Tharu people start selecting their community leader

BY MADHAV THARU,Dhangadhi, Jan. 19: The Tharu community people, who choose their leaders by themselves every year,   have started choosing their leaders after Makar Sankrati. The members of the community in Kailali will continue to select their Bhalamansa (leader) for the development of the village and social activities throughout the month of Magh.

The community chooses assistant Bhalamansa, secretary, Guruwa/Kaisauka and others under the leadership of Bhalamansa. The tradition is taken as a good practice of democracy since all leaders are elected every year.

Madhav Tharu, executive president of Tharu Kalyankarini Sabha, Kailali, said that the community had in the past chosen the leaders on Magh 2, but due to busy schedules of the locals, they had started selecting their leader throughout the month. 

He informed that in his hometown, Fakalpur of Godawari Municipality-8, people still select their representatives by Magh 2. 

The Tharu community is based on Bhalamansa system. Under the leadership of Bhalamansa, the community conducts development and construction works, public welfare, celebrations and other activities. 

Bhalamansa is the main leader of the community. Similarly, the community will have Aghariya (assistant Bhalamansa), Chaukidar who works as a messenger in the village, secretary who keeps the financial record, Guruwa who performs as shamans  ( dhami/jhakri) in religious puja and others. The Bhalamansa, Aghariya and secretary volunteers for their role while the Chaukidar and Guruwa take yearly corps. Lately, some of the Tharu villages have started giving mobile expenses for the Bhalamansa. 

Some of the Tharu communities call the process of selecting their leaders as Maghi Dewani, some as Bhura Khel and some as Gojnibojni. The leaders will present an annual report at the meeting with all the farmers of the village and once the villagers show their approval by clapping, the report will be passed in the meeting.

If the villagers are satisfied with the leaders, they can reelect the same leaders. Since the Tharu community follows the Bhalmansa practice, the local levels including Kailari Rural Municipality of Kailali and Shuklaphant Municipality of Kanchanpur have given legal recognition to this practice.