Nepal: The Rising Religious Intolerance and Communal Divide

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Nepal The Rising Religious Intolerance and
Communal Divide

• By Nishchal N. Pandey
• Director,
• Center for South Asian Studies,
• Kathmandu

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Percentage of total population

• 1952 1991 2001
• Hindu 88.8 86.5 80.6
• Buddhism 8.6 7.8 10.7
• Muslim 2.6 3.5 4.2
• Kirant - 1.0 3.6
• Christian - 0.2 0.5
• Sikh - 0.1 0.0

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History of Communal Harmony

• Although a Hindu kingdom, Nepal enjoyed total
  harmony between faiths in the past
• Hindus and Buddhists have been visiting each
  others religious shrines, there was no animosity
  between Hindus and Christians
• Militant Hinduism was deliberately curbed by the
  state fanaticism never attracted common
  citizenry

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The South Asian Setting

• Politicization of Religion is a major cause of
  concern in South Asian states
• Babri Mosque demolition, regular clashes between
  Hindus-Muslims, violence against Christians in
  India
• Communal tension always high in North India
• Attack on Hindus in Bangladesh Bhutan,
  Shia-Sunni clashes in Pak. Buddhist intolerance
  in Sri Lanka
• Nepal remarkably remained unscathed from these
  events

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Christianity in Nepal

• No missionaries were allowed till 1950.
• Conversion was illegal, several episodes of
  arrests for acts of proselytism until 1990.
• Missionary schools- St. Xaviers St. Marys are
  respected institutions of learning their
  products are today the cream of the society.
• Church of the Assumption is the 1st church.
• Pope Benedict elevated prefecture of Nepal to the
  rank of Vicariate.
• Fr. Anthony the 1st Vicar 1st Nepalese Bishop.

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Vandalism of MosquesSep. 1, 2004

• First incident of its kind
• Protest against killing of 12 Nepalese in Iraq
• 2 Mosques, dozens of manpower travel agencies
  were targeted

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Declaration of a Secular state

• It was done through a parliamentary declaration,
  no referendum.
• Minorities hail the decision saying it ensures
  justice they no longer will be dominated by a
  particular religion, culture, language and caste
  group.
• Muslim influx from Bihar Bangladesh. Hundreds
  of Madrasaas have sprung up in the terai

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Growing Schism between Hindus - Muslims

• Muslims also start to organize themselves.
• Rioting after murder of Moin Khan in Kapilvastu.
  14 killed.
• Terai - a hotbed of extremism

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Demand for a status-quo-ante

• Various Hindu groups denounce Secularism.
  Protests, Sit-in programs.
• They are telling Hindus that they will lose their
  identity
• Nepali translation means state has become
  atheist.

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Controversy over govt. funds for Rituals
Festivals

• Govt. stopped allocation of funds for certain
  rituals like animal sacrifice
• Indra-Jatra festival disrupted due to protests by
  Newar community on Sep. 21, 2008.
• Govt. forced to retract decision

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Pashupatinath Fiasco

• Govt. sacked 3 Indian priests of the temple
  accusing them of misuse of funds. BJP took note
  of the decision
• Appointed Nepali priests. Court Case. Daily puja
  disrupted.
• Govt. retracted.

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Religion in Politics

• Ambitious Intolerant cultists have started
  fanning conflict along religious lines
• Nexus between fundamentalists across the border
• Chapter office of the RSS.

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Dastardly attack on Assumption Church

• NDA blasts a bomb that kills 3 at the Assumption
  Church
• Most horrible crime by a Hindu extremist
  condemned by the society at large
• Accused says, she regrets not being able to kill
  more

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State Apathy

• Hollow promises, no strategy to check militancy
• No comprehensive plan to maintain religious
  harmony
• Fanatics misusing the current political
  instability

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Prime Accused of Church Blast

• Sita Thapa Shrestha (Main accused) 37 yrs.
• Kamal Bhattarai- 37 yrs.
• Ram Prasad Mainali 38 yrs.
• Ganesh Lal Shrestha- 50 yrs.
• Tara Nath Luintel- 54 yrs.
• Bishnu Kumar Shrestha- 31 yrs.
• Anil Raya Amat 26 yrs.

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How the International Community can Help

• Mere announcement not enough. Secularism needs to
  be taught in schools, colleges, communities.
• Fanatics that commit crimes against other
  religions need to be brought to justice without
  delay.
• Inter-faith dialogues, meetings should be
  encouraged.

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Thank You!