Tharu Sahittik Bakheri Program Kiritipur Kathmandu

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Tharu's History Relating to Lord Buddha and Buddism

Under this topic, it describes sufficient historical, cultural addn generic proofs to relate indigenous Tharu with Lord Buddha and Buddhism. Some import view, opinions, arguments, advices, etc. are listed bellow to justify the relation of Tharu with Lord Buddha.

Tharus Descendants

According to Dwivedi (1955: 11) "2500 years ago, Tharu had established own federal state : and gave birth to great incarnated people such a Gutam Buddha, who did great welfare to the world through Buddha religion" Prof. Fuhrer (1972: 45) has also similar views regarding on it. According to him. Although the sakyas claim to be the descendants of the mythical Aryan King Ikshwaku or Okkaka, it is not quite improbable that they were in fact primarily an aboriginal, casteless and un-Aryan tribe of Northern India ….them modern offspring of these Sakya are probably the Tharus. Panjiyar, TN also explored that Tharus inhabited around Kapilvastu and they are descendents of "Lord Buddha". In the next article, he (1994 :54) had again explained that the first doctrine propounded by Budha is called Thervad, and in pali language - is known as Theragatha, which means Tharu ko Katha (the story of the Tharus). Singh (1956 and Pandey also gave similar evidence and also stated that they had "Munda languages. It means that there was also influence of Munda language at that time. 

Imminent scholar Prajitar on his book "the historical tradition of india" has stated that if there are any remnants of Lord Buddha, i.e. they are Tharus. Like-wise, Tisa Kashap, who was professor of Buddha religion in Naland University, had also mentioned that Tharus are descendants of Lord Buddha.

French historian Silvan Levi cited by Chaudhary, SL (1999) has mentioned that Emperor Ashoka the Great was also born in Tharu community. Ashoka the great was also born in Piplikanan Champaran and was Buddhist. The Ashoka Pilllar was made by him in Lumbini. All above famous authors have one message that is the Lord Buddhad who was the descendant of Tharu, who are pioneer indigenous people of Tarai and inner Tarai. Tharu is that ancient community who gave birth to those historical people, name, Lord Buddha and Ashoka the Great. Both of them are dignified personalities, not only in Nepal and India, but even in the world. It also clarifies that Tharu are not only ethnic and indigenous but also popular and powerful ruler king of Tarai, history proves it.

Sitaram Chaudhary

Bardiya

General Introduction of Nepal

Nepal is a multi-cultural, multi-linguistic, multi-religious, multi-geographic and multi-caste/ethnic country. It lies in between 26⁰22 and 30⁰27 N Latitude and 88⁰4 and  88⁰12 E longitude, which is situated in between two largest countries, China and India. Physiographic ally is is divided into 7 physiographic zones namely Tarai, Siwalik, Mahabharat range, mid lands, Himalaya, Inner himlaya and Tibetan Marginal Mountains from south to north (Hagen, 1998). Due to extreme altitudinal variation, the climatic conditions also vary widely, nine bioclimatic zones exist in the country (NBS, 2002). The altitudinal limit varies (from 60m above the sea level in the Tarai to 8848 m the Mt Everest) existing within a small geographical area (147,818 sq. km), rendering the country unique in species richness and habit diversity (Chaudhary, 1998). The population of the country is 227,36,934 and the indigenous community forms a major portion in Tarai with several ethnic groups.

Sitaram Chaudhary

Bardiya

 

Identity of Tharu

Tharu's are the principle and the largest indigenous ethnic groups of the Tarai and inner area. They are the pioneers of  the area. They are also found boarder district of  India, especially in Champaran Bangal Gonda, Nainital and Gorakpur and Khari district of Uttar pradesh, India. This community produced such renowned, gracious, noble and worthy people as the Lord Buddha, King Suddhodhan, Maurya Emperor Asoka and King Dangisaran among others. Lord Buddh was the founder of Buddhism; the rest were famous kings from the history of ancient Nepal and India. This indicates that the Tharus were once rulers of sovereign states. At that time, their socio-economic and political status was very high; language, literature, handicrafts, architecture, etc. were well developed; and numerous truths of indigenous knowledge were widely practiced and these were well recognized receiving recognition by rulers and the community.

