Bardia District: an Overview

-Ekraj Chaudhari

Bardia is the district with a significant number of rivers, a vast area of jungle and a wide stretch of grassland. As there are all kinds of facilities for animal husbandry, Bardia was a preferred place for herdsmen in the past. In Tharu dialect, herdsmen are called 'Bardia'. Thus the region got its name. Bardia has the Maan River and Banke district to the east, the Shiwalik hills, the Babai River and Surkhet district to the north, the Karnali River and Kailali district to the west and Baharaich district and some parts of Lakhimpur district of the Indian State of Uttar Pradesh to the south. Bardia has an area of 203,553 hectares of which 62.72% is forest area. Only 27% of the land area of Bardia is cultivated. Among the rivers in Bardia district are Karnali, Babai. Geruwa. Maan, Maila, Barai, Budhikula and Duruwa are smaller rivers. The Badhaiya Lake, which is noted as a major fishpond, is located in Bardia. About 5.42% of the area of Bardia district is covered by the rivers, their tributaries and lakes, while 4.83% of the land area is covered by grass-land and uncultivated land. The population of Bardia district is 383,720, out of which 193,041 are males and 190,679 females. The literacy rate in Bardia district is 39.1%. Male literacy rate is 51.6% while female literacy rate is 26.3%.

Naya Muluk :The new country

Napal had lost a large territory to Britain in the Anglo-Nepalese war of 1814 AD. The territory lost included the Terai region to the west from the Rapti River and to the east from the Kali River. After the signing of the Anglo-Nepalese Treaty of Peace in 1815 (which is also called the Sugauli Treaty), the East India Company Government had annexed this Nepalese territory into India. When the Indians revolted against the East India Company Government in 1857 (the incident is known as Sipoy Mutiny in the history), the East India Company Government asked for assistance from Nepal and the then Prime Minister of Nepal Jung Bahadur Rana himself led the Nepalese force to India. As he was successful in putting down the mutiny, the English Government was very pleased with him and announced a number of awards to him on November 1, 1860. The awards included 16,953 medals, more than 500,000 rupees in cash, the territory to the west of the Rapti River and the east of the Kali river and various titles. Since then the region between the west of the Rapti river and the east of the Kali river, which include today’s Banke, Bardia, Kailali and Kanchanpur districts, started to be known as 'Naya Muluk', literally meaning 'the new country'. The region then was covered with thick forests. As the region is terribly hot and diseases like malaria, smallpox and 'kalazar' were then very much common, people could hardly settle there. That is why, the region is still known also as the 'Kalapani' region.

Land system of the then Naya Muluk

Whichever country the Bardia region may have belonged to, Tharu farmers have always been the productive force of this region. It was the ancestors of the present Tharus who changed the rough terrain of Bardia into an arable land. Unfortunately, these diligent Tharu farmers could never become the owners of the land. All their descendants always remained under the control of the landlords and feudals, and their fate was to till the land where they settled, to serve the landlords, to adjust to the changing terms and conditions of share cropping as per the wish of the landlord and to fill the granaries of the landlord. During the 45 years period of the English rule, the Tharus served the landlords of Indian origin and later they served the landlords from highlands of Nepal.

Having received the land as gift from the British Government on November 1, 1860, Jung Bahadur distributed it to his wives, sons and high-ranking officers of the government. However, because of the severe climatic condition there and inconveniences in traveling to the region, it was hard for the land recipients to settle in Bardia. Because of the English rule for 45 years, the Indian landlords had good relations with the local people. That was why the new landlords could not use their land for their benefit. The region remained under the influence of the Indian landlords till the year 1980 B.S. Babusahib Nawab Ali Khan was the most prominent landlord of the then Bardia. The other Muslim landlords were Nawab Wakr Ali Khan and Nawab Sikander Jehan Begum. Later, as the Nepali landlords increased their influence on the administrative bodies, they began to displace the Indian landlords gradually. After the year 1990 B.S., Ali Khan was displaced by Nepali landlord Harihar Sharma. When the Land Reform Act was enforced in Nepal in the year 2021 B.S., Harihar Sharma had 1,000 bighas of land under his ownership. The Tharus, who were the natives of Bardia district, owned only 25% of the land by the year 1980 B.S. As the number of non-Tharu landlords gradually increased, the land was taken away from the Tharu landlords. Before the geodetic survey of the year 1969, Bardia was divided into 11 divisions known as 'Tappa'. There were 175 'maujas' in Bardia.

