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The Current Socioeconomic Status of Untouchables in Nepal

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The Current Socioeconomic Status of Untouchables in Nepal julho as pollution is known in Nepali). According to the rules oforthodox Nepali Hinduism Brahmans. Chhetris and Thakuris cannot aceept cooked rice or water from an unlOuchable - or even allow them into their homes without being ritually polluted. (Some very orthodox high caste Nepalis even consider any kind of THE CURRENT SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS physical contaet with an untouchable to be polluting. And if polluted by this kind OF UNTOUCHABLES IN NEPAL of contaet they purify themselves with water. The Nepali caste system as dcscribed abovc. was codified in the National Thomas Cox Legal Code (Muluki Ain) of 1853 by Nepal's Rana rulers. The Muluki Ain went into effcct in 1854 and lasted until 1951. when the Ranas were overthrown (see Sharma 1977 and Bista 1991 for a good historical description ofthe Muluki Ain). I. INTRODUCTION The Muluki Ain discriminated among Nepalis on the basis ofcaste. For example. Brahmans. as the highest rankmg caste. were exempt from cerulln taxes I. The Caste System and Untouchability in Nepal and compulsory labor (for government projccts) that were required from members of other castes (sec Caplan 1970). Punishment for some crimes also According 10 onc dcfinition castes - as they arc found in the Hindu ca.ste varied depending on what caste the culprit belonged to. Brahmans. for example. systems of Nepal and India - arc "ranked endogamous divisions of s<x.:icly in were exempt from capiLal punishment, while members of other caslCS were not which membership is permancnt and hereditary" (Berreman 1972: 19X). However. (Sharma 1977:285). But for some other offenses the punishment for Brahmans it is imponant to realize that there arc significant differences hetwccn the (and other Tagadh{/ri Nepalis) was actually more severe than for members of classical Hindu caste system, as defined in certain ancicnl texts such a'\ Lhe lower castes. For example. high caste Nepalis who acceptct1 cooked nee from Manusmriti, and Nepal's caste system. untouchables wcre punishcd morc severcly than MatwaJiJ who were guilty ofthe same violation (Sharma 1977:286). And while Brahmans were not subject to In the classical Hindu ca'\te system, there arc four varnas, or c'.Ilcgorics, capital punishment they could be stripped of their high caste status and broughl including Brahman. Kshatriya. Vaishya and Shudra. In the Nepali caste system. down lO the rank of untouchable for ccrtain offenses· including incest, murder, however. there arc only three categories; Tagadhari (twice-horn). Matwali rape. marrying an untouchable or accepting water from them (Sharma 1977:285). (liquor drinking) and Pani Na Chaine (untouchables). The TagadhariJ include Nepal's highestcastes; Brahman. Thakuri and Chhetri. The mid-rankingMUlwali The constitution of 1963 abolished the Muluki Ain and, further. outlawed include most of Nepal's TibelO-Burman and Indo-European tribal groups. The all discrimination on the basis of caste. And yet there is still a caste system in Pani Na Chaine arc untouchable caste groups who arc associated with specific Nepal. The strength ofthe system varies. 10 a certain degree. from one part ofthe traditional occupations. (In this regard it is imponantlO note thatlagadhariJand country to another. And there is considerable variation in the extent to which Matwalis arc not compelled by caste considerations to take up anyone specific individual Nepalis follow caste-based principles. But the facl remams thal occupation. They may enter any oneofa variety ofprofessions -except Iin many untouchables in Nepal continue to be discriminalcd against in a variety of ways, cases] those that arc traditionally associated with untouchables). and that this is one major rea~n why their socioeconomic status (relative to that of other castes) remains poor. Tagadhari. Matwali and Pani Na Chaine Nepalis are all mnked along an axiom of purity and pollution ( sec Sharma 1977 and Bistn 1991 for a Many development policy makers in Nepal have become concerned comprehensive discussion ofthe Nepali caste system). Tagadhari caste Nepalis about the problems faced by unlouchables. In an effort 10 beller understand these arc (traditionally) considered 10 be the most pure while Pani Na Chaine caste problems some officials have implemented studies on. the soctoeconomlC Nepalis arc considered (underccrtnin circumstances) to he ritually polluting (or situation of unlOuchables in Nepal. Much of the data 10 thIS paper comes from 90 91 Occasional Papers in Sock>logy and Anthropology, Volume 4 (1994) two such studies. In one, completed in January of 1994, Save the Children USA about 7000 they are one of the smaller untouchable castes in Nepal (see (an international NGO), with funding from the UnilCd States Agency for Cox 1993). International Developmen~ surveyed 751 untouchables in 5 different districts, one in each development region in Nepal. In another much more limited study, Damai: Damai arefound allover Nepal. Their traditional occupation in 1992,Save theChildren conduelCda socioeconomic survey of30 untouchable is tailoring, although some Damai also work as entertainers, playing households, again, in 5 districts representing all ofNepal's development regions musical instruments (such as the drum and flute) and dancing and singing (see Cox 1992 and Sharma 1994)·1 at weddings and festivals. 