A Voice For the Voiceless
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The Jagaran Media Center has played a central role in the push to empower Dalits in Nepal. JMC was established in 2000 by Dalit journalists, and was at the front of the mass mobilization campaign to restore democracy (2005-2006). JMC has since helped to launch several campaigns against caste discrimination. Below are profiles of some of the JMC's members. They comprise JMC managers, based in Kathmandu; Dalit reporters, who work for the JMC from their districts; and reporters for Radio Jagaran, the JMC radio station that runs out of the town of Buttwal. These journalists have "broken" important stories and will play a key role in any 2010 campaign. Many have also produced their own photos of Dalit life, which are stored online at Flickr and can be accessed from the profiles below. The material on these pages was produced by past AP Peace Fellows Devin Greenleaf (2007), Jes Therkelsen (2008) and Jessica Tirado (2009).
JMC Managers
Dalit Reporters
Bhim Nepali, Reporter
At just 27-years-old, Bhim Nepali is extremely well respected among the Nepali human rights and media communities.
He's a successful journalist contributing to three radio stations and 10 newspapers, but journalism wasn't his first career. Bhim used to be a teacher. It was a career he enjoyed immensely until he was attacked and nearly killed for being a Dalit in an esteemed position. Bhim was slashed across his face and neck by an angry villager.
He spent several months recuperating. The attack was the most frightful experience of his life, but it sparked a desire to spend the rest of his life fighting against caste-based discrimination, as a journalist. Despite the low pay, Bhim wouldn't trade his profession for one day of better pay. Explaining what his life as a journalist means to him, Bhim told us, "God is in every poor man... working for the poor man is my way of praying." (Profile by Jes Therkelsens, 2008). See Bhim's photos.
Bhola Paswan, Reporter
Bhola Paswan comes from the Saptari district in the Eastern Teral which is one of the most tumultuous areas of Nepal.
In his community, he has become well respected among both Dalit and non-Dalit communities alike for his professionalism and courage to report the facts in the face of intimidation. His reports have brought justice to rape victims and students whose scholarships were embezzled by school officials.
He is active in civil society and serves on the Dalit Citizen Movement Central Coordination Committee in his spare time. (Profile by Jes Therkelsens, 2008). See Bhola's photos.
Dipendra Paswan, Reporter
Dipendra Paswan lives and works is Saptari. Located in southeastern Nepal Saptrai is notorious for being a hotbed of militant and discriminatory activity.
Dipendra lives in a small village located outside Lahan which lacks running water and electricity. Fifteen people live in Dipendra's home which is shared by all generations and their livestock. He is 23 years old. (Profile by Jes Therkelsens, 2008). See Dipendra's photos.
JB Bishwakarma, Reporter and Executive Board Member
JB Bishwakarma is an extremely accomplished 25-year-old journalist in Kathmandu. Since leaving his family’s home in a small village to advance his education JB has been passionate about promoting human rights. He writes academic articles for several newspapers and magazines, contributes to books specifically about Dalit rights, and sits on JMC’s Executive Board as team leader for human rights publications. JB believes that as the only media institution hailing from the Dalit community, JMC has the responsibility to inform all people about the urgency and significance of Dalit rights through information dissemination. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in mass communication and journalism at Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu.
JB believes that in order to establish a truly democratic society, Dalits must raise their voices—and enable all Nepalis to understand that issues facing Dalits are issues that should concern all citizens of Nepal. At the moment, JB is focusing his efforts on political inclusiveness and the active involvement of Dalits in the constituent assembly. He asserts that if the rights of Dalits are not ensured in Nepal’s new constitution, Nepal will not become a truly democratic society.
Discrimination has played a role not only in JB's professional life, but in his personal life as well. JB's wife is indigenous and there were many familial conflicts regarding JB being from the Dalit community. Although their families disapproved of the intercaste marriage, JB and his wife have happily made a life for themselves in Kathmandu. (Profile by Jes Therkelsens, 2008). See JB's photos.
