It’s Martyrs’ Day today. Martyrs evoke a sense of sacrifice and the duty of the state to uphold the conviction and faith for which they fought. Nepal marks Martyrs’ Day every year to commemorate all the known and unknown martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the welfare of the nation and people. It is the day of commemoration of four martyrs—Shukra Raj Shastri, Dharma Bhakta Mathema, Ganga Lal Shrestha, and Dasharath Chand—executed by the Rana rulers in 1941 for struggling for the cause of democracy and fundamental human rights of people, and several others who fought for the country in later dates. Since 1941, many others have sacrificed their lives for the cause of the country including those who fought during the democratic movement of 1990, the republican movement of 2006, struggle for federalism in Madhesh, and during the civil war. They fought for a conviction and a cause with the belief that their struggle will change the situation of the country.

However, there seems to be an aberration in the way of giving recognition to someone as a martyr after 2006. The government started to accord martyr status rather randomly—even to those killed in non-political incidents. The government also started to provide one million rupees as compensation to the family of the martyrs, which in some cases encouraged people to claim the title. But we do not seem to have any defined criteria to declare someone killed as martyrs. In 2008, the government declared 6,344 people as martyrs. In 2010, the government declared an additional 1,619 people as martyrs. In February 2018, the government declared all civil servants, security personnel, public sector employees, and government teachers killed during the Maoist insurgency as martyrs. There are reports that the government is preparing to declare 2,601 more martyrs, including those who lost their lives in various incidents and accidents. If we put the number of martyrs declared by different governments together, including the latest number that the government plans to recognize as martyrs, the number is set to hit 14,798. The way martyrs are declared for anyone of the liking of political parties in power is a dishonor to those who heroically braced death for the larger interest of people and country. As the country marks Martyrs Day, it is time for us to ensure that those who died for the true cause for democracy and civil liberties get due recognition.

Every year, the government observes Martyrs' Day with various activities. The government response has been largely limited to the rituals of paying homage to martyrs at Sahid Gate, speaking a few words in praise, and considering that their job is done. Every year during the Martyrs week, the stories of those who sustained injuries during the political movement or the families of the martyrs struggling to make ends meet come out. There are such stories in Madhesh, hills, and mountains. The state needs to reach out to them and take measures to heal their wounds. It is sad to see that the political parties that pay homage to the martyrs have deviated, both in ideology as well as action, from the conviction and dream for which the martyrs sacrificed their lives. Democracy, rule of law, equality, social justice, and economic justice seem to be compromised, at times, even under threat, from the very actors whose colleagues or followers sacrificed their lives in the first place. Even eight decades after the four revolutionaries sacrificed their lives for democracy, the nation still seems to be struggling to institutionalize it. The true homage to martyrs will only occur when political party leaders align their actions with the ideals for which the lives were lost. Working for the people and the country, placing the collective welfare above personal interests, is the way to show true honor to the martyrs.  As we celebrate Martyrs' Day today, let us commit to fulfilling this noble vision for a better, more just Nepal.

 
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