Echoes of Babylon: Displacement and Despair in Natives in Nepal

Dr.Vidhu Prakash Kayastha

The musical group "Bonnie-M" was founded by Frank Farrian. It includes artists such as Liz Mitchell, Marcia Barrett, Maggie Williams and Bobby Farrell. Bonnie-M has given many 'superhits' songs such as "Rasputin", "Daddy Cool", and "Sunny" Bonnie-M's popular song "By the River of Babylon" tells the story of the suffering of the Jewish people and how they sang on the banks of the river of Babylon in exile, remembering their homeland of Zion.

This song is also very popular in Nepal. Especially since the rhythm and rhythm of the song is filled with hand clapping and dancing styles, it has been popular at banquets since the 1970s and 1980s. The song has made history by selling millions of copies worldwide.

“By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down,

Ye yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion

They carried us away in captivity requiring of us a song

Now how shall we sing the LORD's song in a strange land?”

This is not merely a song; It is an ancient lament in memory of these individuals who were driven from their homes, taxed because they lived abroad and lost their homeland. Although there is a thousand-year difference between the time and geography of that Babylonian captivity and the time and geography of present-day Nepal, this voice of pain is very similar to the situation of the indigenous community of Nepal. Native people’s houses are being demolished and ancestral lands are being occupied across Nepal. In such circumstances, people are forced to adopt a more difficult path to survive: displacement and migration.

Invisible dreams on the banks of rivers in Nepal

Nepal is famous for its rich cultural pride and various ethnic groups. It is home to many indigenous peoples, who have their own mother tongue, traditions and strong ties to their ancestral land. For generations, these communities have lived in harmony with their environment by following oral histories and ancient customs. For them, a house is not just a wooden and mud wall. This is their identity, history and future.

However, in the name of "development" - where it is often said that physical construction is bigger than human rights and environmental protection - these households are seen as obstacles. From large-scale projects like hydroelectric dams and highways to urban expansion and protected areas, governments implement plans that work to remove and destroy Indigenous communities. This process is often a very inhumane task.

Imagine a community living on the banks of a tranquil river for whom agriculture and daily rituals are the backbone. Then suddenly government bulldozers come and announce that land is needed for the new project. Houses built as a result of love and hard work of many generations collapse and turn to dust. Families ask, their sacred places become desecrated and their common memories are lost. This is not fiction; This is a tragedy happening every day across Nepal.

From “Zion” to “Diaspora”: A Hard Road

The consequences of such displacement are devastating. When their old way of life is destroyed and left with no other choice, many Indigenous families are left without shelter, food and a future. The concept of "remembering Zion" assumes a terrible reality here - the desire for the same comforts and satisfactions of one's ancestral home, now confined to mere memory.

This disappointment often leads to the same painful choice: migrate. Displaced indigenous communities including thousands of Nepalis will be forced to go abroad in search of work. The Gulf countries, Malaysia, South Korea and India will be "unfamiliar lands" for them where they will have to live far from their cultural environment.

Ironically it was rather brutal. Those who contributed to Nepal's rich heritage are now contributing to the economies of foreign countries. Their remittances are destroying Nepal's economy. But is this a good thing at the cost of their human dignity and cultural continuity? With each forced departure, the general condition of Nepali society is deteriorating.

"How can we sing our father's song abroad?"

The painful question asked in "Song of Babylon" - "How can we sing the song of our fathers abroad now?" - It reflects the spiritual and cultural crisis faced by the displaced Nepalis. For indigenous communities, their songs, dances, rituals and language are closely linked to their ancestral lands. When they are removed from the land, their cultural practices will lose their place and their existence will be threatened.

It is a very difficult task to maintain one's cultural identity under the great pressure of living abroad. Children born abroad can never be fully connected to their parents' heritage. Language that once spoke very well is gradually deteriorating. The living traditions that identify their "Zion" will slowly die, and be replaced by the unity of the countryside.

Not exile, but towards a future of justice

This comparison with the “rivers of Babylon” reminds us that the pain of displacement is a timeless human experience. It calls for an urgent rethinking of the development model that prioritizes profit and material development over people and heritage. A developing country like Nepal faces complex challenges. But real development cannot be achieved by making its own vulnerable citizens suffer.

To break this cycle of displacement and forced migration, the Government of Nepal must take the following steps:

Protect indigenous rights: Enact laws that protect the land rights, cultural heritage, and self-determination of indigenous communities.

Free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC): No project will be carried out in indigenous areas without the genuine consent of the affected communities.

Fair resettlement and compensation: If displacement is necessary, provide adequate compensation, alternative good housing, and all possible assistance for survival.

Invest in the local economy: Create opportunities for people to live within Nepal, especially in rural and tribal areas, to reduce the need to travel abroad.

Recognize the importance of culture: Accept that indigenous culture is not an obstacle to development, but a priceless asset of the country.

The rivers of Nepal should keep flowing with the joy of living, not with the dreams of displaced people. Now is the time for all Nepalis to sing their songs in their own homes, on their own land, without fear of deportation.

***