Nepalese caste system

The Nepalese caste system, like the Indian caste system, is highly complex and continues the traditional system of social stratification of Nepal. The caste system defines social classes by a number of hierarchical endogamous groups often termed as Jāt. This custom is found in both the Hindu and Buddhist communities of Nepal; but not harsh in Buddhist communities. However, in Nepal people sometimes erroneously use word caste to mean their race or ethnicity. Nepal consist of three main ethnic groups, indigenous, Khas and Madhesi. The ethnic indigenous groups are a different race from Khas and Madhesi people, Khas people who themselves are distinct from Madhesi people. The caste system has traditionally existed in the two races (the Khas and Madhesis), not in indigenous people (such as Gurung, Tamang, Thakali, Magar, Sherpa, Mananggi, Mustanggi, Walunggi and so on).

History of the caste system in Nepal

The Nepalese civil code Muluki Ain (1854) was written by Jang Bahadur Rana after his European tour. It codified social codes in practice for several centuries in Nepal that was rooted in Vyavahāra (traditional Hindu legal procedure), Prāyaścitta (avoidance and removal of sin) and Ācāra (the customary law of different castes and communities). These three are collectively called Dharmaśāstra. A traditional Hindu king was duty-bound to put these precepts into practice.This text is just misleading. This should be named untouchability in Nepal not Nepalese caste system. Worst information here

Muluki Ain divided Nepalese citizens into two castes "the caste whose water is allowed to remain pure" and "the caste whose water is defiled". Chiefs of the various castes were entrusted with sorting out issues related to their own castes.^[1] The heads of Kamis (blacksmiths) and Sarkis (tanners and cobblers) were called Mijhars. Similarly the head of Damai (tailors and musicians) was called Nagarchi. Castes of the first (non-defiling) category also had their chiefs. In this way community members might not need to go to courts or government offices to settle minor legal matters. Mijhars and Nagarchis, however, added to injustice and exploitation meted out to their respective communities. They were obviously influenced by their masters' natures.^{[citation needed]} Like their masters, they never hesitated to do injustice against their own communities. No appeal was heard against them.

From the medieval period onward, people could lose status through caste demotion. People considering themselves superior used caste as a pretext for exploitation. The lower castes were prevented from entering temples, receiving education, listening to high-caste people's teachings, worshipping, planting Bar or Pipal trees, digging ponds, and participating in fairs and festivals. They could be exiled from the country for looking at a high-caste woman. If they encountered someone of higher caste they would have to step aside. They had to pay jadau (obeisance) to any higher caste person. They could be put to death for rebelling against caste rules. If someone from higher caste married a woman from lower caste, he was not eligible for legal intercession against jarikhat (adultery). A sacred thread-wearing or even non-thread-wearing person would need to be ritually purified if they were touched by an 'untouchable'. Two-way conversation with upper castes was banned for them. These discriminatory provisions of the civil code were based on Hindu scriptures like Parskar Grihyasutra, Gautam Sutra, Manusmṛti and Shukra Niti.^[2][3] There was no provision for lower-caste participation in the economic, social, cultural and administrative spheres. They had to survive on low-paid manual work such as playing indigenous musical instruments, leather-work, practicing music, art and dance, pottery, general labor, cleaning latrines, and washing clothes. This system prevailed till by law until Muluki Ain was revised in 1962.

The present caste system derives from Shah dynasty founder Prithvi Narayan's famous saying that Nepal was a garden of four varnas and 36 castes.^[4] However this is only a rough estimate for the Hill region. The Newari community and the Terai community each has more than 36 castes.

