”I am happy to be named number one,” says Biswas Chepang. ”If I reach parliament tomorrow, I will represent the Chepang community. I will work towards eliminating the dependency that is prevalent in my community and making it self-reliant.”
What you should know
Biswas Chepang (33) of Bikat Korakgaun in Rapti Municipality-11, Chitwan, has been recommended for the proportional representation seat of the Dynamic Democratic Party (GALOP). His name is number one in the list recommended by the party, giving priority to indigenous peoples, minority communities and women.
He said that the party put his name on the proportional list without asking him. ‘I am happy to be number one,’ he told Kantipur, ‘If I reach parliament tomorrow, I will represent the Chepang community, I will work towards eliminating the dependency that is prevalent in my community and making it self-reliant.’
Biswas said that he will be represented as a youth from his community. ‘The main issue in this is employment,’ he said, ‘I felt that I should join the party to bring the backward community forward, that is why I accepted the offer from the party.’ He says that he is now trying to lead the tribal sector in the party as well. He is currently working in an NGO. ‘I did my Masters in Advanced Development in Sociology from Lincoln University in the UK,’ he said, ‘I am doing an MPhil in Development Studies from Kathmandu University.’
Currently, the Chepang community is densely populated in Chitwan, Makawanpur, Dhading, and Gorkha. According to the national census, the Chepang community has a population of 84,364. The Chepang community is often included in the community that parties exclude.
But Biswas did not reach this situation right away. The story of his life struggle is long and different. He is climbing the peak of success by living a very difficult life. He was separated from his mother when he was 6 years old. He studied in grade 1 in the village school. At that time, he did not know that he could study. Because there was no school nearby. It was difficult to find educated people in the village.
That is why he used to go to school to play instead of studying. The house was a hut. Hunger plagued him every year. His father used to work as a wage laborer to earn a living in the morning and evening. He could not come home. He was forced to live on the support of others. Later, he became obsessed with studying. His studies After listening to him, his father took him to the Antodaya Janajati Residential School in Parsa.
His father agreed to work in the kitchen of the same school, so he could study. Where he was admitted to the 3rd grade. He started working hard in his studies. One day, a member of the Avarnesh Club, Chepang, came from Budhanilkantha School, Kathmandu, to see the school where the children were studying. After seeing their condition, he decided to give a student the opportunity to study in Budhanilkantha. For that, he competed with 4 others. The exam was held and his name came out first. He was admitted. He failed in English when he was admitted to the 4th grade. Others were not allowed to fail. Since he came from a village, he got the opportunity for once. In 2065 BS, he passed the SLC with first class with 75.50 percent marks.
After passing the SLC, he had two options. Should he study Plus Two or A Level? He chose A Level. It was a 2-year course. He registered and was able to study. After completing A Level, he had a big problem studying Bachelor. He was not able to send money from home. When he was in school, he was ashamed to call himself Chepang. He used to introduce himself as Praja. After leaving school, he started introducing himself as Chepang. He started going to college. Wherever he went, he would say, I am Chepang. Later, he passed his A-level from Budhanilkantha. He visited a dozen colleges. Few responded.
He found a link to the Lincoln University website through his senior brothers from Budhanilkantha. He filled out the online application form on it. He sent all the necessary documents online. There was no fee for this. In response, we could not select you for the scholarship. A message came saying, 'You can come and study after paying the fee. We are ready to take admission'. His name was on the alternative list. After that, he lost hope.
A month later, the college replied, 'Congratulations. You have been selected for the scholarship. You will be able to come and study.' He returned to Nepal after completing his Masters. "I could have stayed there if I wanted," he said, "but I didn't study just for myself, I also studied to do something for my community, so whatever I do, I will do it for the benefit of the community."