Kamala Rasaily, Reporter
Kamala Rasaily has worked for years to promote Dalit women's equality and education in Nepal. Beginning her career working with Feminist Dalit Organization (FEDO), she now writes articles and reports on gender issues within the Dalit community. While working on caste based issues this driven 22-year-old also pursues higher education in her home, located in Hetauda.
As the daughter of a Dalit family, she has experienced discrimination in her friend's homes and is passionate about ending ignorance that fuels hate. (Profile by Jes Therkelsens, 2008). See Kamala's photos.
Laxmi Sunar, Reporter
Laxmi Sunar's ripe journalistic career has centered around reports of inter-caste marriage and discrimination cases in the Terai region (southern) of Nepal.
Laxmi is a university student attendining school in Narayanghat, located near Chitwan National Park. Unusual for Nepalis Laxmi lives alone while her family is located in a Dalit settlement outside the city. (Profile by Jes Therkelsens, 2008). See Bhim's photos.
Mahesh Kumar Khati, Reporter
Mahesh Kumar Khati's home in Baglung, in the Nepali hills, is geographically beautiful and socially divided. For the past two years Mahesh has produced radio shows fighting against caste discrimination, and bringing visability to stories from surrounding villages into the city of Baglung.
His work as a radio journalist has brought this 24-year-old into the spotlight in his community. (Profile by Jes Therkelsens, 2008). See Mahesh's photos.
Milan Pariyar, Reporter
Milan Pariyar is one of the most outwardly strong and inwardly driven journalists contributing to the e-Bulletin. He hails from the Doti district of far-western Nepal – long considered to be ground zero for caste-discrimination and Dalit rights in the country.
Due to the retribution media awareness can bring on Dalits victimized by the upper-castes, Pariyar, must also pay close attention to each story to ensure safety for the victims. He personifies his own stated principle that there should be no difference between saying and doing by remaining active in the Dalit movement.
In addition to his roles of journalist, advocate and human rights monitor, he is the editor of his own magazine called Jana Sahakerya, which means people working together. (Profile by Jes Therkelsens, 2008). See Milan's photos.
Prem Nepali, Reporter
Prem Nepali lives in Pokhara where he has enjoyed a career in journalism for more than seven years. Angered by the fact that many of his Dalit-related stories are neglected by the national Nepalise media, he continues to look for ways to bring the issues to both a national and international news audience.
He is exceptionally proud to be a Dalit, and knows their hardships since he comes from a family that has been bonded in agricultural labor. Consequently, he understands the plight of the people, and therefore gains their trust. (Profile by Jes Therkelsens, 2008). See Prem's photos.
Rupa Bishwakarma, Reporter
Rupa Bishwakarma is an anchor for Radio Bheri Aawaj (Regional Voice). In addition to being a Dalit herself, Bishwakarma also faces the challenges that come with being a female reporter. Women are not ordinarily seen traveling late at night for example, but she'll stop at nothing to get the story. Day or night. With this type of two-fold discrimination, she brings a unique insight to her reporting. (Profile by Jes Therkelsens, 2008). See Rupa's photos.
Shanta Nepali, Reporter
Shanta Nepali, from the military town of Dharan in central Nepal, has worked with a number of feminist, Dalit, and human rights organizations in the past six years. At 24-years-old, she has remained a leading journalists in her area, reporting on a wide range of equality issues.
Born into a military family Shanta is proud of her ablility to attend college, and now uses her education to help those who cannot afford one.
As a teenager she was teased for being Dalit and today works to end discrimination through writing and activism. (Profile by Jes Therkelsens, 2008). See Shanta's photos.
Umesh Biswakarma, Reporter
For years, Umesh Biswakarma wanted to serve his community as a politician. He understood the impact he could have on society as an empowered Dalit lawmake.
During his college years, he made significant strides towards becoming the regional President of the All Nepal National Free Student Union. However, due to the discrimination he faced in the office, he sought the means to broadcast the societal wrongs he and other Dalits face on a daily basis. Hence, his career in journalism was born.
