Dear NASO Community members

 

On Thursday, October 6, 2005, Dharam Bishwokarma, Bishnu Pariyar, Sharda Khati, Sitaram (Chandra) Bishwakarma and I (Prakash Nepal) had an excellent opportunity to attend the 6th US congressional hearing on Caste and untouchability.   It was an encouraging experience to be there and hear how US government is concerned over the dalit issues overall.

 

I am trying to present the scenario of the meeting/hearing on that day.  Overall, it was an exciting moment for NASO Community members to be introduced as an organization.  I have taken this as an opening door to the outside people/organizations concerned with dalit issues.

 

SCENARIO OF THE 6TH CONGRESSIONAL HEARING

 

I have devided the day in two sections: Before the hearing and during the hearing:

 

BEFORE THE CONGRESSIONAL HEARING:

 

Before the hearing, Dalit Freedom Network executives presented papers on dalit and dalit women issues (Details below). 

 

SPEAKERS:

 

 

The following speakers presented their written papers on various issues:

 

  1. Dr. Kancha Iliaiah:  Professor of Political Science, Osmania University, Hyderabad, India:

Topic:  The Abolition of Untouchability: The key to stability in India

                         

  1. Dr. Udit Raj: National chairman, All India Confederation of SC/ST Organizations & India Justice Party.

Topic:   Left Behind: The importance of Reservation for the future of 

                                the dalists.

  1. Joseph D’souza:  President, All India Christian Council, President, Dalit Freedom

                                  Network.

      Topic:  <No topic> written statement on Dalit Christians.

 

  1. India Athwale:  General Secretary and Maharastra State President of All India conference of SC/ST Organizations.

Topic:  Thrice oppressed: Caste Violence Against Dalit Women

 

 

 

 

QUESTIONS/ANSWERS:

 

  1. After the speaker (s)’s presentation, the question/answer on the topics began.  Ms. Sharda Khati introduced herself and the team of NASO Community and said that it is formed from the Nepalese residing in the US. The participants were very much delighted to see our (NASO Community) presence and they started including Nepal’s dalit issues in every issue they presented.  I think this was a big opportunity to introduce NASO Community at the hearing. 

 

  1. Second question was asked by Bishnu Pariyar, President of EDWON and member of NASO Community.  Again, she presented herself as a Nepali individual working for EDWON and NASO Community.

 

 

  1. The third question was asked by Prakash Nepal, member of NASO Community.

 

  1. NASO Community had prepared a booklet on various dalit tortures (see the attachment) and a brochure for distribution.  Since the distribution of the material was not allowed in the hall, we had to stop and handover outside the building, which we partially did in another building which the congressional hearing took place.  That material must have reached to a lot of journalists and participants.

 

  1. Ms. Smita Narula (contact info below) gave special emphasis on Nepal’s dalit issues and presented the scenario how dalits are sandwiched in between the Nepal Army and Maoist. Our sincere appreciation and thanks to Smita jee.

 

  1. Me (Prakash Nepal) and Sharda Khati had a long conversation with Ms. Rushmie Kalke, reporter of Eagle Tribune, Boston.  She was particularly interested in dalit issues and wanted to find out which COMMON AGENDA can be hit in her paper.  For example, what would be the common issues for all dalits who reside in the United States, or what kind of news would attract all dalits from all over the US and Canada.  Briefly, I highlighted that any news related to dalit would be the one.  She was interested to hear what NASO Community’s main goal is and I briefly mentioned our goals, and priorities.

 

I (Prakash Nepal) had an opportunity to meet the following personalities during the meeting.  Dharam, Bishnu, and Sitaram will present who they met and their contacts in detail in the future email.

 

DURING CONGRESSIONAL HEARING

 

Congressional hearing took place in another building called Rayburn building. 

Most of the hearing was concentrated on the dalit issues in India and how the US government can help fight the discrimination.  There were various suggestions from the testimony varying from aid to India specifically allocated for the uplift of dalit.

 

CONCLUSION:

 

NASO Community has to put more effort in building relationship with different organizations/individuals and I think it would be a good idea to divide the responsibilities ourselves and proceed. 

 

Please provide me with the comments/suggestion via email since we may not have meetings for another month or so.

 

I have attached the brochure/scenario document which we presented at the meeting/hearing.

 

Reported by

Prakash Nepal