Madhesh

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Rice fields in Madhesh region of Nepal , Biratnagar

The Madhesh (Nepali: मधेस) is a region located in southern plains of Nepal. People who live in this region, are known as Madhesi peoples. The region's name in Urdu as referred by Nepali Muslims is ترای tarāī meaning "lands lying at the foot of a watershed" or "on the banks of a river; low ground flooded with water, valley, basin, marshy ground, marsh, swamp; meadow". The region was historically separate from Nepal until 1860 when the British Raj rewarded it to Nepal in-exchange for Partition of Nepal in which Kingdom of Nepal lost Sikkim, Kumaon, Garhwal and Nainital region.

Climate

Biratnagar, 26°N, 87°E
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     9     23 9     13     26 11     19     32 14     53     34 20     170     33 23     341     33 25     559     32 26     359     33 26     311     32 24     89     31 22     12     28 14     6     25 10 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation totals in mm Source: Levoyageur
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     0.4     73 48     0.5     79 52     0.7     90 57     2.1     93 68     6.7     91 73     13     91 77     22     90 79     14     91 79     12     90 75     3.5     88 72     0.5     82 57     0.2     77 50 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation totals in inches

Janakpur, 31°N, 77°E
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     33     20 6     39     23 8     30     28 13     9     35 19     28     38 23     145     39 25     280     34 24     308     33 23     133     33 22     22     32 17     9     27 11     22     22 7 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation totals in mm Source: World Weather Information Service
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     1.3     69 43     1.5     74 47     1.2     83 56     0.4     94 66     1.1     101 74     5.7     101 78     11     93 75     12     91 74     5.2     92 71     0.9     89 63     0.4     81 51     0.9     72 44 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation totals in inches

Biratnagar in Nepal near the eastern edge illustrates several differences:

• Moving inland and away from monsoon sources in the Bay of Bangladesh, the climate becomes more continental with a greater difference between summer and winter in Nepal.
• In the far western Terai, which is five degrees latitude further north, the coldest months' average is 3 °C (5 °F) cooler.
• Total rainfall markedly diminishes from east to west. The monsoon arrives later, is much less intense and ends sooner. However, winters are wetter in the west.

Region

Nepal Government has differentiated Terai into "Outer" and "Inner" Terai.

The 2011 national census counted 1.53 million population (51% of the national total) lives in the outer Terai. [Citation needed - 1.53 million = 51% of Nepal's total population?]

History

Eastern Madhesh including Janakpur was part of the Videha Kingdom.

The "Madhesh" is a morphological derivative of Madhyadesh (Sanskrit) or Majjhimadesh (Pali) and means the Middle Country signifying its location in the middle of the Indian Subcontinent.Terai (also written as Tarai) is presumed to be derived from Persian, meaning “damp”, and denotes the land at the foothills of mountains, often damp and swampy.

Madhesh and Terai, both have been in use indiscriminately and synonymously in general context, in present day Nepal, however, the former includes the connotation of identity and culture of people living in the region, whereas the latter refers to geographical feature or terrain characteristics of the region.

The Terai was heavily forested with Sal before heavy logging began in the 19th century, particularly for use as railroad sleepers. Foresters of the British Raj on another side of Nepalese International Forestry border were of the opinion that in ancient times the Terai was cleared and cultivated. But after decline of Buddhism, the area was largely abandoned, and quickly re-vegetated with shrubs and trees,although the Sal forest should have taken centuries to return.

The region was not a part of Nepal until 1860 where it was rewarded to Nepal by the British Raj due to the Kings support for the British during the Indian rebellion of 1857. It was historically separate from the rest of Nepal.

Inner Terai valleys historically were agriculturally productive but endemic to malarial. Some parts were left forested by official decree during the Rana dynasty as a defensive perimeter .The British believed that plainsmen and paharis generally die if they sleep in the malaria infested zone before November 1 or after June 1. British travelers to Kathmandu went as fast as possible from the border at Raxaul in order to reach the hills before nightfall.

A malaria eradication campaign by Nepal Government in the 1950s using DDT made the Inner Terai habitable for the first time.

Ethnic groups

Main article: Madhesi people

Tharu people are the first inhabitants of Terai, what is nowadays called as Madhesh by indian immigrants in Nepal. Tharu have been living in the Terai for many centuries, and reputedly have innate resistance to malaria. Following the malaria eradication program using DDT in the 1960s, a large and heterogeneous non-Tharu population settled in the region. Their proposed state/homeland is called Tharuhat.

Pahari farmers from the mid-hills moved to the plains in search of arable land including Brahmin, Chhetri and Newar. Tharus constitute the traditional population of entire Terai and Maithili consist of population in Eastern and Central Terai. High caste migrants from the hills have purchased, or otherwise got hold of large landholdings. Together with traditional Tharu and Maithili landlords, they constitute the upper level of the economic hierarchy, which in the rural parts of the Madhesh is determined to a large extent by the distribution and the value of agriculturally productive land. The poor are the landless, or near landless, Madhesh Dalits, including the Musahar and Chamar, as well as the traditional fishermen, the Mallaah, and some of the hill Dalits. In particular the Musahars rarely get other work than hard farm labor.

