Newa De Dabu
For the first time in the history of Nepal that Newas from home and abroad have gathered to discuss issues of importance to them as a group. This article is prepared from several scholars' concerns, their suggested solutions, and other aspects of the conference.
The conference itself is a historic and significant event for the Newas, though just how important will depend on the outcome.
There were many distinguised speakers who spoke about the importace of having a special organization like the neva: de dbu : Newa de Dabu. Dr. Kamal Prakash Malla said that a well-formed organization is the most influential power in a democracy. It is useless to work without the strength of an organization. This conference is to establish a national level organization of Newa Jati (group) and not just in the realm of language. He mentioned that once the group went to the prime minister, Man Mohan Adhikari, to petition him with the Newa language, Jati, and several other issues. Unfortunately, there was no one to follow up these suggestions, so finally they failed. They were ineffectual because they did not have an organization to back them up. This conference reflects the desperation of the Newas to be heard -- in effect, their desperation for an organization to give them a voice.
Newas are scattered all over Nepal, and also abroad. The language which ties them together is slowly declining. Therefore, it is necessary to join them in a new form.
Mr. Padma Ratna Tuladhar, president of "Nepal Bhasa Manka Khala" was asked how this organization came together. He replied that "nowadays the interactions and interrelations among the Newas, have been restrained. For example, it is said that they broadcast news in Sanskrit but we do not know what should we do about it. In Kathmandu there have been some protests, but the Newas and Newa groups from outside the valley did not give any reaction to it. Now, if we have a national level organization we can at least send a circular about such cases all over the country and get reaction. The collective reaction from all over the country certainly will be more influential".
Mr. Dhuswan Sayami, a novelist, is concerned about the conference and its outcome. "We are asking what is the advantage of this conference. The ability to organize such a conference is itself is a big advantage". He warned: "It does not mean that our aims will success just with the conference itself. Most Newas have the bad habit that they don't consider themselves Newa unless it is necessary for them to do so. They do not want to develop a Newaness feeling. He is a Newa when he speaks on a stage but he is not when he descends from that stage. The Newas are very good in criticizing others' mistakes but they never know how to confess their own mistakes. If we are going to wipe out these characteristics then this conference certainly be a great advantage."
This is absolutely true. If the Newa national organization is going to uplift the level of the Newas' consciousness then at least it should be lifted to the level that Dhuswan Sayami expressed. Otherwise the consciousness should be something which could engrave the Newas' hearts with the Newaness feeling. Now it comes to a query -- why we Newas want to be Newa? When a Newa begins to think about his Newaness, wouldn't his idea be a communal (Sampradayik)? Moreover, there is a group of people who blame the Newas and Nepal's ethnic groups as belong to communal (Sampradayik) ideology.
Keeping in mind the answer of Mr. Bhakti Das Shrestha, the president of this conference gave to the question "What is the spirit of this conference?", There is no place to comment on the communal (Sampradayik) ideology at all. He said, "keeping humanist in mind the Newas predecessors have developed arts, culture, customs, temples, buildings, languages, alphabets etc. from generation to generation. This conference is aiming the way those Newas' material and cultural heritage can be disseminated and be of use not only to Newas but to all Nepalese and even more widely be enjoyed by the whole world. May the consciousness of Newaness be developed among the Newas as their first and last quality. As Newa, we have the Newa values within us, so may such values be enjoyed by the others. It is with such a compassionate mind that we organize this conference".
Shrestha's declaration shows that the development of the Newa is the development of Nepal itself. The Newas clearly recognize Nepal's peculiarity in being the multi lingual, Jati (group/ethnic groups) and religious kingdom. The Newas equally wish to see the survival of all other existing Jatis in Nepal. As long as such recognition is alive in the Newas mind and there is not any group who tries to wipe out such broad ideology within the Newas, this will never be a communal (Sampradayik). The Newas never claim that they have to live alone in Nepal but they welcome others to share their existing heritage. If these broad-minded Newas are a communal (Sampradayik) what about the people who advocate the policy of 'one language one policy' in the country of many languages and Jatis?
In our history there have been several attempts to obliterate the Newas who endeavor for the sake of Nepal and the Nepalese. The Newas have struggled through it with their own style. However, this obliteration of the Newas has not stoped, and has greatly affected the Newas' language, alphabet, art and architecture, commerce, industry, and culture.
Now it is worse than ever, and it is time for us to think about Newas' very existence. There appears to be no future for the Newas. This conference is the historical effort to find and define a Newari future. The two day conference, which was attended by Newas from all over the country and even from Bhutan, succeeded in establishing a nation-wide Newa organization which is named "Newa De Dabu," meaning "Newar's National Stage". There are 45 members in the central committee and 12 members in the executive committee. The conference was participated by the representatives of 38 districts and several local Newa organizations. It is hoped that in near future this campaign will disseminate to all 75 districts of Nepal.
This page is designed by Raju/Sumitra Maharjan on August 21, 1996.