Tharus are simple honest, and peaceful to their nature. They like to be far from all kinds of quarrelsome and forgery. Tharus had adopted and have also been adopting 5 basic doctrines of Lord Buddha from descendant to descendant, which developed the nature of Tharus to be patient and peace loving. The weakest behavior of Tharu is to endure suppression and depression meted to them. This is why cleaver and fraud men have been cheating to Tharus in different ways.

With the passing of time, political changes occurred, as well as natural calamities the continuation and breaking of dynasties of rulers, geographic re-structuring (Re-demarcation), changing of state boundaries, etc. As a result rulers became poor and became rulers, rich became poor and vice-versa; in some cases rulers were massacred. In this area, Tharu states weakened and others emerged gradually.

Tharus were the only landlords of the Tarai, as proved by different Lalmoharr (Royal Stamps) issued by the Sen and Shah Dynasties. Tharu Chaudhary (Royal Authorized Post) were authorized to collect different kinds of taxes, including land tax. This was the beginning of social inclusion following Nepali national consolidation. However with the ascent of the powerful Rana Prime Minister Jung Bahadur Rana in October 1846, the Tharu Chaudhary were again disconnected from their connection to power in a style maintained by Jung Bahadur's successors. Rana relatives and allies were appointed, displacing the Tharu Chaudhary. This is another discourse of assimilation, Tharu indigenous knowledge came into a threat.

The first Muluki Ain was issued in 1910 B.S. by Rana Prime Minister Jung Bahadur Rana. An amended Muluki Ain Came into force in 2020 B.S. the first Government enforced all Nepalese to follow Hindu norms and values; a process of Hinduisation. The constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal of 2047 B.S. became another harsh document of Hinduisation; article 4 describes the territory as a Hindu kingdom and article 6 imposed the Khas language (commonly known as "Nepali". The Hindu constitution legitimized and prioritized Hindu norms and values; whilst prohibiting the practices of indigenous ethnic social and cultural norms and values, which are the main sources of Indigenous knowledge. One provision in article 18(2) permits communities to administer primary schools in their mother tongue, mobilizing their own resources; in effect for economic exploitation by the government because it is additional financial burden hence they are poor.

During the last 10 years of armed conflict, western Tharu indigenous practices, for example, the Barghariya and Guruwa systems and other Tharu rites and rituals were severely affected. Barghariyas were victimized by both sides, Government forces and Maoist insurgents. As a result, villagers were reluctant to become Barghariya and the existence of the indigenous Tharu organizational system was threatened. Many desbandhya Guruwas (largely in Bardiya and Kailali districts) were also threatened not to do their work as shaman, and this stopped village worship.

 In summary, it can be concluded that the existence of identity, history, rites and rituals, feasts and festivals, indigenous knowledge and practices and social norms and values of indigenous ethnic people, especially the indigenous Tharu are in under a great threat. Some have already vanished and others are on the way to extinction.

Types of indigenous knowledge of Tharu

Tharu community has been using many types of indigenous knowledge from very beginning to the Tharu civilization to sustain their daily life. It is concluded that Tharus are main and largest indigenous people of the Tarai and Inner Tarai area, east to west of Nepal. This is very wide spread area. So geography, temperature, humidity biodiversity, livelihood style encroachment and soci-economic sphere also varies. That is why; Tharus have developed immunes against Malari. They have different Skills foods, lifestyles, lifecycles, etc to survive and make daily life easy respectable and developed. So, general list of indigenous knowledge of Tharu is given bellow.

1.     Baidawa system (Medicinal Plants)

2.     Organisational system

3.     Guruwa system (Mantar)

4.     Foods and Drinks

5.     Skill (Handicrafts and materials)

6.     Ornaments and attires

7.     Culture (rituals, festivals, etc.)

8.     Architecture

9.     Language and Literature

10.                        Sports and games

11.                        Agricultural farming

12.                        Fish farming and hunting

13.                        Land, forest and forest and waster management:

14.                        Mahutya (Elephant Driving)

15.                        Developing Immune against Malaria

16.                        Traditional Birth Attendance (Sohrinya)

17.                        Message

18.                        Animal Farming

19.                        Fold song and folklores

Sitaram Chaudhary

Bardiya