WELCOME ! All OF YOU. Why a Secular Republican Constitution for - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

10/15/2009 1

WELCOME ! All OF YOU.

“Why a Secular Republican Constitution for the Former Last Hindu Kingdom of Nepal?" By Khimlal Devkota

Symposium on Constitutional Designs for Diversity and Conflict Jakarta, Indonesia 12-15 Oct.2009

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Chapter I 1. Background:

• 12 years people's war led by Nepal

Communist Party [Maoist].

• popular movement of 2006 .
• The peaceful and successful election
• f April 2008 has ensured one of the

most representative Constituent Assembly.

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continued tinued

• More than two century old Monarchy,

based on Hinduism, feudalism and autocratic system of governance abolished forever.

• A New federal democratic republican

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Continued tinued

• a secular state with a clear recognition
• f multi-religious, multiethnic and

multilingual character of the state and a clear commitment to equally deal with all religions and ethnic groups in Nepal.

• in the process of socio-economic

transformation of the Nepalese society in order to sustain the political achievements.

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continued tinued

• The drafting of a new constitution to

institutionalize those achievements.

• New constitution Making process.
• In fact, Nepal is one of the rich countries

having at least six constitutions within very limited time of six decades.

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Fact of Nepal and its political Development

Nepal is located in the southern part of the Himalayas, bordered with India in the South, East and West and with the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China on the North.

• Covering the area of 147181 square

kilometers, the terrain expands from very low land -60 meters high- to the highest peak of world – the Mount Everest.

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Continued tinued

• Accordingly, the country is naturally diverse and

rich in terms of climate, flora and fauna. The geographical diversity is adequately reflected in the socio-cultural life of the people.

• Demographically, it has the population of more

than 23 million.

• Nepalese society is multi-ethnic and multi-lingual
• society. There are more than hundred ethnic

groups most of them having their own mother languages and unique customs.

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Continued

• More then 100 spoken languages
• 59 ethnic groups.
• Nepali official language and all spoken

mothertongue known as Language of the Nation

• As per population census 2001
• Hindu 18330121,
• Buddha 2442520,
• Islam 954023,

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Continued tinued

• Kirat 188106,
• Jain 4108,
• Christian 101976,
• Sikh 5890,
• Bahai 1211,
• Others 78979

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Pol

• litica

tical l Dev evel elop

• pment

ment

• Restoration of Multi-party Democracy
• Maoist Revolution
• Royal Family Massacare and Coup
• Peoples Movement Second
• Maoist In Open politics

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Chapter II What is Religion and Secularism?

• Marx’s opinion is that religion is an illusion

that provides reasons and excuses to keep society functioning just as it is. Much as capitalism takes our productive labor and alienates us from its value, religion takes

• ur highest ideals and aspirations and

alienates us from them, projecting them

• nto an alien and unknowable being called

a god.

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Continued tinued

• The word secular means "of this

world" in Latin and is the opposite of

• religious. As a doctrine, secularism is

usually used in reference any philosophy which forms its ethics without reference to religious dogmas and which promotes the development

• f human art and science.

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Impact pact of Hi Hindui duism sm in Ne Nepal al

• King Personification of god Vishnu.
• Politics related with Hindu religion.
• Traditions, Official functioning style,

structure of the society according to the Hindu Religion.

• Naming the place, persons goods
• Textbook teaching &learning process,

every event and practices Indication

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Continued.. tinued..

• Multilingual Nation but Nepali

Language as Official Language.

• Sanskrit University state funded.
• Lot of property in the name of Guthi.
• Government Holidays and Religious

practices Hindu based.

• Hindu jurisprudence and legal system.
• Untouchability beliefs practices.

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Why y Ne Nepal l became me a se secular ular st state? te?

• Royal Impunity.
• Massive Supression.
• One decade long Peoples war.
• 19 days long peoples

movement.

• CA,Secularismm &Republican.
• Unconstitutional Move

&Gov.Change.

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ChapterIII Revolutionary Changes

• social transformation,
• Economic development
• Republican
• federalism
• secularism.

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Continued tinued

• Religious Diversity&effort to Adderss
• Secular state in consolidation.
• Interim Constitution
• Muluki Ain
• Other Legislation
• Ensured Inclusion

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Con

• nstit

titut ution

• n mak

aking ng Exp xper erie ienc nce e an and pr d prac actice ce

• Hindukingdom was in History.
• Nepal-India Relation and its

connection.

• Secular state in consolidation.

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New arran rangeme gement nt

• Ultimately Nepal became

secular state.

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Conclusion clusion

• Achievement on Inclusion
• f diversities through new

arrangement.

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Continued tinued

• Religious freedom and Secular

state.

• Religious freedom fighters

achievement.

• Result of scientific Idea,practicle

motion and real spirite of the people.

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Continued tinued

• Lets makes Religious belief more

practical, more scientific and easier to adopt.Then welfare of the human being can be achieved.

• Let us try to address all type of

problems with realistic approach and address all grivances through your positive and captive manner that can be success.

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Thank you.

• KHIMLAL DEVKOTA
• ADVOCATE
• CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY MEMBER,
• NEPAL