2, Organization of the Article Dum: Dum are migrants from India who live, primarily, in urban areas of the terai working, for the most ~ as sweepers. This article begins with a description of the differenL untouchable ca'tes found in Ncpal. This is followed by an analysis of the discrimination faced by Gaine: Gaine live allover Nepal. Their traditional occupation is untouchables. The third section discusses economic conditions and educational entenainmentand, more specifically, playingan instrument known as the achievement in Nepal's untouchable communities. The fourth section gives Saringe and singing. Some Gainc also fish and make Saringes and sell recommendations for raising the socioeconomic statusofuntouchables in Nepal. them to tourists. The final section isaconclusion which gocsDvcrmajorpoimsrnadc in lhe article. Hudke: Hudke originally lived in the Jumla area of far west Nepal. But25 years ago they migrated to Surkhet, where they live (as squatters) II. UNTOUCHABLE CASTES IN NEPAL on government land and work as laborers and entenaincrs (see Sharma 1994). Untouchable castes in Nepal can bedivided into thrccdifferentcategories; (1) Those living primarily in the terai (the southern plains of Nepal). Thcsc Kami: Kami arc found all over Nepal. Their traditional occupation include Dum, Teli, Musuhar, Dusadh and Sundi (among others). (2) Castes that is metal working. Kami living in villages usually make and repair are predominantly found in the middle hills. These include (among others) Kami, agricultural implements, polS and pans, chains, locks and other hardware. Damai and Sarlc.i (who have higher respective populations than any other Kami who live in bazaar areas often make and sell jewelry. untouchable caste groups in Nepal). (3) Newar untouchable castes (the Newar are an ethnic group - who speak a Tibeto-Burman language - indigenous to the Kasai.· Kasai arc a Newar caste who live in most of Nepal's major Kathmandu valley. They have a complex, highly stratified society thaL includes bazaar towns. Their primary occupation is selling meal. Most Kasai both Buddhists and Hindus). Thcse include Kasai, Pode, Chyameand Kusle(see manage their own butcher shops. also Sharma 1994 for a description of these castes). Kusle: Kusle arc a Newar caste who live, mainly, in large bazaar What follows is a descripLion of the untouchable castes discussed in this towns. Their traditional occupation is cleaning temples and pUlling on article and surveyed in the two studies condUCLed by Save the Children. musical'performances (usually inside the temple). Badi: Until the 1960's most Badi worked (primarily) as traveling Musuhar. Musuharoriginally came from Indiaand arc found, primarily, entenainers, dancing and singing at fesLivals, weddings and parties. Over in the Jhapa district of southeastern Nepal. Their traditional occupation the last 30years, however, prostitution has become the primary occupation is brick making and other kinds of labor associated with construction. for Badi women, while Badi men usually fish and make drums. Badi arc Some Musuahar speak Maithali a, their native language and do nOl even found in the Banke, Bardiya, Kailali, Dang-Dcukhuri, Rukum, Rolpa, know Nepali. Dailekh and Doli districts of far wesL Nepal. With a total population of Pode: Podc arc a Ncwar ca'\tc who live in urban areas throughout 92 93 Nepal and make their living, primarily, as sweepers. In Jhapa, by contrast, very few high caste Nepalis will purify themselves with waterafterbeing touched by an untouchable. Andonly 15%ofuntouchables Sarb: Sarlci have a large population that is spread allover Nepal. surveyed in Jhapa(in the 1993 Save theChildrenstudy) reported instancesofnot Their traditional occupation is shoe-making. being allowed to lake water from taps used by high caste people. In addition less than 5% ofsurveyed Jhapa untouchables reported that they had been required to III. DISCRIMINATION wash their own glasses or dishes after eating in a restaurant (Sharma 1994:62), In the 1993 Save the Children study 84% of the tola! 751 untouchable Ongoingdiscrimination adversely affects untouchables in many different 2 respondents reponed thal they had been subjected tocaste-baseddiscrimination ways. For example,
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