A Postgraduate in Political Science and former Minister for Labor and Transport Management in the Baburam Bhattarai Government, she is one of the few female politicians actively participating in mainstream Nepali politics at present.[break]
Post-hunger strike, late Wednesday morning, a fragile yet determined looking Giri talked about being a woman in a man’s world to The Week’s Nitya
Pandey in the peaceful library of her residence at Bishal Nagar.
The week
What was the hunger strike all about?
It was all about taking a stand and raising the voice in favor of what we believe is right. We had a clear agenda in our mind regarding what we wanted. We Madhesis have always been misunderstood, mistreated and manipulated. All we want is equality in terms of power and identity. Our demands were about representation based on population and allocation of 121 constituencies for 20 Tarai districts in the upcoming Constituent Assembly elections.
So have you achieved what you had aimed for?
I believe we’ve come out as a victorious political power. We’ve made our intentions crystal clear regardless of whether our demands will be fulfilled or not. I had the courage to say “no” to talks and go ahead with the hunger strike. However, the report approved by the Constituency Delineation Commission (CDC) on Monday is prejudiced. We’ve decided to mark September 2 as a Black Day. Notwithstanding these developments, I’m sure we’ve been successful in proving a point.
How difficult was it to stay hungry while waiting for the government to do something about it?
Ours wasn’t a fast unto death. It was an indefinite hunger strike. I knew what I was doing and I most definitely had no desire to die. Actually, it was all about putting mind over matter. When you’re fighting for something that you believe in, that cause becomes a reason for sustenance. Patience, willpower and perseverance remained my major strengths. I knew that government leaders were waiting for me to collapse so that I could be taken to the hospital since that would end the strike. But I held on until the end without getting discouraged, agitated or frustrated.
Are there any memorable events that you would like to share?
Staging a hunger strike isn’t a matter of joke. It requires a lot of mental willpower and physical stamina. At one point, the doctors advised me to take honey since there was deficiency of hemoglobin in my brain. I was quite open about it but people weren’t very positive about it. As a woman and a human being, I too need some privacy. But my intentions and activities were doubted when I didn’t remain in the public eye around the clock. Everyday, I got over those criticisms and fasted with an extra resolution and vigor.
Politics is often taken as a men’s forte. So how difficult is it to survive as a woman in a man’s world?
I think patriarchy is very much alive and active in each and every sector. In politics, it’s particularly dominant because this is the citadel of power. When I entered politics, I was aware of the position of women in this sector. But personally, I have never considered myself any less than any man just because I’m a woman. I have never felt that I would have done bigger and better things if I was a man. Surviving as a woman in a man’s world and making one’s voice heard is certainly difficult but definitely not impossible. Women have a different kind of power of patience, commitment, determination and compassion which comes to their aid in the long run.
Do you think the women from the Madhesi community are doubly marginalized?
Yes, they are. But that’s not a reason for us to be sidetracked, discouraged or deterred. There are good times and there are bad times. And the same goes with the people around us. If I’ve faced obstructions from my fellow leaders, there have also been some who have supported me a lot. I would like to heartily thank my fellow leaders Rameshwor Ray Yadav, Arjun Narsingh KC and Anil Jha for visiting me during the strike and showing care and concern for our cause.
While talking about marginalization of women, the agenda of reservation comes to the forefront. What are your sentiments on this matter?
Reservations, if it can open the gates of opportunities to women for a certain period of time, should be welcomed. As long as the beneficiary women are deserving, honest, diligent and competitive, I don’t feel at all critical about the system of reservation. It’s only a process of integrating women into the mainstream processes of development.
Election is also a process of integrating women into a political process. How do you think women voters can be better incorporated into the election procedures?
I believe awareness is the key in this matter. Women should be made conscious regarding their rights to vote and choose their own leaders and representatives. Another important thing to be acknowledged is that we women are biologically different than men. We need our private spheres for this reason. For example, in many places, women have to walk for hours to reach a polling booth and then they have to queue up for a long time, sometimes even with a baby in tow. The situation is particularly difficult for menstruating women. So I think separate toilets should be built for women at the polling booths to make things simpler and more convenient. These little things are actually quite important when it comes to the voting process.
And what are your immediate plans?
I plan to rest at home for a few days before resuming my duties. We’ll be busy preparing for the upcoming elections in the near future.
In the end, do you have any message for women in general?
Be strong. Be positive. Be sure of what you want. Be politically conscious of the world around you. And don’t be scared to work for what you believe in. This is a man’s world and a woman ought to be dignified, determined and diligent in order to succeed. Whether you’re at home or at work, hold yourself upright and feel pride in being a woman.
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