Caste divisions

Caste categories diverged from the four varnas of the classical Vedic model and instead had three categories to accommodate the tribal peoples between the pure and impure castes. These were further classified into five hierarchies with the following order precedence.(Harka Gurung 2005:3,Occasional Papers in Sociology and Anthropology)

• Thagadhari, (Wearer of holy cord)
• Matwali
  • Namasyane Matwali (Non-enslavable alcohol-drinkers)
  • Masyane Matwali (Enslavable alcohol drinkers)
• Pani nachalne choichoto halnu naparne, (Impure but touchable castes)
• Pani nachalne chiochoti halnu parne, (Impure and Untouchable castes)

These categories imply that Thagadhari (Wearer of holy cord) remains in the highest hierarchy in the Nepali caste system followed by Matwali, (Non-enslavable alcohol-drinkers) and enslavable alcohol drinkers, touchable caste and lastly untouchable.

Legitimacy of the caste system

Muluki Ain imposes the caste system in Nepal in order to incorporate people of different origin and bring them under one umbrella of the caste system. The first categories of Thagadhari, which include Parbate Brahmin and Chhetri, are in the higher categories of hierarchy whereas Brahmins of Terai and Newari Brahmin as per Muluki Ain do not fall under these categories.

Matwali group, enslavable and non-enslavable falls under second categories, which include the people of ethnic origin and Brahmins of Terai and Newari Brahmins. It also includes those people in the non-enslavable group such as Magar, Gurung, Rai, and Limbu etc. and enslavable are Tamang, Chepang, Thami etc.

Untouchable are the categories of varnas system in ancient Manu's Code but some people such as Muslims and foreigners as well fall into these categories. Untouchables are divided into Pani nachalne choichoto halnu naparne, (Impure but touchable castes) and Pani nachalne chiochoti halnu parne, (Impure and Untouchable castes).

The creation of sub-castes in Nepal is unique. For instance, the child born of a high-caste father and a low-caste mother was a case of promotion. There were unwritten practices like not defiling and sprinkling water which still exists. Children born from wandering sanyasi fathers and intercaste marital relation also belong to the same category.

Supreme caste

Communities make ornaments, weapons pottery and others. The castes and tribes with different names: Kamis (Iron-smiths), Sunars (Gold-smiths), Lohars (Iron smiths), Vishwakarmas (V.K.), Sobh, Snehi Nepali, etc. They have been named after the professions they are found to be engaged in. For instance, one who is engaged in works related to gold is a Sonar; one who constructs a house or makes pots is an Od; the person who makes things out of copper is a Tamta; on who is engaged in iron-related works is a Lohar, one who is engaged in making utensils from wood is a Chunara; one who constructs good from bamboo is called a Parki; cloth weaver a Koli and Bhool for the person engaged in leather work.

During the Rana regime the person deputed to deal with the issues related to this community was referred to as "Mijhar". Some people are found to take this title as their surname or subcaste. In the western part, goldsmiths are called Mijhar. This community has been found to be distributed all over Nepal. It has the following subcategories:

• Aafladhoti
• Acharya (are gurus for raja (non-vegetarians) and Brahmin caste (vegetarians))
• Agri
• Banskota
• Baraili/Barali/Baral
• Bhatta
• Basel/Bashyal
• Bhattarai
• Bhool
• Bhusal
• Bipali
• Budhayer
• Bunchebhale
• Chamling(Rai)
• Chandara/Chandaro
• Chhistal
• Chilime
• Chunara
• Dahal
• Dalami
• Darnal
• Dayal/Diyali
• Deupate
• Dewal
• Dhakal
• Dhamala
• Dhanik (Dhanuk)
• Dudraj (Dudhraj)
• Dura
• Gadaili
• Gadal
• Gahate (Gahatraj)
• Gajmer
• Gajurel
• Ghamal
• Ghamghotle
• Gharti Ghimire
• Ghatani
• Ghimire (Sijapati and Ghimire also called "Shobh")
• Ghotane
• Giri
• Gotame
• Gurung
• Gowa
• Himchyuri
• Jandkami
• Kadara (Kandara)
• Kaini
• Kalikote
• Kaliraj (Shahoo)
• Kallohar
• Karada*Kasara
• Khadkathoki
• Khanal
• Khapangi
• Khati
• Koirala
• Kohli
• Kumaki
• Labad
• Lakandri
• Lamgade
  • Lamakarmi
  • Lamichhane
  • Poudel
• Latopi
• Lohar
• Lwagun/Luhagun
• Mahilipar
• Mar (Mahar)
• Mijhar
• Nagarkoti
• Nepal
• Niraula
• Padhyawati
• Pagri
• Pahari
• Palla (Ya)
• Panthi
• Parajuli
• Parakhan
• Pathak
• Phuyal
• Pokharel
• Portel
• Pulami
• Rahpal
• Raikal
• Rajilohar
• Rajopadhyaya
• Ramdam/Ramdamoo
• Rasali/Rasaili
• Raut
• Rijal
• Risal
• Ruchal
• Sadasankar/Sattasankar
• Sapkota*Sani
• Seti Mahara
• Setipar
• Setisural
• Shahoo
• Shahsankar
• Sherala
• Sijapati
• Silwal
• Singaure
• Sirpali (Shripali)
• Sonam
• Sunchyuri/Sunchiuri
• Sundhuwa
• Suni
• Tamata (Tamrakar)
• Thagunna
• Thatera
• Timilsina
• Tiruwa
• Tiwari
• Wod/Wor
• Wokheda
• Wagle

