Madhesis demand Hindi as common language ofTerai region in Nepal

BAHRAICH: A Madhesi leader had demanded that Hindi be recognised as the common language of the people living in Nepal's terai region bordering India, amid fears that it could spark another language row in the neighbouring country. 

"Nepali is regarded as common language among the people in the hilly region. In the same manner, Hindi should get recognition as the common language of the Terai people," Rajendra Mahato, president of the Terai-based Sadbhavana Party, said. He demanded that Hindi should be mentioned as the common language of the Terai people during the ongoing census. Mahato said in the hilly region, where people speak Tamang, Gurung, Magar, Sherpa, Newar and Khas languages, the national language Nepali is regarded as the common language. In the same manner, Maithili, Bhojpuri and Awadhi are spoken in the Terai region, where most of the people understand Hindi and it should get the recognition of a link language of the Terai people. 

Nepal's Terai plains are home to about half of the country's 30 million people. The residents of the region are known as Madhesis. They are of Indian origin. Madhesi leaders have earlier threatened to launch an agitation if the government fails to provide Hindi the status of an official language and give greater rights to the community living in the plains bordering India. 

The pro-Terai parties argue that people in the Madhesi-dominated southern plains have long been treated as second-class citizens in Nepal, where hill-origin elites dominate politics, security forces and business. 

Mahato asked the government to allow the use of Hindi in government offices in the Terai region. He also demanded that a new category besides the mother tongue - the common or link language be included in the census. 

A row erupted in Nepal two years ago when vice-president Parmananda Jha took oath of office and secrecy in Hindi. The Nepalese speaking people fear that the growth of Hindi will enhance India's influence on the region, which shares common culture and historical ties with the region. 

As per the last census of 2001, less than 0.5 per cent people of Nepal speak Hindi, which according to Madhesi people does not give the correct picture. The Madhesi parties together form the fourth largest block in the 601-member constituent assembly, which functions as the interim parliament.