The divisions (Tappa) were:

1. Amatedhi

2. Malwara

3. Bhakharaiya

4. Patuwa

5. Madhela

6. Pipaiya

7. Fena

8. Padnaha

9. Rajhat

10. Pauda

11. Chhitpakariya

Bardia - the district of landless settlers

Despite the availability of arable land, grassland and pastures, only a few people were able to settle in Bardia district due to the intense hot climate and the frequent epidemic of malaria, smallpox and 'kalazar'. For this reason, Bardia had a small population. However, the population gradually grew after the enforcement of the Land Reform Program in 2021 B.S., initiation of the Malaria Eradication Campaign and the opening up of the east-west highway. The Resettlement Company brought into Bardia people under the name of flood victims from other parts of the country. The Tharus were being exploited in Dang district at that time. On the one hand there was increasing exploitation in Dang, while on the other there was plenty of arable land available in Bardia. So, many Tharus migrated from Dang to Bardia and they began to farm the uncultivated land. The then Government did not pay attention to the problem of the Tharus who were the first to make the land arable. On the contrary, the Government distributed up to four and half bighas of land and other provisions like rice, oil and ghee etc. to the people brought from other parts of the country under the name of the flood victims and forest consolidation. Thus, those who had toiled over the earth did not get any land but those who were introduced into the district easily got the land as well as other provisions. This made the Tharus of Bardia realize that they needed to launch a collective campaign to obtain the land. Then they started campaigning in the year 2026 B.S. As there was plenty of land in the district and the land distribution was also going on, the Government quietened the agitating people by giving away small pieces of land. This caused rumor to spread among the people in other parts of the country that it was easy to get land in Bardia. As a result, people, no matter whether they were landless or not, poured into Bardia. Forests were destroyed widely during this period. The landless people of Bardia never got land but the aliens were able to get land through their connection in the power centres. So the real landless people realized that they would never get land unless they were united. Consequently, they got united themselves and initiated their campaign.

Kandra Movement

Kandra is a place situated in Sanoshree Village Development Committee of Bardia district, and it is very suitable place for cultivation. As Kandra has plenty of arable land, lakes for fisheries, grassland for cattle, jungles for fuels and fodders and also a market nearby, the landless people chose it to set up their settlement here. After the political change of 2046 B.S., (1990) the landless people forcibly occupied the uncultivated land. Later, they were prosecuted by the "Bhalubhuttes" or staff of the Forest Office. Then the landless from Kandra and other 42 settlements of Bardia decided to occupy Kandra on Baishakh 9, 2047 B.S. As per this decision, 18,356 landless from 4,939 families settling in 42 different places gathered in Kandra and settled down. They occupied 900 bighas of land and started collective farming.

The settlers mobilized their people from all the 42 settlements to work as labourers in the collective farm. Kandra Village, as they had named it, was designed as a modern town. There were the Main Street, side streets, open spaces, schools, city hall, children's playground, wells for drinking water, temples, houses for stray animals and a health post - all set up by themselves. Since they had no bullocks, they ploughed 900 bighas of land with handheld spades. As they lacked in food grains, they would eat for lunch and dinner the wild fruits that they used to store by collecting from the jungles. They had set up entertainment spots in various places, where men and women could entertain themselves by singing and dancing. They had made some rules and regulations for themselves. Selling illicit liquor was completely prohibited. People were not allowed to light fire between 10a.m. and 5p.m. during summer days. Watchmen were appointed to guard the farm. The unity and the manpower of Kandra Village was so strong and well managed that they had built a 60-metre long and 2m wide bridge over the Babai River just in a couple of hours.

