Madhesi

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Madhesi ( Maithili : मधेसी) is a name for the inhabitants of the southern lowlands of Nepal ( Terai , also called Madhesh, after the Sanskrit word madhyadesh for "Central Plateau "). These are different ethnic groups that together make up almost half of the population. The Nepalese who live in the higher hill regions are called Pahadi .

The ethnic and language groups known as Madhesi include the Maithili , Bhojpuri , Awadhi and others. The Tharu see themselves partly as Madhesi, partly as an indigenous group separated from them. Most of the Madhesi are Hindu with a caste system , there is also a minority of Muslims .

Some Pahadi consider the Madhesi to be “fake Nepalese” or immigrant Indians, and the term “Indian” (marsya) is used as an insult to them. Many Madhesi feel marginalized in the state of Nepal as a whole , as their languages, alongside Nepali, were not recognized and their share in parliament, government, judiciary, armed forces, etc. was far below their actual share of the population.

Madhesi activists therefore called for greater participation in the context of the Nepalese civil war , for example through quotas for the individual ethnic groups and a federal system. The Maoist rebels in particular showed sympathy for these concerns. After the peace agreement that ended the civil war in 2006, however, some Madhesi feared that their demands would again not be taken into account in the redistribution of power, and protests and riots broke out. Among the Madhesi organizations there were also militant groups, some of which advocated secession from Nepal. Some observers have therefore already warned of a new, ethnic conflict in Nepal.

In July 2008, Madhesi Ram Baran Yadav was elected the first President of the Republic of Nepal.

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