Samata Foundation: Policy research and advocacy for the rights of marginalized peoples

Call for Paper

Envisioning New Nepal

Dynamics of Caste, Identity and Inclusion of Dalits

International Conference

June 20-22, 2010
Kathmandu


Organizer
Samata Foundation, Nepal


Co-organizers
India-China Institute, New School University-New York
The Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies, US
Nepal Dalit Info Group, Canada
Canada Foundation Nepal, Canada


In association with
International Dalit Solidarity Network (IDSN), Denmark
Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR North –South)
South Asian Coordination Office, Kathmandu

Background:
Nepal is at a critical juncture in its history as the transition offers unprecedented opportunities for marginalized groups to renegotiate their relationships within the polity. Both practically and from the point of view of scholarship, following this process of renegotiation by various marginalized groups is of great importance. The conference proposes to focus on one such group, the Dalit of Nepal. The reasons for this choice are several. First of all, the Dalit are deeply involved in this process, and have even made considerable gains in having had 18 members elected to the constituent assembly. Strengthening their sense of history, community and own contribution to the country would support further gains. Secondly, the Dalit, unlike many other groups of Nepal, have been the focus of relatively little scholarship to date. A conference focusing on Dalit issues will therefore both help this group in its lobbying and advocacy efforts as well as make a valuable contribution to the academic literature on one of Nepal’s most disadvantaged groups.

Reflection and discussion of the Dalit of Nepal will further benefit from a cross-cultural approach; indeed, Dalit are found across Asia, including Japan, and inviting scholars studying Dalits outside Nepal will allow for a better understanding of the specificities, predicaments and opportunities facing Dalits today.  Such an understanding, furthermore, will assist the Constituent Assembly members to ensure that the new constitution lays the foundations for a more just and inclusive social and political order in Nepal.

Inviting scholars, practitioner/activists from across Asia will also expose issues of Nepali Dalit to the attention of a wider audience (North American, European, and Asian).

Objective:

• To provide intellectual space to Dalit political leaders including the CA members, activists and civil society members to articulate their perspectives on the past, present and future of Nepali politics and the restructuring of the state
• To utilize the opportunity of transition to create dialogue among and between Dalit and non-Dalit political leaders, the academic world and the general public to make political parties and society more inclusive of Dalits at all levels and to be more responsive to the Dalit agenda
• To advance scholarship on the Dalits of Nepal through publication of a volume on Dalit issue and through developing a research programme in relation to the Dalit of Nepal
• To provide an opportunity for academics working on Dalits across Asia to engage in dialogue and set agendas for future collaboration

Modality:
Involvement of Dalit activists in the conference basically intends to encourage practitioner-academic dialogue as well as to give opportunities to people from marginalised groups to experience/be exposed to an academic environment. The conference will involve scholars and practitioners from South Asia, Japan, Europe and the U.S. The conference will take place for two days. Simultaneously there will be three types of papers that will be presented:

Academic Papers- Under this theme the organizer will invite papers from professors around the world who are working on the issues of Dalit in Nepal and elsewhere. The papers will be selected from different disciplines.

Fellow’s Papers- The organizer will award short fellowships to the Dalit youths/activists and other interested individuals to present short research on the conference theme. Altogether 10 fellows have been awarded fellowships and their papers will be presented during the conference. Professors attending the conferences will comment on the papers.  This will help the emerging researchers to improve their research and writing skills and give fresh insights to the conference.

Research Proposals- Conference will encourage the participants to discuss their future research projects ideas on Dalit in Nepal. It will help them shape their ideas, methodology and look for relevant support.