Years later, he successfully published articles in numerous local newspapers and weekly magazines. He currently serves as Editor-in-Chief and an active reporter for Jana Sudhar, a local Nepali-language magazine that serves the Dalit constituency in Bhiratnagar. (Profile by Jes Therkelsens, 2008). See Umesh's photos.
Urmila Bishwakarma
At 24 years old Urmila Bishwakarma works for one of the most respected Dalit organizations in Nepal, starred the first Dalit-issue nationally televised soap opera, and has endured incredible hardship.
Two years ago Urmila's mother, father, and brother passed away forcing her to move to Kathmandu to support her younger siblings. She now lives alone with her brother, works full time, and attends college.
Last year Urmila was diagnoised with breast cancer and is currently undergoing treatment. Vibrant and full of life, Urmila is enthusiastic about equality for all Nepalis. (Profile by Jes Therkelsens, 2008).
Uma Paudel, JMC Regional Office, Program Coordinator
24-year-old Uma Paudel left her home in Tansen, Palpa district to help establish JMC’s regional office three and a half years ago. As one of only three staff members working in the district office, Uma takes a multi-pronged approach to advocating Dalit rights: she monitors local news sources on coverage of Dalit issues, conducts in-the-field reporting on local incidents of caste discrimination, and in certain cases will go the extra mile to actively intervene on behalf of the stakeholder at hand. In a recent case in which a landlord ordered his tenant to leave the property upon learning that the tenant was a Dalit, Uma confronted the landlord directly and was able to secure the tenant’s right to remain in his home. Though the Dalit tenant ultimately chose to vacate the property due to the mental anguish he endured, JMC’s intervention in this case served as a reminder to the community that such instances of outright discrimination will no longer be heedlessly tolerated.
A passionate advocate of Dalits’ access to education, Uma cites such access and advancement as the most crucial prerequisite to ending caste-related oppression. Only through education, she says, will Dalits be sufficiently empowered to emerge as a powerful, unified force and claim their full human rights. Uma, who is currently a graduate student in journalism, is shattering a major social boundary herself: upon attainment of her master’s degree, she will join a diminutive group of only fifteen Dalit women—out of two million Dalit women in Nepal—who hold graduate or postgraduate degrees (source: Association for Women’s Rights in Development).
Uma believes that the state has a responsibility to take an active role in establishing educational and awareness-related programs concerning Dalit rights for Nepal’s population in its entirety. Such actions, she says, are imperative to encouraging the sustainable recognition of Dalit rights in Nepal’s cultural and social fabric. The eradication of caste-based discrimination in Nepal is possible, she believes, but will be a complex and lengthy process requiring a dedicated commitment by both the state and civil society.
Uma states that although the Dalits face a plethora of severe issues in Nepal—which can sometimes seem overwhelming for advocates to address—she is able to tackle almost all of these issues through media advocacy. As such, Uma feels empowered and unlimited in her influential role at JMC. (Profile by Jessica Tirado, 2009).
Radio Journalists
Deepa Bartewa, Program Coordinator, Radio Jagaran
24-year-old Deepa Bartewa began her career in community radio while still a teenager, and has been working with Radio Jagaran for a year and a half. Growing up in an all-Dalit village, she was sensitized to the acute level of marginalization afflicting Dalit women both within the community and in the larger societal context. Determined to combat the myriad levels of discrimination that plague Dalit women, Deepa maintains a specific focus on women’s issues in her radio broadcasting. She currently runs three report-based programs, as well as a talk show program, all of which address Dalit women’s issues.