Economy

The Terai is the most productive region in Nepal with the majority of the country's industries. Agriculture is the basis of the economy. Major crops include rice, wheat, pulses, sugarcane, jute, tobacco, and maize. In the eastern districts from Parsa to Jhapa they support agro-based industries: jute factories, sugar mills, rice mills and tobacco factories.

Cities over 50,000 population in Nepal's Madhesh include:

Municipality	District	Census 2015	Economy
Biratnagar	Morang	266,674	agro-industry, education, trade/transport Hub
Birganj	Parsa	192,484	trade/transport hub, agro and other industry
Janakpur	Dhanusa	97,192	transport hub, agro-industry, education, health care, pilgrimage site

For a more comprehensive list, see List of cities in Nepal.

Mahendra Highway crosses the Terai from Kankarbhitta on the eastern border in Jhapa District, Mechi Zone to Mahendranagar near the western border in Kanchanpur District, Mahakali Zone. It is the only motor road spanning the country from east to west.

Cuisine

The staple diet of the region is rice, dal (lentils soup) and curry. On festive occasions, people prepare a number of fried items of vegetables as well as many specialities. Fish is also popular in Terai/Madhes.

Tourism

• Janakpur - The birthplace of Sita, wife of Rama in the Ramayana. Janakpur is a Hindu pilgrimage site. It was the capital of King Janak and is the birthplace of Sita. The ideal time to visit the city is on the occasion of Hindu festival of Vivah Panchami around November–December.
• Lumbini- The birthplace of Lord Buddha is a holy pilgrimage of Buddhist and also for Hindus. Every year millions of tourists come to visit this site all around the world.
• Salahesh Garden- The garden of King Salahesh is located in Siraha district of Nepal near Lahan. The main interesting thing of garden is flower that bear only one time in a year at that time a great festival occurs here.
• Chhinnamasta Temple
• Kankalini Temple
• Gadhi Mai Temple
• Chitwan National Park - Chitwan national park, with its 932 sq km of reserve area, is home to one-horned Indian rhino, tigers, leopards and rare Gangetic dolphins. One can enjoy elephant safari in the park.
• Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve - The reserve, composed of grassland and several small islands around Koshi river, is home to thousands of species of birds. One can also enjoy watching fresh water Dolphins, wild buffalos called Arna, deer, wild boars, pythons and crocodiles.
• Royal Bardia National Park - This 968 sq km of reserve accommodates Bengal tiger, one-horned rhinos, grey langurs, rhesus macaques, leopards, civets, hyenas, and sloth bears. It is also home to more than 250 species of birds.
• Other Towns - Biratnagar, Rajbiraj, Birgunj, Bharatpur, Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj, Dhangadhi

Notable people from Madhesh

• King Janak - Ancient King of Mithila or Videha.
• Sita - Also known as Janaki is daughter of King Janak and wife of Lord Ram who is King of Ayodhya or Awadh.
• Gautam Buddha - The founder of Budhhism and also known as "Light of Asia".
• Udit Narayan Jha - A playback singer of Bollywood.
• Gajendra Narayan Singh - Politician
• Ram Baran Yadav - First President of Nepal
• Parmanand Jha - First Vice President of Nepal
• Mehboob Alam - Nepal national cricket team player and Guinness world records holder by taking 10 wickets in one match against Mozambique.
• Binod Das - Former captain of Nepal national cricket team.
• Jitendra Mukhiya - Pace bowler, Nepal national cricket team.
• Aarif Sheikh - Nepal national cricket team player.
• Anil Mandal - Nepal national cricket team player.
• Rajendra Mahato - President of the Nepal Sadbhawana Party.

See also

• Tharuhat
• Tamuwan
• Limbuwan
• Nepal
• Geography of Nepal
• Janaki Mandir
• Alliance for Independent Madhesh
• List of regional and ethnicity based parties in Nepal

References

• Guneratne, Arjun (2002). Many Tongues, One People: The Making of Tharu Identity in Nepal. Cornell University Press. ISBN 0-8014-8728-5. Search this book on

External links

• Hachhethu, Krishna (2007). Madheshi Nationalism and Restructuring the Nepali State (PDF). seminar "Constitutionalism and Diversity in Nepal", organizd by Centre for Nepal and Asia Studies, Trubhuvan University. Kathmandu, Nepal. Retrieved November 23, 2012.

• Gaidge, Fredrick (1975). Regionalism & National Unity in Nepal.

Chaudhary, Deepak. 2015 (2011). Tarai/Madhedh of Nepal : Anthropological Study. Ratna Pustak Bhandar. nepal.

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