bias in action . Anyone may have a bias that a person of color is more likely to commit a crime but a police officer shooting a person of color out of fear is racism . Similarly , one may have a belief that madhesis are poor but a conductor offering a seat to pahadi simply assuming that madhesi will not pay the fare , that ’ s racism . We have frequently witnessed such incidents towards working-class madhesis and remained silent . Now , it doesn ’ t matter whether we consider ourselves as the superior race and take pleasure in in such doings or we consider all as equals because the silence during these wrongdoings has already sown hatred . Altogether , biases and prejudices , silence in the conduct of racism , inequality through the history of time , inability to acknowledge the struggles of one another , feeling of superiority are some of the reasons that stems racism in any society no matter how different they are from each other . Add all these elements and you will unfailingly get a racist society . Here you have it a recipe for racism .
The views on racism by some of our interviewers : “ Issues on racism are deliberately risen by political parties during the time of election to create friction between people of different races and win more votes by playing with their sentiments . For racism to decline , political leaders should be aware about the harm they are causing for the nation .” ( Dr . Ram Baran Yadav , Former President )
“ Stereotyping should be ended . We should not always view the issues from the lens of racism . There are many communities that are back warded and underprivileged , we should keep all of them in mind and work for all not by keeping race first . There is no picking of sides here .” ( Tikaram Yatri , Chief Editor , Ap1 Television )
“ Until and unless pen , gun and money aka the power of the state doesn ’ t get distributed efficiently between madhesis and pahadis , this problem is difficult to be solve .” ( Tula Narayan Shah , Activist , Nepal Madesh Foundation )
“ The contribution of Madeshi people for the country should be appreciated by us all . For things to be different , we should be treated as a Nepali first .” ( Arun Baral , Journalist , OnlineKhabar )
Anusha K . C . Devika Pathak Samyog Dhakal Smritee Subedi Smriti Dhungel
Environmental Science Batch 2017
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Nature and Social Concern Society 43