Protestors Question Housing Discrimination in Kathmandu

Kathmandu. Maitighar Mandala is in the heart of Kathmandu. Where voices of protest, pain, and hope are sometimes expressed. A few steps away stands Singha Durbar – the center of power, authority, and administration. And within that center is the parliament these days. Nearby is the Supreme Court.

Perhaps because these three organs of the state can hear and see directly, some citizen or group of citizens is protesting at Maitighar Mandala almost every day. It has been a 'common platform' for voicing citizen concerns since time immemorial. Some voices spoken here compel changes in power, authority, and political strength. The latest example of this is the Gen Z protest of August 23 and 24.

A different kind of protest has been going on at this very place for the past 13 days. Through that protest, some youths are asking questions. Is the room empty? दीपा नेपाली from Ghodaghodi Municipality-4, Kailali, is leading the protest asking this question. In this place, which should be a symbol of the country's capital, opportunity, and equality, she has not found the answer to this seemingly simple question for 13 days.

Along with Deepa, thousands of those invisible faces stand, who are forced to hide their 'surname' when looking for a room in the alleys of Kathmandu, or face discrimination because of their surname. She says she is standing here to express the pain of all those who have faced discrimination.

“This protest is against the mentality of asking for 'caste' to rent out a room or not. This question is not only for Dalits who face violence because of their surname when looking for a room, but also for Madhesis who face discrimination due to geography, skin color, and language, and for people of different identities (LGBTQIA+) who do not get a room because of their gender identity,” said Deepa.

In her understanding, this question is also for human existence, dignity, and equality. “There are rooms in this city, but there is a big wall of discrimination that says 'it is not for you'. Therefore, this protest is not just for getting a room, but for the acceptance of our existence,” said Deepa.

There is more pain than anger in her voice, a pain that forced her to roam the streets of Kathmandu for nine years because of her caste. During this period, no landlord rented out a room after asking for her surname. Some rented it without asking, but later kicked her out after finding out. Some returned the advance payment, and some forced her to leave the room for various reasons after she had already moved in. Against that, Deepa had to go to the police station for many days. For many days, she went to the doors of the court. Feeling that she would not get self-respect and justice from that, she decided to seek answers not from individuals but from the state and stood at Maitighar.

“This question may sound simple. The problem of not finding a room in the capital is not new. It is not just me, even MPs and high-ranking officials who have reached the level of running the state have faced that pain,” says Deepa, “Therefore, this question is not just mine, and it is not just about housing problems, it is about the voice against the mindset of evaluating people by their name and surname.”

Maitighar, from where spoken voices sometimes knock on the doors of power. Sometimes they change governance, sometimes policy. Sometimes they show the face of society. Deepa said that she stood here this time to show such a face.

She has no complex demands in her hand. No political slogans either. There is just one simple question, which exposes an uncomfortable truth. The room is empty, but not for you.

This time, Deepa's struggle begins from where most stories of struggle end. “I did my post-graduation from Tribhuvan University, I also studied law, but my identity stood before my education and qualifications. That identity became unacceptable to many,” she shared her pain, “But I do not run away from problems. Yesterday, I struggled wherever the problem arose for justice. I fought with some individuals, but it wasn't possible that way. This mindset is the product of the state structure of yesterday, so I am here today to question the state structure,”

The capital Kathmandu – where there are opportunities, dreams. There are magnificent palaces. Many people's livelihoods depend on the rent from those palaces, but the irony is that rooms are rented out not based on financial status, but by asking for caste. “Openly, the room is empty here, but they say it is not for you. So where should we complain?” said Deepa.

For this reason, she chose to protest at Maitighar with the expectation of problem-solving from the state rather than individuals, and the protest, which started alone, has gradually gained the solidarity of others. “Initially, I decided to stand here alone, and my close friends supported me. In the following days, MPs, human rights activists, lawyers, students, and people from various fields have expressed solidarity,” said Deepa, “Now the government must listen to our voices. The current government has promised to apologize for the discrimination against the Dalit community in its 100-point agenda.”

