With the election of the House of Representatives in the air, work is underway to select a Barghar in the Tharu settlement of Bardiya.

Those who have the ability to lead the community and can shoulder responsibilities are selected for the post of Barghar every year after the Maghi festival. The new year of the Tharu community also begins from the month of Magh.

Representatives including Barghar are selected after assessing past work. Barghar selection starts from the day of Magh 1. Barghar Tihar Chaudhary of Sanjana Tol, Gulariya-5 says that only those who can give time to the community and shoulder responsibilities take this post.

Although the tradition of leadership is very old in Tharu society, it has been continuing. Since Magh 1 is the new year and a holy month for the Tharu, community leaders are selected based on religious beliefs, said Dinesh Tharu of Gulariya Municipality-5. Barghar had great importance in the Rana regime and the Panchayat system. 'At that time, the king, ministers, employees and other panchayats used to consult with Barghar,' said 68-year-old Khushiram Tharu of Barbardiya-3.

In the past, the barghar was led by men. Recently, women have also started taking responsibility for the barghar. Sulfi Chaudhary, 40, of Shanti Tol, Gulariya Municipality-5, has been elected as the barghar for the second time this year by consensus. The residents of the tol re-elected her because of her good work last year. Last year, she had resolved dozens of domestic disputes in the village by agreement.

She said that when the dispute is resolved by agreement, 5,000 rupees is taken from the dispute as per the decision of the committee. ‘The perpetrator should pay all the medical expenses to the injured victim,’ she said, ‘The fine amount is deposited in the committee.’

Last year, the perpetrator who tried to evict his parents by beating them in the neighborhood was evicted from the house after the son and daughter-in-law did not admit their mistake to their parents and apologize to them, according to the barghar custom, she said. They have now built a house elsewhere. "Many such problems arise, and they are decided by the committee," she said. "Even though there are many household chores, I have received full support from my husband and family in the work of the barghar." She said that cases of heinous crimes including rape and murder are handed over to the police as per the law without reconciliation.  

Those who have taken responsibility for the barghar say that more time should be given to the community to take charge of the barghar. In addition to the leader, the priest who performs the puja, the kulopani chaudhary, the iron smith, the watchman, the surahawa, the dhami, and others are selected.

There is a rule in the community that the barghar should be selected within the month of Magh.  A week ago, the main barghar and barghars including a woman in 5 toles were unanimously selected in Gulariya Municipality. Rup Lal Chaudhary, including the main barghar, have been selected as barghars in 5 toles.  Earlier, the main barghar was Kali Prasad Chaudhary.

The work of the village, toll and government offices is led by the barghar. Local Sharmila Chaudhary said that everyone trusts the barghar and makes decisions. 'In addition, the barghar instructs the committee members to sound sirens and honk to inform people when floods are coming,' she said. 'If young children and teenagers do not go to school, they ask their parents to go and make it mandatory.' Similarly, they make every patient aware of going to the health center, from pregnancy check-ups.

The Tharu youth in the toll do all the work at the wedding house for free. She said that at weddings in the village, they do all the work for free at the bride and groom's house, including picking leaves, finding firewood, cutting meat, carrying water, and feeding the guests. But the food and drink arrangements are made by the wedding house. When a person dies in the toll, more than one member of every household helps with the cremation and other rituals.

In the Tharu settlements of the district, villagers select bargars for volunteer positions including watchmen, guruwa, blacksmith, and dressmaker. After the watchmen are selected, interested candidates are selected for the posts of guruwa, dhami, and kulopani chaudhary in the village. Bargar Chaudhary said that it has been decided to pay an annual salary of 18,000 rupees to the watchmen selected in five toles.

In the past, bargars would decide who to vote for before elections. The current generation has started making their own decisions on voting, said 60-year-old Jaliram Tharu of Walapur. “We have been following the bargars since tradition,” he said. “Since most of the young generation of the village has gone abroad to work, the elders are trying to keep this tradition alive.” Bargar Chaudhary of Shanti Tole said that bargars play an equal role in elections to the House of Representatives, the Provincial Assembly, and the local level.