The word 'Madhesh' is derived from 'Madhya Desh' meaning 'country in the middle'or Magadh, it was powerful state after fall the Brijisangh. Some scholars show its origin in 'Matsya Desh' meaning 'country of fish'.The social groups that constitute the present day Madhesh are Yadav/Ahir, Chaurasia/Barai, Kaanu, Koiri, Dhanuk, Teli, Amat, Rajbhar, Kurmi, Danuwar, Karna, Jha etc. For many years the jungles acted as a buffer between Nepal and India. The eradication of Malaria and large scale clear cutting of the forests made the fertile plains heavily attractive to migrants from the mountains and especially from the densely populated Indian side of the border. The mainly uncontrolled migration from India has always been of concern to the Nepali government and it was reluctant to grant civil rights even in the second or third generations. Today, about half the Nepali population lives in the Terai and a considerable proportion of the Terai population is of Madheshi decent. The Madheshi claim that although Nepal nominally became a democracy in 1990, historical patterns of government employment being won by Khas continued to the present day. This has recently lead to demonstrations, the outbreak of violence and the establishment of political parties demanding equal rights, fair representation, greater autonomy within Nepal and even independence.
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