Organization of Kandra Village

The Organization of Kandra Village was unique. The village had 176 committees which included one main committee, five area committees, 42 spot (Phanta) committees, 42 Tole committees, 42 youth committees and 42 women committees. The Organization had 920 activists working under these committees. Unfortunately, the Organization split into two factions within six months due to the ego and personal interests of the leaders. As the Kandra Organization had been a great headache for the Government, the split in the Organization gave the Government a great relief. However, as the Government still could not overcome the Kandra Village so easily, it had to resort to using drunken elephants, bulldozers, forest security guards and even the army to destroy the Kandra Settlement. Eventually, the Government forcefully removed the squatters from Kandra on Mangsir 28, 2049 B.S. Runche Tharu was killed and other 27 squatters were injured in the clash. The then District Administration chief Deep Bahadur Rana, who supported the squatters, got his leg broken. Though the squatters were driven away from their settlement, they continued their struggle compelling the Government to constitute a commission to look into the problem of the squatters. Consequently, a commission was constituted in the month of Magh 2049 B.S. with Ms. Shailaja Acharya as its chairperson. The Commission distributed land to the landless farmers but the Government still continued to show indifference to the problem of the squatters. So, many of the squatters could not get land and they were left astray. The Government refused to give them land showing technical reasons. Even the squatters' leaders, who had already secured their land, did not show any concern for the problem of the general mass of the landless. They had no other option left than becoming the Kamaiyas to survive.

MP from Kandra

When the squatters from all over Bardia poured into Kandra, their unity empowered them so much that the political parties could not ignore them. On seeing the strength and unity of Kandra, the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) made the squatter-leader Kashi Ram Tharu its candidate in the general elections for the parliament in 2048 B.S. and he won that election from constituency no. 3 of Bardia. However, he could not do any significant work for the benefit of the squatters neither could he wage a struggle within his own party in favour of the squatters. It was also not likely that the Nepali Congress Government, which had a majority in parliament, would listen to the voice of the opposition party. The greatest achievement of the Kandra Movement is that about 4,000 squatters of Bardia district got land during the tenure of the squatter-leader in parliament.

Most of the squatters who got land from the Squatters' Problems Resolution Commission set up in 2049 B.S. were the Tharus. Land ownership for the Tharus of Bardia district was a new phase in the struggle of the landless. However, the genuine Kamaiyas still could not get land. Neither the squatter-leaders nor the political leaders could bring into their fold the Kamaiyas. It was as if there was an undeclared connivance between the squatter-leaders and the political leaders to not hurt each other's interests. Leaders and workers of all the political parties had Kamaiyas working for them.

If the squatter-leaders tried to instigate the Kamaiyas, it was sure that the leaders and workers of the political parties would not support the Squatters' Movement. In order to be included in the Squatters' Movement, the squatters would have to register their unbroken continuity in their participation in the Movement. Thus it was almost impossible for the Kamaiyas to be included in the Movement because they had no means to keep their body and soul together if they participated in the movement. Those who were unable to take part in the Movement without any break and give monetary donation were excluded from the Movement. Once they were excluded from the Movement, they would be automatically excluded from the list of those who would get the land. So, the squatters' Movement could not include the Kamaiyas except those who had a large family and thus had an alternative arrangement to keep their body and soul together. The fate of the Kamaiyas who were laden with the burden of 'Sauki' or loan remained unchanged.

The government statistics collected after the announcement of the abolition of the Kamaiya system shows that among the five districts where the Kamaiya system existed, Bardia housed the largest number of Kamaiyas, i.e. 38.15% or 6,979 families. The average household size of the Kamaiya families in Bardia is 6.3. Thus, 43,967 Kamaiyas have been emancipated now and 30,000 of them are children. Though Bardia has the largest number of Kamaiyas, it has fallen behind the other districts in the matter of their rehabilitation.

