Kailasa Country of “Hindu’s at UN

By Our Special Correspondent

At times conferences at the United Nations hit headlines because of hot debate on Kashmir or major terrorists’ attacks. But this time, the whole world was shocked  when an entirely new country named Kailasa represented by one gorgeous bejewelled Sannyasin     spoke  about the safety of  “Hindus,”  in the world. On top of all, the country claiming to be the biggest Hindu state is headed by infamous Swamy Nithyananda, the controversial godman accused of rape and kidnapping  and  a  fugitive. His “permanent representative” to the UN, Vijayapriya Nityananda, spoke fluent English and was also accompanied by a few other men and women.

The Sannyasin was wearing a saffron saree with rudraksha adorning her neck, maang-teeka on her forehead and thick gold waist band in her midriff. She has a tattoo on her right arm on Nithyananda. In her statement at the UN, Vijayapriya said India has persecuted her guru, Nithyananda. Later, Vijayapriya issued a clarification and said The United States of Kailasa holds India in high regard. The UN human rights office had said that her submissions at its public meetings in Geneva were “irrelevant” and will not be considered in the final outcome drafts. The UN also clarified that the delegation joined the public event as an NGO.

Interestingly, Kailasa’ is not recognized as a country by the United Nations or the international community. But it is considered a micronation, which is a self-proclaimed entity that claims to be an independent sovereign state. Though no one is aware of its existence, apart from pictures and videos that keep popping up in social media, it  came  into  news  after its representative participated in the United Nation conference on February 24 at Geneva.

‘Kailasa’ claims to be a movement founded by members of the Hindu Adi Shaivite minority community from Canada, the United States, and other countries. Its website states, ‘it offers a safe haven to all the world’s practicing, aspiring or persecuted Hindus, irrespective of race, gender, sect, caste, or creed, where they can peacefully live and express their spirituality, arts, and culture free from denigration, interference and violence.’ Recently, USK, the Twitter handle for ‘Kailasa,’ even called for applications for e-visa for e-citizenship.

‘Kailasa’ is not recognized as a country. To be considered a country, a territory must have a permanent population, a government, and the capacity to have relationships with other countries, according to the Montevideo Convention of 1933, which is part of customary international law. But according to reports, there are several small islands in South America that can be bought. Business tycoons often do the same and convert them into luxury estates. Until the land is used for something illegal, there shouldn’t be any problem with framing rules and setting up a system.

The thumb rule is your house, your rules. According to reports, Nithyananda seems to have taken the same route to establish his “country”. He purchased an island off the coast of Ecuador and named it ‘Kailasa’ after Mount Kailash in Tibet, a sacred site for Hindus. Within a year of his fleeing from India, Nithyananda  launched the Reserve Bank of Kailasa and released its official gold currency, Kailashian dollar. Kailasa has a flag called the Rishabha Dhvaja. The Kailasa state flag has Nandi bull and Nithyananda on it. The state emblem of Kailasa has Nithyananda on it and there is also the “vision for the Cosmic Constitution of Kailasa”.

In a nutshell Kailasa has everything, at least on paper, a state should have been barred international recognition. Latest reports revealed that the so-called Kailasa country not only participated in a UN conference but also signed “cultural partnership” with as many as 30 American cities as “sister cities’’ and have vital special congressional recognition by two famous law makers. Following uproar one such agreement by the famous Newyark city in New Jersey has been revoked.

The other cities include Richmond, Virginia, Dayton, Ohio, Buena Park and even Florida,  according  to  Fox news. “And so far, most of the cities have confirmed these proclamations  are  in  fact true,” the report said. The two members of the Congress Ms Norma Torres of California and Republican Troy Balderson from Ohio have given Kailasa “special congressional recognition,” reports said.

How Did ‘Kailasa’, A Fictional Country, Reach the UN?

Informatively, CESCR is a body of 18 independent experts that monitors implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of the UN by its state’s parties. Under the CESCR rules any member state, organisation or even an individual who feels  that their rights under the Covenant have been violated, they can approach the CESCR.

It is under this provision that ‘United States Kailasa’ representatives spoke during the discussion. She made use of this and asked the UN body what measures can be taken ‘’at national and international levels’’ to stop the self-styled godman’s “persecution”. But following widespread criticism  and  protest a United Nations official clarified that it will ignore the statements made by the representatives of the fictional country.