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1. TRIDENT AND THUNDERBOLT - Hark Gurung The contest for minds is buttressed by symbols of power. One such early manifestation was the porcupine quill (dumsi-kanda) as a divination arrow and which is still invoked by tribal priests in Nepal. The Shaman�s mantra (incantation) tradition was superseded by refinements of tantra (esoteric) and then sutra (philosophic) traditions. It was along this trajectory that the phurba (magical dagger) became transformed into the dorje (thunderbolt). The trisul (trident) is associated with Mahadev of the Himalaya. This wielder of the trident must have been a refulgent foe since the Hindus exalted him as one of their trinity. Although bearing a sectarian stamp as Shiva, he also traverses the tantric world as Bhairav. Since both the trident and the thunderbolt are part of the Himalayan heritage, they need not be interposed as adversial symbols. Kathmandu Valley, the kernel of Nepal, had a tradition of religious symbiosis despite the presumed iconoclastic vendetta of one Shankarcharya in the 11th century.(more) 2. SECTORAL REPORTS ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AGENDA FOR NEPAL - Hark Gurung The immense ethnic diversity of Nepal owes to its geographical location where two major migration trajectories converge. These are represented by Mongoloid tribal groups from the north-east and Caucasoid caste people from the south-west. They differ in language, religion, and social structure. The former speak Tibeto-Burman languages and subscribe to animistic and Buddhistic faith. The latter have Indo-Aryan language and follow Hindu religion. The main distinction is in the horizontal (spatial) differentiation of Mongoloid tribes and vertical (ritual purity) hierarchy of Caucasoid castes. Since the formation of Nepal as a state was based on the political ascendency of Caucasoid conquistadors, Hinduisation was accompanied by the colonisation of tribal areas. Thus, most Mongoloid ethnic groups of Nepal with own language that had migrated earlier can be considered as the indigenous people. The exception is Caucasoid people known as Matwali Khasa (more) 3. REPORT ON INDIGENOUS NATIONALITIES & MINORITIES OF NEPAL -Krishna B. Bhattachan Nepal lies in South Asia as a Himalayan kingdom. It is a small landlocked country sandwiched between the People's Republic of China in north and the Republic of India in south, east and west. Nepal, following King Prithvinarayan Shah, is a "Yam between two boulders"�China and India. Some say it is 'India locked,' others say it is 'idea locked.' Geographically it is indeed land locked. Although Nepal is a small country in terms of its geography but elevation changes drastically in a short span due to its unique and varying physiographic regions, which includes high Himalayas, high mountains, middle mountains, Siwalik and Terai. Nepal is indeed very rich in bio-diversity and socio-cultural diversity due to its unique and varying physiographic regions. Nepal is proud of owning 5,400 species of higher plants (2.2 percent of the world figure), 850 birds (9.4 per cent of Nepal�s share of world�s record), fish fauna amount to 170 species, mammals 175 species dragon fly 180 species, moths 50 species, the butterflies over 600 species, 7,000 vascular plants, lichen 500, Fungi 1,700 (Shrestha and Gupta 1993:3)(more) 4. PEOPLES, RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION AND FEDERALISM - Parshuram Tamang [This paper was presented recently to a symposium on human rights in Dhulikhel(Kathmandu. The author minutely discusses restructuring of the state, ethnic diversity, right to self-determination and federalism. The paper is in vernacular Nepali].(more) The right to self-determination is a very serious issue of Neapal. There is yet another article by Tika Dhoj Khadga Right to Self-Determination Illusion or Reality in vernacular Nepali. We have posted the article for healthful discussion on the issue]. For other papers and articles please click here. |
© 2006 by Nepal-US Indigenous Peoples' Forum
14 Allen Street, Somerville, MA 02143 Tel: 617 628 1996
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14 Allen Street, Somerville, MA 02143 Tel: 617 628 1996
Email: admin@nipforum.org
Web: http://www.nipfourm.org