Ram Dayal Rakesh
The book under review, The Middle Country: The Middle Country: Traverse of Madhesh Through War, Colonization & Aid, Dependent Racist State by Ram Manohar Shah is full of rich information about Terai Madhesh. This has been divided into seven chapters. The first chapter is dedicated to background which has been named alternative nomenclatures. In this chapter the writer Ram Manohar Sah has thrown sufficient light on the origin of the Middle country. He has quoted the Aitareya of Rigveda which mentions five divisions of ancient world such as Madhyadesh(Eastern country) Dakshin desh (Southern country), Prariyadesh (western country), Udichyadesh (northern country) and Dhruva Madhyamadhesh (middle country). Madhyadesh was named as s region where Aryas resided. Markandeya purana mentions regions belonging to Madhyadesh. The Manusmriti has given its boundary between Himbata and Vindhya Mountain, Prayaga and to the Vinashana. During the Budha time, Madhyadesh expanded towards east to include Bihar. The Budhist Vinayapimaka written in Pali language Majihima-desh is the Pali name for Madhyadesh. The Majjhimadesa was three hundred yojanas in length two hundred and fifty in breath, and nine hundred in circumference. The people of Majjhim desa were regarded as wise and virtuous. It was the birthplace of noblemen including Lord Buddha.
In the second century Muslim scholar Al -Biruni visited India with Ghazni wrote Madhyadesha i.e. the middle country. The use of term Madhyadesh was found till eleventh was found till eleventh century A.D. AND after that it disappeared from common use in native Indian history books. The people, in the hill extended their rule in southern plain. The elite rulers of modern Nepal call it Madhesh and its inhabitants are known as Madheshis. The writer Sah has justified that the Madhesh is shorter and easier nickname of Madhesh. The writer has also mentioned both Gorkha rulers and British researchers in India have mentioned word Madhesh and Madhesi in different contemporary literary sources in the last two centuries.
Dr. Grierson has also linguistically supported this term Madhesh. Brian Hodgson has also confirmed Madheshi vocabulary with other spoken languages .He has also defined Madhesh in terms of geography administration. Madhesh word has also been used in the treaty between then Gurkha king Prithivinarayan Shah and then Kathmandu’s king Jay Prakash Malla. Kirat History refers to the Madhesh to describe a group with Kirat people called Madhesia Kirat or the Kirat of Kahinagar. Francis Buchanan Hamilton travelled to Nepal in 1802-1803 wrote in his paper entitled ‘Some observation on Nepal. In this he has mentioned Madhesh with the same question in mind. Nepal is also named Madhesh or central country. Madhesh was also known as Vriji at the time of Hwen Thasang’s visit in 7th century. Father Giuseppe has mentioned ‘At the foot of the hills the country is called Tariani.
In the second chapter the writer Sah has also focused on the magnitude of discrimination. He has quoted some Madheshis such as Santosh Sah,Salik Sah, Ravin Pandey, Dr.C.K,Raut,Badrinath Jha,Sitaram Agrahari,Dr. Sukhdev Sah, Rakesh Mishra, Haribansh Jha, Gopal Thakur, Dr. Binay Panjiyar, Rita Sah, Ramawatar Yadav, Shekhar Golchha. He has also given some notes on structural discrimination. Third Alliance and NHRC investigated 37 deaths out of total 41 reported.
The chapter is devoted to cultural, archeological heritages. local heroes, and history up to 1814.He has started this chapter with the description of Mithila Art.He has mentioned about songs, dances, rites and rituals, fairs and festivals,jewellery,food,clothing,houses,weather,lifestyle,kinship,wealth and commerce, physical appearance. He has not forgotten to mention archaeological heritages such as Simraungarh, Lumbini. Jankpur, Murtiya, Kakre Bihar, Salhes phulbari, Rajbiraj, Sonukhara, Bhediari, Baraha Kshetra, Narasingha Tappa, Bhawanipur, Penditpur. Besides, he has mentioned some of the Rural heroes such as Lorik, Goraiya (the Robinhood), Hirni-Birni, Shobha Nayak Banjara, Chuharmal, Salhes, Dinabhadri. Family deities such as Karikh, Mirasahib, Bandi, Kali. He has also mentioned economy, blockade, earthquake of 1767 and great famine of 1770.He has thrown light on annexation of Madhesh by Shah Kings.
In the chapter fourth he has mentioned the war of 1816 and war objective from English perspective and from Gurkha perspective .Besides he has mentioned war negotiations and Treaty. The strategy, the attacks-First campaign, Truce, terms and negotiation, second compaign. The people of Madhesh and its role in the war. Jamindar, common people former employees of Gurkha from plain origin, kins of former king of places, British Rule in Madhesh. He has also included Re- Negotiation Border demarcation.
