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A Case Study of Tharu Community of Nepal Narayan B Nova Southeastern University NSUWorks Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses CAHSS Theses and Dissertations and Dissertations 1-1-2016 Tharu Barghar-Mukhiya Indigenous Model: A Case Study of Tharu Community of Nepal Narayan B. Khadka Nova Southeastern University, [email protected] This document is a product of extensive research conducted at the Nova Southeastern University College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. For more information on research and degree programs at the NSU College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, please click here. Follow this and additional works at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/shss_dcar_etd Part of the Dispute Resolution and Arbitration Commons, and the Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons Share Feedback About This Item NSUWorks Citation Narayan B. Khadka. 2016. Tharu Barghar-Mukhiya Indigenous Model: A Case Study of Tharu Community of Nepal. Doctoral dissertation. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences – Department of Conflict Resolution Studies. (47) https://nsuworks.nova.edu/shss_dcar_etd/47. This Dissertation is brought to you by the CAHSS Theses and Dissertations at NSUWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of NSUWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Tharu Barghar-Mukhiya Indigenous Model: A Case Study of Tharu Community of Nepal by Narayan Bahadur Khadka A Dissertation Presented to the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences of Nova Southeastern University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Nova Southeastern University 2016 Copyright © by Narayan Bahadur Khadka April 2016 Dedication This Dissertation is dedicated to the Tharu, the cultivators of the Terai of Nepal. Also, this product is dedicated to my parents ----Harka Bahadur Khadka and Harikala Khadka, who are still living with Tharu people in Bara District of Nepal, without them, I would not be the person where I am now. Last, but not least, this work is also dedicated to my wife Bandana Khadka, who is incredibly inspiring, lovely and resilient, who was always with me during this journey. Acknowledgments It is my pleasure to thank those who helped me through the dissertation process with support, guidance, and participation. My immense gratitude goes to my Committee Chair, my mentor, Dr. Ismael Muvingi, Associate Professor, Nova Southeastern University, for his valuable guidance and time to help me complete my research. I truly appreciate my committee members, Prof. Dr. Cathryne Schmitz, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and Dr. Robin Cooper, Associate Professor, Nova Southeastern University, for their weighty feedback to complete the research. For sharing their experiences and knowledge, I am indebted to the following participants of the study: the Barghars-Mukhiyas, Matwans, Constituent Assembly (CA) members, (now Members of Parliament), Local Tharu Leaders (Guruwa & Mawan), scholars of Tharu culture and tradition, Mr. Ashok Tharu, and Mr. Tulasi Diwasa (Mehar). I want to thank Mr. Chudamani Parajuli, and Mr. Nityananda Sharma, author of the film Buhran, for their support and hospitality during my field visits in Bardiya, and Dang respectively. My acknowledgment goes to Ram Kaji Khadka, Prem Khadka, Govinda Thapa, Ramu Poudel, Amit Chaudhari, Ekraj Chaudhari, and Prakash Thapa for their roles in making the connection with the participants and assisting me during my fieldwork. I sincerely appreciate Ms. Sharin Francis whose suggestions and feedback during the process, as well as editing the entire dissertation, were remarkable. I also would like to thank my colleague Mr. Andrew Young for his valuable time to go through the draft and provide constructive feedback. I appreciate my friends Dr. Cathie Witty and Dr. Lila B. Karki for their helpful feedback as well. I would also like to add a special thank you Rebecca Allison for your hard work on the final editing of this research project. Last but not least, without my family’s continued cooperation and loving support, I could not even imagine completing my research. I am grateful to my father, Harka Bahadur Khadka, and my mother, Harikala Khadka, for their incredible motivation and inspiration during my field visit in Bara. I am extremely thankful to my wife Bandana for her hard work, patience and understanding during this journey. I appreciate my two children, Bipul, and Nyaika, who were considerate of my time and attention while I was very much engaged in the research Table of Contents List of Tables .......................................................................................................................x List of Figures .................................................................................................................... xi Abstract..............................................................................................................................xii Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ....................................................................................1 Background of the Study ...............................................................................................1 Statement of the Research Problem ...............................................................................6 Background of the Conflicts and Causes .....................................................................12 Economic Factors.................................................................................................. 12 Religious Factors .................................................................................................. 13 Political Factors .................................................................................................... 14 Historical Factors .................................................................................................. 15 Psycho-Cultural Factors ........................................................................................ 16 Demographic Factors ............................................................................................ 17 Research Questions ......................................................................................................17 Glossary of Terms ........................................................................................................18 Model Positions, Titles ......................................................................................... 18 Processes, Rituals, and Celebrations ..................................................................... 19 Organizations, Peoples and Places ........................................................................ 20 Scope of the Study .......................................................................................................20 Overview of the Dissertation .......................................................................................21 General Description of Target Population: History and Demography ........................23 i Scarcity of Recent Literature on Tharu Conflict Resolution Model ............................27 Theoretical Foundations...............................................................................................31 Theory of Basic Human Needs ............................................................................. 32 Marxism Theory.................................................................................................... 34 Social Cubism Model ............................................................................................ 35 Indigenous Worldviews ........................................................................................ 36 Chapter 3: Research Method ..............................................................................................39 Overview of Methodology ...........................................................................................39 Rationale for Qualitative Research ..............................................................................40 Case Selection Rationale..............................................................................................41 Case Study Justification ...............................................................................................42 Sampling Methodology ................................................................................................44 Collection and Management of the Data .....................................................................46 Recruitment of Participants and Collection of the Data ....................................... 46 Logistics of Collecting the Data ........................................................................... 47 Interview/Focus Group details .............................................................................. 48 Researcher Observations ....................................................................................... 51 Documents and Archives Review ......................................................................... 54 Data Management and Analysis Procedures ................................................................56 Data Management ................................................................................................. 56 Data Analysis Procedures ..................................................................................... 57
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