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| Photo ©: Deependra Bajracharya and the team |
Source of inspiration
Caste discrimination and the practice of untouchability by the upper
caste in her village pushed Laxmi Maya Pariyar towards politics. She
took this step believing that only politics could bring an end to such
social discrimination. Laxmi believes that if the new constitution can
end caste-based discrimination and untouchability, Nepali society can
prosper. Laxmi became a member of the Student Union affiliated to Nepali
Congress in 1991 when she was only 14 years old. Her grandmother,
Ichhamaya Tailor, was actively involved in politics and inspired her to
join.
Her grandmother participated in the political movement of the
1950s, and supported the political cadres and leaders to end the Rana
regime. According to Laxmi, her grandmother, who is now 105 years old,
was inspired by BP Koirala (Nepali prime minister, 1959-1960) and his
thoughts on socialism. It was her grandmother who suggested Laxmi joins
Nepali Congress, embraces the philosophy of socialism and
reconciliation, and stays in the country to fight for the rights of the
Nepali people.
‘My grandmother’s words became my source of inspiration to join politics,’ says Laxmi.
Although Laxmi’s father was a Nepali Congress supporter, he did
not hold any official posts in the party. However, the atmosphere in her
house was always very political. After getting married, she had to stay
away from politics for about three years because of her new role as a
daughter-in-law. She eventually returned to politics after talking to
her husband about her aspirations. In 2001, Laxmi took out membership of
the District Trade Union affiliated to the Nepali Congress. She has
been working as a district member of the Nepali Congress since 2003, and
as a central member of the Youth Force (Tarun Dal) since 2004. She
believes that, compared to the past, Nepali society and even the Dalit
community have both progressed significantly.
Being Dalit
She herself faced the brunt of caste-based discrimination for being a Dalit, and she shares some stories.
‘In 1991, during a three-day regional meet of the Nepal Student
Union, we had to stay with a Giri family. Since all of us had to
disclose our castes, I had to invent and said I was ‘Laxmi Karki’
instead of ‘Laxmi Pariyar’ as suggested by my friend Tikaram Budathoki.’
There was another point when they had to lie about their caste
while looking for an apartment in Kathmandu in 2000. Laxmi says that she
has had to face many such incidents of caste-based discrimination over
the course of her political career. Even after reaching a respectable
position as a Constituent Assembly (CA) member, discrimination has not
ended for Laxmi. During her visit to Pokhari VDC in Udaypur for the
first round of public consultation meetings, she had to endure it again.
In her team, there were two women from the Dalit community, CPN (UML)
member Durga Pariyar and Laxmi herself. The locals welcomed the CA
members with fanfare, treated them with respect and organized a big
feast in their honor.
Laxmi however adds, ‘At night when it was time to sleep,
arrangements were made for male members to sleep on the top floor of the
house, while we were asked to sleep on the verandah outside the house.
We realized that it was because of our caste.’
Laxmi feels that although society has ‘changed’, caste-based
discrimination has not ended. Social ills like being forced to leave the
village and being ostracized from families for marrying into a lower
caste, and Dalits being beaten up for entering temples, are still the
bitter realities of Nepali society. Although Laxmi did not imagine ever
becoming a CA member because of the obstacle of discrimination, she is
confident that good opportunities will present themselves to her in the
future. She is happy to be representing the Dalit community in the CA
and for getting the chance to work at this decision making level. She
says, ‘It is a big opportunity for me to strengthen the voice of the
women, Dalits, Janajati, Madhesi and other disadvantaged communities.’
However, Laxmi also says that her political life has been filled with
‘inadequacies and struggles’. As a member of the Public Opinion
Collection and Coordination Committee in the CA and the Committee on
Finance and Labor Relations in the Legislature Parliament, Laxmi has
raised the issues of women and Dalits.
Moving beyond her caste
She was involved in the process of preparing the questionnaire for
the public opinion survey and consultations. As an invited member in the
Committee for Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles and the
Committee for the Protection of the Rights of Minorities and
Marginalized Communities, she talked about bringing an end to
educational, health and social discrimination against women and Dalits.
Similarly, in the Committee for Determining the Form of
Governance of the State, she demanded that women and Dalits be provided
with proportional representation in the Executive, Legislature, and
Judiciary. Laxmi is disappointed with the tendency not to deliver what
has been promised to women. Although 33 per cent of seats are supposed
to be reserved for women, they are not represented in the cabinet or
other important positions. Stressing the need to bring an end to the
culture of disregarding women’s contributions, she says, ‘It is the
state’s responsibility to give ministerial posts to women as well, and
to ensure women’s representation in high posts are based on their
population. When women cover half of the sky, it is not just enough to
give them 33 per cent representation.’
The energy and enthusiasm that Laxmi felt during the initial days
of the CA have gradually waned primarily because of the failure of the
CA to draft the constitution on time and the fact that many things did
not progress as she imagined they would. According to her, this
environment has further encouraged those to shy away from their
responsibilities and commitments by using the excuse that politics is a
dirty game. However, she still is living in hope that things will be
achieved. Although Laxmi did not face major challenges in the CA and the
Parliament because of her gender, she describes problems of returning
home after late night meetings due to lack of proper transportation
facilities.
Laxmi describes an incident on the night of 28 May 2010 when she
faced transportation problems. While returning home after a CA meeting
at 2:00 am, a man on a motorcycle in Koteshwor tried to attack her with a
knife. She feels that such an incident took place precisely because she
was more vulnerable as a woman. Laxmi goes on to share how she has
observed differences in the status of male and female members. She says
that when male and female members visit districts, they are treated
differently. Directly or indirectly, there is a tendency to treat men as
important and women as insignificant. Similarly, she also complains of
discrimination from police who treat male members of high political
stature with respect, while completely disregarding women members.
Moreover, she feels that this tendency is prevalent even among party
workers, which is a testimony to the low status accorded to women CA
members.
This is a shorter version of the chapter originally published in Women Members of the Constituent Assembly: A study on contribution of women in constitution making in Nepal.
source:- http://www.idea.int
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