It has been mentioned in the government report that 494 bighas 9 kaththas and 3 dhurs of land has been distributed to 2,364 homeless ex-Kamaiya families and 201 bighas 10 kaththas and 11 dhurs of land to 1,230 families squatting on the unregistered land. They have been given the very land that they were squatting on. But most of the Kamaiyas have not seen their land yet. As plotting was done without field visit, some Kamaiyas have got useless land which cannot be cultivated anyway. The government has announced to give 75 cubic feet of timber to each family for their housing. But not a single ex-Kamaiya of Bardia district has got the timber yet. Bardia district does not lack timber as 62.72% of the area is covered with forest. The Government has announced to give ten thousand rupees to each family. However, only Rs. 16,576,000.00 out of the Rs. 26,910,000.00 allocated for this purpose has been distributed by the end of the month of Asar (june/July) this year. The money should have been given along with the timber. As the money has been distributed earlier, most of the ex-Kamaiyas are likely to misuse it by spending it on their daily needs.

About two thousand freed Kamaiyas staying at Launghawa Phant, Gurjaranha and Bangai of Bardia have not got their Kamaiya ID card yet. The government has recently decided to distribute forms to issue the Kamaiya ID card. However, it should be regarded as an achievement that about 43,000 Kamaiyas from 6,979 families have been emancipated. Though they have been freed, they are not experiencing freedom as they still lack food and shelter. So, both the government and non-government bodies should work together to make an integrated plan and implement it for the benefit of the freed Kamaiyas.

Royal Bardia National Park

Royal Bardia National Park stretches over an area of 96,800 hectares covering 47.55% land of Bardia district. It is the largest national park in the terai region and is full of geographical diversities. Royal Bardia National Park stretches from the hill to the terai and includes the grassland, rivers, tributaries and lakes within it. Royal Bardia National Park has big terrestrial animals like tigers, elephants, rhinos, spotted deer and aquatic animals like alligators, crocodiles and dolphins. There are thirty species of mammals and 230 sub-species of birds including 'Dhanesh' and cranes in this national park. Similarly, there are various types of fishes, pythons and snakes. In order to preserve the culture of the Tharus, the indigenous people of Bardia district, the Royal Bardia National Park has set up a Tharu cultural museum. Likewise, various national and international organizations have been carrying out programs to promote relations between the national park and the human inhabitants within it and as a result the national park and its inhabitants have sound relations right now. As the national park is ready to give 50% of its income to the local communities, the local inhabitants are now also working for the conservation of the national park.

Black Buck Sanctuary

Royal Bardia National Park has set up the 'Black Buck Sanctuary' at Khairapur of Gulariya Municipality of Bardia district to protect the unique wild life black buck. The sanctuary extends over 260 bighas of land. Black buck, or Krishnasar as it is called locally, is one of the endangered species of wild animals. Gulariya Municipality and CCEW, an NGO, have provided assistance to the national park to establish this sanctuary, which at present has 65 Black Bucks within it.

Conclusion

Bardia district is an easily accessible place from geographical point of view but there is only one motorable road, except the Mahendra Highway, to the district. There is no other black-topped road that links the Mahendra Highway with the district headquarters. 82.76% of the manpower of Bardia district is engaged in agriculture and fishery. Bardia exports about 55,000 metric tons of food grains every year. 'Bhaura Tappa', which is an area surrounded by a river making it a virtual island, has 11 VDCs in it and it is noted for agricultural production in Bardia. There is no good road to the district headquarters from Bhaura Tappa. So, it is difficult to export the products from here. Rice, wheat and potatoes are grown in Bardia, but as there are no cold storage facilities, most of the potatoes get rotten away or the farmers have to sell them at a very cheap price. Vegetables also grow well in Bardia. However, the market for them is not developed as yet. So, it is necessary to lay emphasis on agriculture to utilize the manpower of Bardia.

In 2058/59, the government has allotted 25.07% of its total budget for irrigation but due to the traditional method of farming and the lack of well-managed market, farmers have not been able to benefit from agriculture. The number of people going to other districts of Nepal and India in search of job is increasing day by day. Therefore, a properly thought out long-term agricultural plan and collective effort of government and non-government institutions are essential for proper utilization of the vast natural resources available there. Education is the key to development but Bardia falls far behind the other districts in education. Literacy rate in Bardia is 39.1% only whereas the national level average is 59.9%. It is regrettable that female literacy rate is still lower at 26.3%. In Bardia 52.81% of the people are Tharus. Educational status of these people is quite low. Agricultural and educational upliftment is crucial for Bardia to be able to contribute to national development.