Last modified: 2023-06-03 by zachary harden
Keywords: nepal | tharuhat autonomous state | tharu |
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Tharuhat (sometimes called Tharuwan)
थरुहट
"Indigenous Tharus are
the principle and largest indigenous ethnic people of Tharuhat (Tarai and Inner
Tarai) of Nepal. They are also found in the border districts of India,
especially in Champaran, Bengal, Gonda, Nainital, and Gorakhpur and Kheri
districts of Uttar Pradesh, India. They became successful to sustain their
livelihood in Tarai and Inner Tarai through sacrificing their descendents and
developing immune power against Malaria. According to 2001 census data of CBS,
Tharus are more than 1.5 million. But Tharus have been questioning the
credibility of the Census report of 2001 and claiming that there are more than
3.5 million Tharus in Nepal. They are living in all Tarai and Inner Tarai
districts including Kathmandu, Dang-Deukhuri, Chitawan, Surkhet and Udayapur
valleys. The physical structure of Tharu is wide face, flattened nose, medium
height, solid body and complexion colour. The body colour of Tharu is somewhere
brown black because of hot climate of Tarai and Inner Tarai. At first glance, if
any body looks to Tharu, seems as of Mongoloid physical structure. But in
reality they are sun of soil of Tarai and Inner Tarai of Nepal.
The
motherland of Tharu is Tharuhat, which is geographically known as Tarai. Tarai
is also 2 types of, i.e., Outer Tarai and Inner Tarai. Both Tarai area is the
origin of Tharu. History knows that Tarai was unhealthy because of epidemic
diseases like malaria, small pox, cholera, etc., Hill and Indian people were not
possible to spend even single night, death was certain. But the regular life of
Tharu was not any problem because they had already developed immune power
against such epidemic diseases. So, Tharus have inherent relation with Tarai and
knowledge constructed by them. But some interest groups on the name of so called
Medhesi are trying to make it Madesh. Now the concern or confrontation of Tharu
is not with Madhesi, but with government of Nepal and with different political
parties. Because they are the prime factors who are trying of displace millions
of Tharu from their motherland. This is the question of Tharu identity,
sovereignty, democracy, first right of Land, forest and all types of natural
resources, political rights and indigenous rights. Tharus want own autonomous
Tharuhat state in full Tharuhat/Tarai belt of Nepal. They are not ready to
compromise at any cost on this strong issue. There is only the nationalist
indigenous community in Tarai that is Tharu."
More at:
http://tharufed.org.np/cms and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tharu_people.
The Tharuhat State
Council is a member of the Federal Democratic National Forum. The flag and map
can be seen at the FDNF website at:
http://www.federalnepal.org.np/index.php, together with the flags of
Limbuwan, Khambuwan and Tamangsaling State Councils.
Chrystian Kretowicz,
1 February 2010