Deepa covers a comprehensive range of problems facing women in her programs, from maternal mortality and health issues to literacy and education. She puts forth a distinctive effort to shed light upon women’s issues that receive little to no reporting or attention in the community. For example, she recently focused a talk show episode on different gender dynamics in inter-caste marriages. While violence against inter-caste couples in Nepal—particularly if one of the partners is Dalit—is both prevalent and well-known, women from the Dalit community face a disproportionate level of abuse. She presented a preponderance of evidence indicating that Dalit women who marry higher-caste men face significantly harsher abuses than Dalit men who marry women from the higher castes.
Known for her forward and gutsy approach to reporting, Deepa has fearlessly confronted actors from all political sides in Nepal—conservatives, moderates, Maoists, and others—about the lack of a serious state-run effort to advance women’s rights. She has come to be known as a force to be reckoned with in the Dalit rights movement.
Deepa, citing the marginalization faced by women from every niche of society in Nepal, says that her most sought-after goal is the achievement of unity among women of all castes. She believes that such an effort is key to improving the situation of Dalit women as well, citing the importance of forging new alliances with fellow women who understand the dynamics of oppression. (Profile by Jessica Tirado, 2009).
Denesh Harijan Reporter, Radio Jagaran
A second-year bachelor’s degree student, Denesh Harijan works in the news and human rights departments at Radio Jagaran. After having grown up in circumstances of extreme poverty, he is the only person in his entire village to pursue a college education. An affable polyglot, Denesh is fluent in Nepali, English, Hindi, and two local Terai languages.
Denesh developed an interest in human rights advocacy after witnessing firsthand, as a child, the range of problems facing Dalits in the Terai area: child marriages, little to no access to education, abject poverty, and severe abuses against the lower castes. As a Dalit, he was treated differently by teachers while in primary school. His teachers, traditional observers of “untouchability” practices, often would not let him touch desks or books, would instruct other students not to touch him, and would punish him severely if he intentionally or inadvertently disobeyed such draconian commands. Reflecting on the humiliation and pain caused by his experiences growing up, Denesh focuses much of his reporting on abuses against Dalit schoolchildren.
Denesh endeavors to reach out to communities whom are generally excluded from mainstream media due to language barriers. He conducts several of his programs in local (non-Nepali) Terai languages to ensure that all stakeholders are afforded the opportunity to be informed, and to participate in, discussions regarding urgent community issues. As a result of his noteworthy contributions to inclusiveness in media, Denesh’s radio programs tend to generate the highest numbers of listener responses at Radio Jagaran. (Profile by Jessica Tirado, 2009).
Bina Sunar, Reporter
At just 20 years old, Bina Sunar has three years of JMC journalism experience under her belt. She currently reports for JMC’s Katwal Radio Patrika program, fulfilling myriad duties including broadcasting, conducting interviews, field reporting, profiling, scriptwriting, and mixing. She is also a second-year BA student at Tribhuvan University—Nepal’s top university—studying sociology and economics.
Bina remembers hearing the stories of caste-based discrimination and abuse that her grandparents faced on an extreme level, and that her parents experienced in many aspects of their own lives. Though she was born and raised in Kathmandu, Bina was sensitized to the plight of Dalits throughout Nepal—especially in the western and more isolated areas of the country, where caste-based discrimination is most acute—through the firsthand accounts of her family members. Determined to use her resources and skills to effect change, Bina decided to dedicate her career to the advancement of Dalit rights.
Bina has been listening to community radio regularly since she was a child, which she says has had a tremendous impact on her social and political outlook. Noting the marked influence of radio upon Nepal’s populace, she is pleased and proud to be contributing to such a paramount outlet of media for the furtherance of Dalit rights.