Community engaged in sewing and music

Traditional musical instruments played at weddings

The caste engaged in sewing clothing is called Suchikar (सुचिकार)or Sujikar (सुजिकार). Those who play musical instruments like damau (damaha, दमाहा), hudko, and devbaja^[5] -- particularly in wedding processions—are referred to as damai (दमाइ), dholi ढोली, hudke (हुड्के), nagarchi (नगर्ची) and nagdi. Originally they were called different names according to which instruments they played. Someone employed in sewing is now called darji (दर्जी), tailor, master, or tailor-master. Darji was once used only for Muslim tailors, but now it is used for all tailors as well as musicians. Similarly, damai or damahi has also undergone extension of its meaning. Initially it only meant someone who played the damaha. Now it is used for the entire caste.

Surnames Pariyar, Nepali, Darji and others have come in vogue recently. In western Nepal, Damai came to be used only lately. As damai is considered a derogatory word in the east, so is dholi in the west. This community is distributed all over Nepal. It has the following subcategories:

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• Aauji
• Asasai
• Bagchan
• Bagdas
• Bahak
• Bardew
• Bhandari
• Bhitrikoti
• Bhusal
• Boodhaprithi
• Budhapothi
• Chahar
• Chhinal
• Chuhan
• Damai Parel
• Damai Pariyar
• Darnal
• Das
• Daunde
• Deukar
• Dewal
• Dholi (also used by those who forgot their sub-caste)
• Dhyaki
• Gautam (Gotame)
• Ghale
• Ghatani
• Guinde
• Hingmang
• Hudke
• Jairu
• Kalakhati
• Kandel
• khadka
• Koirala
• Lamghate
• Luintel
• Magar
• Mahara
• Mahate
• Male
• Nagarchi
• Nagwag
• Nagwan
• Naubag
• Negi
• Nepal
• Panchkoti/Panchakoti
• Pariyar (Achhame, Chudal)
• Pokharel
• Raigain
• Raika
• Rana
• Ranpahenli
• Ranpal
• Ratna/Ratne
• Ratnapariyar
• Ryainjhyain
• Samudrasai
• Sasmundra
• Shahassamudra
• Shilal
• Shinal
• Shiwa/Siwa (Kukhure, Gotame, Bhede)
• Sooji
• Sudas
• Sunal
• Sunam
• Sunam
• Sunchyuri/Sunchiuri
• Thagunna
• Thapa
• Thatal
• Tiwari/Tikhatri
• khadka

Tanners and Cobblers

The Sarki (सार्कि) caste is mainly distributed in the Kathmandu valley and the remote western region. It is considered untouchable because it must handle dead animals and may also consume their flesh, including flesh of cattle that have died of natural causes.