He has described the Rent and Silent cry, post war effect on the people of Madhesh including Rise of Border, Division of civilization, introduction of passport and blockade against plain people, slowdown in development, tougher for trader, commerce, and Kashmiri House relation of Tharu in west, minor border skirmishes, silent cry ( Burden of more rent). From Autonomy to colonization (economy, resource and people resettlement).Besides he has mentioned Hindu politics, abbot and king, a middle class Tharu Perspective, institutionalization of colonization during Rana Autonomy. Plain people pushed away from power, increasing burden of taxes. Acceleration in wealth, transfers, a way towards colonization, institutionalization of Madhesh ethnicity.
In the sixth chapter he has highlighted two nations: Highland and Lowland.He has mentioned differences and similarities between Pahadi and Madheshi people. The royal documents represent two different cultures of plain and Hill. He has also mentioned demographic distribution such as marriage treatment of women, clothing, food, society, culture: collectivist vs individualist, appearances, invisible personality. He has not forgotten to touch upon treacherous faithless and avaricious, bloodthirsty and relentless mean and abject, financial behavior, ethnic group vs Indian proximity man, culture proximity (India-Khas- Madhesh, janjati). Language Political connection(India-Khas-Janjati-Madheshi), strategic significance to India(India, Khas-Janjati, Madheshi), History (India, Khas, Madhesi, Janjati). He has also mentioned about religious relationship (India-Khas-Madhesi-Janjati), fear from India(India-Madhesi-Khas-Janjati). Government employment in India( India-Madhesi-Khas-Janjati) physical appearance (India-Madhesi-Khas-Janjati), contempt against plain people, ethnic collaborative, space, political revolutions (1770-1950), political revolutions( 1960-1990), people’s revolution 2006.
In the seventh chapter the writer Sah has shown encounter with racist state : Mahendra’s nationalism. He has further mentioned the rise of Mahendra initiation of foreign Aid politics, discrimination as state Policy ( Resettlement company(1957). He has also focused few additional notable impacts on Tharu, land reform(1964), citizenship, language policy of (1956), Guthi regulations(1964-1976), East- West Highway(1963).He has forwarded some reasons of failing state.
He has thrown light on victimization of Madhesh in respect of foreign aids and extractive institution.The writer Sah has mentioned people of position in the 8th chapter. He has termed pre- 1950 as Dark age. He experienced beam of light from 1950 to 1960. He has included Tamsuk Fatta movement (Rautahat), western Terai Agrarian Agitation, All Nepal Peasant Association Rally( Bara), no rent campaign (Biratnagar, Saptari, Janakpur, Birgunj). He has also mentioned Khamar Roko Andolan( Jhapa) from 1953 to 1955, peasant movement from 1956 to 1958, in Siraha and Saptari, from 1959 to 1960 land right struggle( Dang, Beluwa Banjari peasant movement .He has termed from 1960 to 1979 confusion Era. Likewise ‘Khada Tenants uprising (Nawalparasi) in 1966. He has idea of agitation against imposition of compulsory saving scheme (Kapilvastu), Bhakhari phor andolan (Janakpur zone) in 1978, reaction era from 1977 to 1999. He has described 1979 student protest followed by widespread Madhesh protest. He has mentioned about the birth of Sadbhavana Parishad in 1983, post 2000-Expansion era. 2000 riots against Madhesi (popularly known as Hritik Roshan Rion) 2004 (Iraq riot), riot against Madhesi in Nepalganj in 2006. Madhesi Mass uprising in 2007.Second Madhesh uprising. Agitation Democracy Riot maintenance (Simraungadh, agitation demanding road repair. Jaleshwar from 2014 to 2016. In 2014 protest in Janakpur to welcome Indian P.M. Narendra Modi. In 2015 Gaur- Kalaiya-Inarwa agitation against government offices revolution . Hunger strike against power cuts( Janakpur) in 2015, hunger strike demanding reform in hospital( Rajbiraj).
In the ninth chapter he has mentioned about the future of Madhesh. Firstly the Kattmandu Government claims it represents people of Madhehs and thus collects all the taxes and controls resources in Madhesh. In return, Madhesh people are asking for the accountability of the tax benefit of the tax and fruits of the resources. He has also mentioned the fertile land, hard working people, larger group of expatriate, culture Marriage across border, industry, Churé management, health education system, political leadership, opportunity( internal and external), tourism industry, agriculture produce industry ensure human rights, human resource export, technology adoption, connect with word, threat, food, drought, 1934 earthquake, 1833 earthquake, political suppression, evolving foreign politics. Madhesh, yam between three boulders; Delhi, Beijing and Kathmandu, dual definition of nationalism. Nepal-China relationship characteristic, China future strategy is limited to Tibet and gateway to South Asia commerce, characteristics of Nepal-India a relationship. He has also included in it Madhesh. A political scientific and significance in 21st century. He has also maintained the cultural tradition of Madhesh in the opening of his book and ending it with auspicious marriage songs.