Key Terms
Jus soli
Citizenship through place of birth (right of soil).
Jus sanguinis
Citizenship through parentage/blood (right of blood). Nepal follows this principle.
Citizens by descent
Full Nepali citizenship. Requires proof that father is a Nepali citizen.
Naturalized citizens
Limited Nepali citizenship. Available when mother is Nepali and father is foreign, or when a foreign woman marries a Nep
Official state declaration
Nepal is "an independent, indivisible and sovereign monarchical Hindu State." State slogan: "one king, one country, one
Hill (Pahadi) groups
Approximately 30% of Nepal's population. Benefited disproportionately from discriminatory state policies — accrued wealt
Madhes/Madhesis
People from the southern plains bordering India (Uttar Pradesh and Bihar). Speak Maithili, Bhojpuri, Awadhi, Hindi — oft
Effect on women
Could not pass citizenship to their children. Effect on
Madhesis
Language requirement effectively barred most Madhesis from citizenship regardless of birth, residence, or family ties in
Key change
Replaced the Nepali-only language requirement with "any national language." Madhesis who did not speak Nepali became eli
Maoist demands included
End of monarchy, state secularism, federalism, land reform, welfare state, gender equality (specifically women's right t
Grievances
State neglect and exploitation had left Madhesis disproportionately poor, jobless, and undereducated. Politicians had us
Result
The two movements did not form a broad alliance. Madhesi women's specific concerns were sidelined by both.
One-time distribution
Permanent residents — including many Madhesis — could obtain citizenship by birth through a one-time distribution progra
Activists mobilized immediately
Street protests, political speeches, civil society discussion programs, editorials in Nepali and English press, and exte