There are two levels of Sarkis in western Nepal - with caste and without caste, which is called Bhool. It has the following subcategories:

• Achchhami/Achhami
• Bamrel
• Bahun
• Bastakoti
• Bayalkoti
• Bhangyal
• Bhul/Bheyanl
• Bhurtel
• Bisunkhe
• Chamar
• Chhamarki
• Chhatkuli
• Chudal
• Chuhan
• Dabe
• Dale
• Daulakoti/Dyaulakoti
• Dhamel
• Gaire
• Gairepipan
• Ghimire
• Giri
• Gothe
• Hitang
• Kamar
• Khatiwada
• Koirala
• Lamjel
• Lamsal
• Majboti
• Malbok
• Malbule
• Mangrati/Magarati
• Mudel
• Naghali
• Pahenli (Panyeli)
• Purkoti
• Ramtel
• Roila
• Rokka
• Ruchal
• Sarmaute
• Sejwal
• Shahi
• Sonar
• Shrimati/Sirimal
• Siraute
• Surkheni
• Suyenl
• Thagunna
• Thak
• Thakursya
• Thararai
• Togi
• Uparkoti

Community of Wandering Singers

Gaine playing Sarangi

There is a community known as Gaine (गाइने) or Gandharwa (गान्धर्व) who wander about Nepal singing ballads of historical bravery and gallantry, self-accompanied by a sarangi (सारङ्गी) -- a four-stringed violin-like instrument.

Gaine are also found settled in the Western and Mid-Western Regions, especially in Jumla, Kaski (Batulechaur), Syangja, Gorkha, Tanahu, Palpa, Gulmi, Rupandehi, Surkhet, Dailekh, Jajarkot, Rukum, Pyuthan, Dang and Salyan districts, as well as in Kathmandu Valley and Bhojpur in eastern Nepal.

Gaine are looked upon as untouchables, however Jhalak Man Gandarbha (1935–2003) rose to national prominence and performed regularly on Radio Nepal. Gaine sometimes use the surname Nepali. Only a limited number of other surnames sound original. Most are like surnames of Brahmins, Kshetris and Kamis, or are named after particular places. Gaine surnames are as follows:

• Bahun
• Baistha (Bistha)
• Baikar/Wagyakar
• Bhusal
• Bhusalparbate
• Bishnupad
• Bishwakarma
• Bogate
• Budhathoki
• Gosai
• Hukchingrana
• Jogi
• Kala Poudel
• Kala Kaushik
• Kalichan
• Kami
• Maheshwar
• Meghnath
• Sai
• Samudri
• Setaparbate
• Setichan
• Sursaman
• Thakuri
• Turki
• gayak

Dalit community

Dhobis

Though Dhobis, the community involved in the laundry profession (washermen), consider themselves superior to the untouchables, the so-called high-caste people treat them as untouchables. There are two categories of Dhobis in the Terai - Raj Dhobi and Dhobi. Raj Dhobi's water is acceptable while Dhobi's water is unacceptable. In the Kathmandu Valley also, Dhobis are considered untouchable.

Untouchables' initiatives for caste liberation

See also

• Ethnicity and caste in Nepal

References

1. ^ [1] Khatry, Prem (1995) "The Manjani system of the Danuwar state of the of the Kamala Valley: a brief study of an egalitarian judiciary", Contributions to Nepalese Studies, Vol 1, No. 1 (January, 1995), pp. 43-55.
2. ^ Drekmeier, Charles (1962) Kingship and community in early India. (Stanford: Stanford University Press), pp. 223 ff.[2]
3. ^ http://www.riiti.com/2008-05-best_of_shukra_niti_-_by_sage_shukracharya.html
4. ^ Hachhethu, Krishna "Nepal: Confronting Hindu identity", South Asian Journal, 2(October–December 2003), pp. .[3]
5. ^ http://www.spinybabbler.org/traditional_arts/music/instruments.php Damai instruments

External links

• Interview with Ian Martin: Caste-Based Discrimination in Nepal (23-10-2006)
• http://www.nepalawaz.com/2011/05/nepal-un-welcomes-new-law-on-caste.html