Point 5 of the 100-point list of governance reforms approved by the Council of Ministers of the Government of Nepal on Chaitra 13 states, “Acknowledging the injustice, discrimination, and deprivation of opportunity faced by Dalits and historically marginalized communities from the state, society, and policy structures, the state will announce formal apologies and reform-oriented programs within 15 days as a basis for social justice, inclusive rehabilitation, and historical reconciliation.”

On that basis, Rabi Lamichhane, chairman of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), the leading party in the government, apologized from the 'rostrum' in the House of Representatives meeting on Chaitra 19 for the discrimination faced by the Dalit community from the state. Deepa said, “The articles of the constitution, the words of the laws, and the speeches in parliament are limited to paper. There is a law that considers untouchability a crime, and there is a constitution that ensures Dalit rights. But in practice, not even the door of a room has been opened. Therefore, it is not enough for the government to apologize; it must take concrete initiatives to change behavior.”

Deepa's Experience: The Barrier of Caste!

Before coming to Maitighar Chowk, she had walked many paths. The paths of many streets, police stations, and courts in Kathmandu. “I came here from Kailali nine years ago with the dream of a beautiful future,” she recalls, “But from the beginning, caste became a barrier. When looking for a room, I faced discrimination in many places because of my 'surname'.”

When she came to Kathmandu, Deepa thought the city would be different. Discrimination like in the village would not exist here. There would be equal opportunities, and one could pursue them according to their abilities, but that belief did not last long. She learned a lesson soon after arriving here. This city is not free from caste either. “Even in a society considered civilized and educated, there were walls of discrimination, so I had to face humiliation at every moment,” she says.

According to Deepa, she had to look for more than 9 rooms in 9 years. In every room, she had to face an experience and humiliation. “Many did not rent out rooms after asking for my surname.

Some kicked me out after finding out. This educated society did not accept my identity,” said Deepa.

When she left her home, she had dreams of pursuing higher education and serving the country as a government employee. After coming here, she has not been able to fulfill the burden of that dream. Initially, she had to roam the streets looking for a place to stay in addition to attending classes. Later, she went to the police administration and various courts. “The dreams I came here with are unfulfilled. Friends were studying, I was looking for a room. Friends were going to public service preparation classes, while I was running to the police and courts to show proof of being a human being,” she says, “But Kathmandu showed another reality; here identity is more important than dreams. Kathmandu considered my surname an enemy! I am not comparing, but stating a difference, the difference between opportunity and obstruction.”

More than suffering injustice, she found it difficult to seek justice. Deepa's experience is that speaking out for justice often leads to further harassment.

“When I started speaking out against discrimination, I came into the media, but this increased the problem more than it solved it. Many people recognized me, and it became even more difficult to find a room, being called the 'rebellious girl'. Neither the government bodies nor society provided a sense of justice.”

Her image was established as a 'poster girl' against caste discrimination, but the problem did not end. Rather, problems were added on top of problems. After becoming known, more 'doors' are being closed than when she was unknown. “Now, the situation is coming where I have to leave Kathmandu. When caste obstructs basic needs, how can the path to the future be smooth? Therefore, I have abandoned my personal dreams and am in a struggle to find self-respect. Let's see what happens,” she expressed her despondency.

Deepa said that the government's decisions and some local level policies in recent days have further increased the risk of discrimination. “When renting a room, mandatory citizenship or identification documents are being demanded. The rules have changed, but the mindset of discrimination has not. This has caused more problems,” said Deepa, “The government's intention might be right, but some people have started using it as a tool for discrimination. In such times, the state should facilitate.”

She stated that she wants decisive intervention from the government in matters such as ending all forms of discrimination in room rentals, zero tolerance against untouchability, ensuring the right to housing without discrimination, strict legal punishment and effective implementation, enacting laws related to rent to control brokerage in its name, and building an inclusive and just city.

“Until that intervention happens, I will keep questioning the government, asking, is the room empty? It should be understood that this question contains not just a room, but the character of a city, the responsibility of the state, and the rights of citizens,” said Deepa, “In recent days, Dalits, non-Dalits, human rights activists, MPs, and representatives of responsible bodies have expressed solidarity by coming to Maitighar with me. Now, the government should also come with concrete policies and express solidarity.”