I had to sleep on the verandah because I am a Dalit-Laxmi Maya Pariyar

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