Sunday, October 11, 2009

Mission Madhes


For the past few weeks, I have given a little bit of time to a new organization Mission Madhes. The idea is to reach out on a membership drive, initiate a discussion, and formally launch the organization when the time is right. For understandable reasons, I have received a lot of queries as to where the organization stands in relationship with ANTA.

Mission Madhes
ANTA
A global organization with members also in Nepal.
A diaspora organization based in the US.
Not yet formally launched. Has 22 members and growing.
Been around four plus years and has about 100 members.
Will hold elections for the Officer positions over email so as to maximize electoral participation by members.
Is not known to hold elections. Holds them in Atlanta at the convention of a little known organization that hardly any Madhesi attends.
Transparent.
Opaque.
Free membership.
Membership fee $20.
Uses the mainstream word Madhesi.
Uses the artificially concocted term Teraian.
Is not affiliated with any one political party in Nepal.
The leadership is known to favor one particular party.
Has officially stated will work in close cooperation with ANTA and other Madhesi organizations.
Has no official position on Mission Madhes.
Primarily focused on building a global Madhesi network to enhance interaction.
Focused on using the brand name in Pahadi settings where Madhesis are likely to be less than 1%.

The bottom line is this. There are more than 3,000 Madhesis in America. ANTA grew to about 100 and went stale. There is an urgent need to organize more Madhesis in America and to use internet technology to form direct contact points with the Madhesis in Nepal.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

No comments: