March 31, 2011
Recent events in the Nepali-Indian border region (called Madhes or Terai) underline the ongoing lawlessness, political unrest and extreme poverty that plagues the southern swath of Nepal, habitually ignored by the power brokers of Kathmandu.
This week, for example, at least one person was killed and 41 injured in a series of bomb blasts in Butwal, Rauthat and Nepalgunj.
Human Rights Watch recently reported that at least 28 children had been kidnapped in Madhes in 2010. Nine of the abductions ended with the child’s murder, and in two cases their abductors raped the girls. In almost all the cases documented by Human Rights Watch, police failed to secure the child's release before parents paid ransom.
Last year, Nepal’s Home Ministry released a report suggesting that more than 100 armed groups were active in various parts of the country, focusing on sporadic attacks, intimidation and launching donation drives to fund their illegal activities.
Black Buddhas is an excellent new documentary, directed by Madhesi native Dr. C. K. Raut. It provides a long overdue look at the Madhesi situation, placing the current unrest in historical context.
This film is highly recommended, particularly for Westerners who have confined their Nepali experience to the Kathmandu Valley and Himalayan destinations.
To see the trailer: CLICK HERE
To purchase a copy of the DVD -- People (other than in Nepal/India) can order here:
http://blackbuddhas.com/buy.html
For the Nepali-Indian audience, the DVD will be available for wide-circulation in mid-summer to early fall. For earlier purchase, you can register your interest at the Black Buddhas website:
http://blackbuddhas.com/contact.html
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR: Dr. C. K. Raut was born in Mahadeva Village, in the Saptari district of Nepal. He attended primary school in his home village, and secondary school in nearby Katti Village. He went on to study at Tribhuvan University (Nepal), Tokyo University (Japan) and Cambridge University (UK). Dr. Raut is president of the Non-Resident Madheshis Association, a global Diaspora organization of Madhesis living abroad.
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