Covering a wide range of pressing issues facing Dalits, Bina has advocated and reported on cases concerning inter-caste marriages, discrimination at community water taps, rape and sexual assault against Dalit women, coerced labor within the Haliya system, landlessness, and extreme poverty in the Terai region. (Profile by Jessica Tirado, 2009). Back
Advocates
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The Jagaran Media Center has played a central role in the push to empower Dalits in Nepal. JMC was established in 2000 by Dalit journalists, and was at the front of the mass mobilization campaign to restore democracy (2005-2006). JMC has since helped to launch several campaigns against caste discrimination. Below are profiles of some of the JMC's members. They comprise JMC managers, based in Kathmandu; Dalit reporters, who work for the JMC from their districts; and reporters for Radio Jagaran, the JMC radio station that runs out of the town of Buttwal. These journalists have "broken" important stories and will play a key role in any 2010 campaign. Many have also produced their own photos of Dalit life, which are stored online at Flickr and can be accessed from the profiles below. The material on these pages was produced by past AP Peace Fellows Devin Greenleaf (2007), Jes Therkelsen (2008) and Jessica Tirado (2009).
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JMC Managers
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Suvash Darnal Suvash Darnal, a distinguised former journalist, is the founder of the JMC and chairman of the JMC board. In 2009, Suvash started a new Dalit research institution, the Samata institute. Read his analysis of the challenge facing Dalit in 2010. |
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Prakash Mohara Prakash Mohara is editor of the JMC’s publications. He also coordinates the JMC’s network of journalists, profiled on these pages. |
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Rem Bishwokarma, President Rem Bishwokarma, the President of JMC, is a well known Dalit advocate and activist. He helped initiate a successful mobilization by Badi women in 2007 to claim greater rights for their children. |
Dalit Reporters
Bhim Nepali, ReporterAt just 27-years-old, Bhim Nepali is extremely well respected among the Nepali human rights and media communities.
He's a successful journalist contributing to three radio stations and 10 newspapers, but journalism wasn't his first career. Bhim used to be a teacher. It was a career he enjoyed immensely until he was attacked and nearly killed for being a Dalit in an esteemed position. Bhim was slashed across his face and neck by an angry villager.
He spent several months recuperating. The attack was the most frightful experience of his life, but it sparked a desire to spend the rest of his life fighting against caste-based discrimination, as a journalist. Despite the low pay, Bhim wouldn't trade his profession for one day of better pay. Explaining what his life as a journalist means to him, Bhim told us, "God is in every poor man... working for the poor man is my way of praying." (Profile by Jes Therkelsens, 2008). See Bhim's photos.
Bhola Paswan, ReporterBhola Paswan comes from the Saptari district in the Eastern Teral which is one of the most tumultuous areas of Nepal.
In his community, he has become well respected among both Dalit and non-Dalit communities alike for his professionalism and courage to report the facts in the face of intimidation. His reports have brought justice to rape victims and students whose scholarships were embezzled by school officials.
He is active in civil society and serves on the Dalit Citizen Movement Central Coordination Committee in his spare time. (Profile by Jes Therkelsens, 2008). See Bhola's photos.
Dipendra Paswan, ReporterDipendra Paswan lives and works is Saptari. Located in southeastern Nepal Saptrai is notorious for being a hotbed of militant and discriminatory activity.
Dipendra lives in a small village located outside Lahan which lacks running water and electricity. Fifteen people live in Dipendra's home which is shared by all generations and their livestock. He is 23 years old. (Profile by Jes Therkelsens, 2008). See Dipendra's photos.
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JB Bishwakarma is an extremely accomplished 25-year-old journalist in Kathmandu. Since leaving his family’s home in a small village to advance his education JB has been passionate about promoting human rights. He writes academic articles for several newspapers and magazines, contributes to books specifically about Dalit rights, and sits on JMC’s Executive Board as team leader for human rights publications. JB believes that as the only media institution hailing from the Dalit community, JMC has the responsibility to inform all people about the urgency and significance of Dalit rights through information dissemination. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in mass communication and journalism at Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu.
JB believes that in order to establish a truly democratic society, Dalits must raise their voices—and enable all Nepalis to understand that issues facing Dalits are issues that should concern all citizens of Nepal. At the moment, JB is focusing his efforts on political inclusiveness and the active involvement of Dalits in the constituent assembly. He asserts that if the rights of Dalits are not ensured in Nepal’s new constitution, Nepal will not become a truly democratic society.
