Madhu Kumari Mahara

मधु महरा १८ महिना लामो जस्ट फ्युचर्स फेलोसिप [जेएफएफ] मा सहभागी फेलो हुन् । जेएफएफमा जोडिएपछि स्नातक तहको पढाइ थालेकी मधुको ससुराली पर्सा, जगरनाथपुर गाउँपालिका–३, बिजवनिया टोलमा पर्छ भने माइत चाहिँ वीरगंज सहरमा रहेको छ । साहित्यमा रुचि राख्ने मधु समय–सन्दर्भ हेरेर तुरुन्तै कविता लेख्न सिपालु छिन् । 

पहिले मधुलाई आफू चमार जातको हुँ भन्न लाज लाग्थ्यो । किनभने अरूले जातकै आधारमा हेला गर्ने गरेको उनको खल्लो अनुभव छ । स्कुले साथीहरुले नै उनलाई चमारकी छोरी भन्ने र यसको बुबाले बाजा बजाउँछ भनेर हेपेर बोल्थे । स्कुलमा सरले नामभन्दा पनि जात काढेर बोलाउने गरेको र विज्ञान पढाउने सरले त क्लासमा जहिले पनि पछाडि बसाउने गरेको सम्झना ताजै छ । जातकै कारण स्कुल जाँदा एक्लै जानुपर्ने, साथीसँगी नै नहुने र कहिलेकाँही साथीको घरमा जाँदा घरबाहिर राखिएको तीतो अनुभवले उनलाई धेरै सिकाएको छ । अलिक थाहा भएपछि मधुलाई लागेको छ, “म बसेको ठाउँमा सानो सानो कुरामा पनि जातले महत्व राख्ने रहेछ । मैले आफ्नै जातको इतिहास पढें र बुझें । कसैले विभेद गर्दा सहेर बस्न मेरो चेतनाले दिँदैन ।”

मधुको बुझाइमा ब्राह्मण र शासकहरुले तहगत आधारमा शासन जमाउन जात छुट्याएका हुन् । समाजमा जात र जमिनबीचको सम्बन्ध गहिरो छ, यसले सामाजिक–आर्थिक हैसियत बनाउँछ । यसले लिङ्गको आधारमा हुने विभेदलाई पनि प्रभावित पार्छ । जात, वर्ग, लैङ्गिकता र यौनिकताबीचको सम्बन्धबारे गहिरो अध्ययन गर्न सकियो भने यी विषयमा गहिरोसँग बुझ्ने तथा लेख्ने बानीको विकास हुन सक्छ । विभिन्न अनुभव र अध्ययनपछि मधुले निर्धक्क भएर आफ्नो कुरा राख्न सिकेकी छन्, आफ्नो भोगाइको कथा लेख्न सक्ने भएकी छन् ।आफ्नो पनि कथा हुन सक्ने थाहा पाएपछि अब उनमा आफ्नो समुदायका अरुको कथा सुन्ने, गुन्ने र  लेख्ने उत्कट इच्छा जागेको छ । मधु जातले गाँजेको  समाजमा न्यायका लागि लेखनबाट दलित महिलाहरूलाई सबल र सचेत बनाउन हरदम क्रियाशील रहने उनको आकांक्षा रहेको छ ।

Following her participation in JFP’S inaugural 18-month Just Futures Fellowship, Madhu Mahara began her Bachelor’s studies. Her marital home is in Bijwaniya Tole, Ward 3 of Jagannathpur Rural Municipality, Parsa, while her maternal home is in Birgunj. A passionate literature enthusiast, Madhu has a natural talent for writing poetry on the spot, drawing inspiration from the moments and situations around her.

In the past, Madhu has felt ashamed to identify herself as a member of the Chamar caste due to the humiliation she faced. She recalls bitter experiences of her school friends mocking her as the "Chamar’s daughter" and belittling her father's profession as a musician. Even teachers would call  her using her caste instead of her name. She specifically remembers how her science teacher always made her sit at the back of the classroom. Her experiences of isolation—walking to school alone, having no friends, and being told to wait outside when visiting others' homes—imparted many painful lessons. As she became more aware, she came to the realization, "Even the smallest aspects of life where I live are shaped by caste. I read and learned about the history of my own caste, and now my consciousness won’t let me silently accept discrimination."

Madhu explains that caste distinctions were created by Brahmins and rulers as a tool to maintain hierarchical control. She believes caste and land are deeply interconnected, shaping both social and economic status and influencing gender-based discrimination. She believes that understanding the connections between caste, class, gender, and sexuality is key to writing about these issues effectively.

Through her experiences and studies, Madhu has gained confidence in expressing herself and sharing her struggles. Realizing the importance of sharing stories , she is now driven to listen to and document the stories of others in her community. In a society marked by caste-based discrimination, Madhu aspires to empower and raise awareness among Dalit women through her writings, striving for justice and equality.