Newars turn out in massive numbers in support of Nepal Mandala

In a never-before-seen display of commonality of purpose, Newars poured out onto the streets of Kathmandu on January 16, 2008 to press their demand for the restoration of Nepal Mandala in the country's new federal scheme. 

They came from all over the Kathmandu Valley, from Lalitpur, Kirtipur, Bhaktapur and unnamed villages, and converged on Basantapur where the organizers had erected a makeshift stage.  

Leaders of the eight entities that comprise the Newar Autonomous Region Joint Struggle Committee, the organizer of the march, each spoke briefly about their purpose, which further revved up the crowd consisting of eager youths, matronly women, college students, political cadres, Buddhist monks, merchants, farmers, et al. 

The speakers were Dil Bahadur Shrestha (committee chief), Malla K. Sundar (Newah Dey Daboo), Hit Man Shakya (Newah Rastriya Mukti Morcha), Urmila Dangol (Jyapu Mahaguthi), Naresh Bir Shakya (Nepah Rastriya Lyaymha Nhyaluwah), Sujeeb Bajracharya (Newah Jagaran Manch), MP Tirtha Ram Dangol, Narendra Bhakta Hada (Newah Dey Goo) and Hari Krishna Byanjankar (Nepah Loktantrik Newah Sangh).

Addressing the jam-packed gathering, Malla K. Sundar warned that conspiracies were afoot to declare the Kathmandu Valley a capital province or federally administered territory, and deny the Newars their rights. 

The demonstrators then marched in a massive procession from Basantapur over a 5-km long route passing through Makhan, Asan, Ratna Park, Bag Bazaar, Dilli Bazaar, Maiti Devi and Old Baneswar to New Baneswar, the seat of the Constituent Assembly.  

Estimates put the turnout at more than 50,000 people. The street was filled with the marchers waving banners and beating musical instruments. The procession was more than 35 minutes long. The numbers greatly inspired the participants besides helping to sway indifferent Newars to the cause of restoring their historical state. 

At the Constituent Assembly, leaders of the organizing committee handed over a memorandum detailing the Newar stance to Nilambar Acharya, member of the Constitutional Committee. Both the speaker and the deputy speaker of the House were out of town, which was why Acharya received the memorandum. 

Avenues Television and Sagarmatha Television gave a live broadcast of the program at Basantapur and the procession.