Discrimination has played a role not only in JB's professional life, but in his personal life as well. JB's wife is indigenous and there were many familial conflicts regarding JB being from the Dalit community. Although their families disapproved of the intercaste marriage, JB and his wife have happily made a life for themselves in Kathmandu. (Profile by Jes Therkelsens, 2008). See JB's photos.
Kamala Rasaily, ReporterKamala Rasaily has worked for years to promote Dalit women's equality and education in Nepal. Beginning her career working with Feminist Dalit Organization (FEDO), she now writes articles and reports on gender issues within the Dalit community. While working on caste based issues this driven 22-year-old also pursues higher education in her home, located in Hetauda.
As the daughter of a Dalit family, she has experienced discrimination in her friend's homes and is passionate about ending ignorance that fuels hate. (Profile by Jes Therkelsens, 2008). See Kamala's photos.
Laxmi Sunar, ReporterLaxmi Sunar's ripe journalistic career has centered around reports of inter-caste marriage and discrimination cases in the Terai region (southern) of Nepal.
Laxmi is a university student attendining school in Narayanghat, located near Chitwan National Park. Unusual for Nepalis Laxmi lives alone while her family is located in a Dalit settlement outside the city. (Profile by Jes Therkelsens, 2008). See Bhim's photos.
Mahesh Kumar Khati, ReporterMahesh Kumar Khati's home in Baglung, in the Nepali hills, is geographically beautiful and socially divided. For the past two years Mahesh has produced radio shows fighting against caste discrimination, and bringing visability to stories from surrounding villages into the city of Baglung.
His work as a radio journalist has brought this 24-year-old into the spotlight in his community. (Profile by Jes Therkelsens, 2008). See Mahesh's photos.
Milan Pariyar, ReporterMilan Pariyar is one of the most outwardly strong and inwardly driven journalists contributing to the e-Bulletin. He hails from the Doti district of far-western Nepal – long considered to be ground zero for caste-discrimination and Dalit rights in the country.
Due to the retribution media awareness can bring on Dalits victimized by the upper-castes, Pariyar, must also pay close attention to each story to ensure safety for the victims. He personifies his own stated principle that there should be no difference between saying and doing by remaining active in the Dalit movement.
In addition to his roles of journalist, advocate and human rights monitor, he is the editor of his own magazine called Jana Sahakerya, which means people working together. (Profile by Jes Therkelsens, 2008). See Milan's photos.
Prem Nepali, ReporterPrem Nepali lives in Pokhara where he has enjoyed a career in journalism for more than seven years. Angered by the fact that many of his Dalit-related stories are neglected by the national Nepalise media, he continues to look for ways to bring the issues to both a national and international news audience.
He is exceptionally proud to be a Dalit, and knows their hardships since he comes from a family that has been bonded in agricultural labor. Consequently, he understands the plight of the people, and therefore gains their trust. (Profile by Jes Therkelsens, 2008). See Prem's photos.
Rupa Bishwakarma, ReporterRupa Bishwakarma is an anchor for Radio Bheri Aawaj (Regional Voice). In addition to being a Dalit herself, Bishwakarma also faces the challenges that come with being a female reporter. Women are not ordinarily seen traveling late at night for example, but she'll stop at nothing to get the story. Day or night. With this type of two-fold discrimination, she brings a unique insight to her reporting. (Profile by Jes Therkelsens, 2008). See Rupa's photos.
Shanta Nepali, ReporterShanta Nepali, from the military town of Dharan in central Nepal, has worked with a number of feminist, Dalit, and human rights organizations in the past six years. At 24-years-old, she has remained a leading journalists in her area, reporting on a wide range of equality issues.
Born into a military family Shanta is proud of her ablility to attend college, and now uses her education to help those who cannot afford one.
As a teenager she was teased for being Dalit and today works to end discrimination through writing and activism. (Profile by Jes Therkelsens, 2008). See Shanta's photos.
Umesh Biswakarma, ReporterFor years, Umesh Biswakarma wanted to serve his community as a politician. He understood the impact he could have on society as an empowered Dalit lawmake.
During his college years, he made significant strides towards becoming the regional President of the All Nepal National Free Student Union. However, due to the discrimination he faced in the office, he sought the means to broadcast the societal wrongs he and other Dalits face on a daily basis. Hence, his career in journalism was born.
Years later, he successfully published articles in numerous local newspapers and weekly magazines. He currently serves as Editor-in-Chief and an active reporter for Jana Sudhar, a local Nepali-language magazine that serves the Dalit constituency in Bhiratnagar. (Profile by Jes Therkelsens, 2008). See Umesh's photos.
Urmila BishwakarmaAt 24 years old Urmila Bishwakarma works for one of the most respected Dalit organizations in Nepal, starred the first Dalit-issue nationally televised soap opera, and has endured incredible hardship.
Two years ago Urmila's mother, father, and brother passed away forcing her to move to Kathmandu to support her younger siblings. She now lives alone with her brother, works full time, and attends college.
Last year Urmila was diagnoised with breast cancer and is currently undergoing treatment. Vibrant and full of life, Urmila is enthusiastic about equality for all Nepalis. (Profile by Jes Therkelsens, 2008).
24-year-old Uma Paudel left her home in Tansen, Palpa district to help establish JMC’s regional office three and a half years ago. As one of only three staff members working in the district office, Uma takes a multi-pronged approach to advocating Dalit rights: she monitors local news sources on coverage of Dalit issues, conducts in-the-field reporting on local incidents of caste discrimination, and in certain cases will go the extra mile to actively intervene on behalf of the stakeholder at hand. In a recent case in which a landlord ordered his tenant to leave the property upon learning that the tenant was a Dalit, Uma confronted the landlord directly and was able to secure the tenant’s right to remain in his home. Though the Dalit tenant ultimately chose to vacate the property due to the mental anguish he endured, JMC’s intervention in this case served as a reminder to the community that such instances of outright discrimination will no longer be heedlessly tolerated.
A passionate advocate of Dalits’ access to education, Uma cites such access and advancement as the most crucial prerequisite to ending caste-related oppression. Only through education, she says, will Dalits be sufficiently empowered to emerge as a powerful, unified force and claim their full human rights. Uma, who is currently a graduate student in journalism, is shattering a major social boundary herself: upon attainment of her master’s degree, she will join a diminutive group of only fifteen Dalit women—out of two million Dalit women in Nepal—who hold graduate or postgraduate degrees (source: Association for Women’s Rights in Development).
Uma believes that the state has a responsibility to take an active role in establishing educational and awareness-related programs concerning Dalit rights for Nepal’s population in its entirety. Such actions, she says, are imperative to encouraging the sustainable recognition of Dalit rights in Nepal’s cultural and social fabric. The eradication of caste-based discrimination in Nepal is possible, she believes, but will be a complex and lengthy process requiring a dedicated commitment by both the state and civil society.
Uma states that although the Dalits face a plethora of severe issues in Nepal—which can sometimes seem overwhelming for advocates to address—she is able to tackle almost all of these issues through media advocacy. As such, Uma feels empowered and unlimited in her influential role at JMC. (Profile by Jessica Tirado, 2009).
Radio Journalists
Deepa Bartewa, Program Coordinator, Radio Jagaran24-year-old Deepa Bartewa began her career in community radio while still a teenager, and has been working with Radio Jagaran for a year and a half. Growing up in an all-Dalit village, she was sensitized to the acute level of marginalization afflicting Dalit women both within the community and in the larger societal context. Determined to combat the myriad levels of discrimination that plague Dalit women, Deepa maintains a specific focus on women’s issues in her radio broadcasting. She currently runs three report-based programs, as well as a talk show program, all of which address Dalit women’s issues.
