
Last modified: 2023-06-03 by  zachary harden
 zachary harden
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![[Tharuhat Autonomous State]](../images/n/np-thrht.gif) image by Chrystian Kretowicz and Eugene Ipavec, 1 January 2010 
and 23 April 2012
 
image by Chrystian Kretowicz and Eugene Ipavec, 1 January 2010 
and 23 April 2012 See also:
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