Deepa covers a comprehensive range of problems facing women in her programs, from maternal mortality and health issues to literacy and education. She puts forth a distinctive effort to shed light upon women’s issues that receive little to no reporting or attention in the community. For example, she recently focused a talk show episode on different gender dynamics in inter-caste marriages. While violence against inter-caste couples in Nepal—particularly if one of the partners is Dalit—is both prevalent and well-known, women from the Dalit community face a disproportionate level of abuse. She presented a preponderance of evidence indicating that Dalit women who marry higher-caste men face significantly harsher abuses than Dalit men who marry women from the higher castes.
Known for her forward and gutsy approach to reporting, Deepa has fearlessly confronted actors from all political sides in Nepal—conservatives, moderates, Maoists, and others—about the lack of a serious state-run effort to advance women’s rights. She has come to be known as a force to be reckoned with in the Dalit rights movement.
Deepa, citing the marginalization faced by women from every niche of society in Nepal, says that her most sought-after goal is the achievement of unity among women of all castes. She believes that such an effort is key to improving the situation of Dalit women as well, citing the importance of forging new alliances with fellow women who understand the dynamics of oppression. (Profile by Jessica Tirado, 2009).
Denesh Harijan Reporter, Radio Jagaran
A second-year bachelor’s degree student, Denesh Harijan works in the news and human rights departments at Radio Jagaran. After having grown up in circumstances of extreme poverty, he is the only person in his entire village to pursue a college education. An affable polyglot, Denesh is fluent in Nepali, English, Hindi, and two local Terai languages.
Denesh developed an interest in human rights advocacy after witnessing firsthand, as a child, the range of problems facing Dalits in the Terai area: child marriages, little to no access to education, abject poverty, and severe abuses against the lower castes. As a Dalit, he was treated differently by teachers while in primary school. His teachers, traditional observers of “untouchability” practices, often would not let him touch desks or books, would instruct other students not to touch him, and would punish him severely if he intentionally or inadvertently disobeyed such draconian commands. Reflecting on the humiliation and pain caused by his experiences growing up, Denesh focuses much of his reporting on abuses against Dalit schoolchildren.
Denesh endeavors to reach out to communities whom are generally excluded from mainstream media due to language barriers. He conducts several of his programs in local (non-Nepali) Terai languages to ensure that all stakeholders are afforded the opportunity to be informed, and to participate in, discussions regarding urgent community issues. As a result of his noteworthy contributions to inclusiveness in media, Denesh’s radio programs tend to generate the highest numbers of listener responses at Radio Jagaran. (Profile by Jessica Tirado, 2009).
Bina Sunar, ReporterAt just 20 years old, Bina Sunar has three years of JMC journalism experience under her belt. She currently reports for JMC’s Katwal Radio Patrika program, fulfilling myriad duties including broadcasting, conducting interviews, field reporting, profiling, scriptwriting, and mixing. She is also a second-year BA student at Tribhuvan University—Nepal’s top university—studying sociology and economics.
Bina remembers hearing the stories of caste-based discrimination and abuse that her grandparents faced on an extreme level, and that her parents experienced in many aspects of their own lives. Though she was born and raised in Kathmandu, Bina was sensitized to the plight of Dalits throughout Nepal—especially in the western and more isolated areas of the country, where caste-based discrimination is most acute—through the firsthand accounts of her family members. Determined to use her resources and skills to effect change, Bina decided to dedicate her career to the advancement of Dalit rights.
Bina has been listening to community radio regularly since she was a child, which she says has had a tremendous impact on her social and political outlook. Noting the marked influence of radio upon Nepal’s populace, she is pleased and proud to be contributing to such a paramount outlet of media for the furtherance of Dalit rights.
Covering a wide range of pressing issues facing Dalits, Bina has advocated and reported on cases concerning inter-caste marriages, discrimination at community water taps, rape and sexual assault against Dalit women, coerced labor within the Haliya system, landlessness, and extreme poverty in the Terai region. (Profile by Jessica Tirado, 2009). Back