Inter-caste marriage in Nepal

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The Muluki Ain caste/ethnicity hierarchy of Nepal, 1854

Inter-caste marriage (Nepali: अन्तरजातीय विवाह pronounced [ʌntaɾd͡zatie bibaː]) is a type of marriage that is done outside of one's caste. Nepal has many castes and inter-caste marriage is generally considered taboo. However, this kind of marriage has been gradually gaining acceptance.

It is against the law to discriminate against a person for their "cultural and ethnic" background.[1] Nevertheless, most Nepali families disapprove of inter-caste marriages because "they fear they will become social outcasts".[1] According to research done by Jagaran Media Center, inter-caste marriage often leads to harassment, forced separation, displacement, and institutional discrimination.[2] Additionally, brides who are not accepted by their families were found to be at risk of depression and psychosocial difficulties.[3]

Background and reactions[edit]

In 1854, the Government of Nepal passed the "Muluki Ain" commissioned by Jung Bahadur Rana.[4][5] This law outlawed marriage between people of a lower caste with those of a higher caste.[4] In 1963, King Mahendra modified the law to abolish the "caste-based unequal citizenship".[4][6] Since then, inter-caste marriage has been gradually gaining acceptance throughout Nepal.[4][7][8][9]

In 2009, the Government of Nepal announced that it would give a sum of रू100,000 Nepalese rupees (roughly US$1,350[10]) away to couples who have an inter-caste marriage.[11] The recipients would have to claim the sum within 30 days of the marriage.[11] Republica, however, has reported that there was no "government assistance for Dalit women" who were left jilted by their upper-caste husbands.[11]

Notable incidents[edit]

2004 Saptari kidnapping[edit]

In January 2004, Manoj Khanga, a member of the Dalit community, and Parbati Raut, who were in an inter-caste wedding, were reportedly kidnapped by the bride's relatives.[12] Prior to that, the bride's family had filed a complaint in the police claiming that it the marriage was illegal. The couple were arrested but were released a few days later.[13] Subsequently, the Dalit community living in Saptari District, Nepal, was attacked by over 200 upper-caste people and were compelled to leave their village.[12] All of the property owned by Dalit communities was looted and vandalised (worth about est. 15 million Nepalese rupees).[12] The upper-caste community terrorized and told Khanga that they would "kill him in front of his family".[14] The case was sent to the Asian Human Rights Commission.[12]

Soti incident[edit]

Main article: Soti incident
Typical Nepali Hindu wedding

In May 2020, two bodies of Dalit men were found in the Bheri River, a major tributary of the Karnali River.[15] The men were identified as Nabaraj BK and Tikaram Sunar. According to the Nepal police, 21-year-old BK with 18 others went to the Soti village in Chaurjahari to marry a 17-year-old girl. The villagers allegedly attacked the group and chased them to the river.[16] According to some villagers, the group was attacked because of their caste.[15] BK was a "lower-caste" man trying to marry an "upper-caste" girl. The girl's family, however, claimed that BK was trying to marry the underaged girl despite their refusal. BK had been in a relationship with the girl for three years and wanted to marry her.[17] United Nations Mission in Nepal called for an unbiased examination of the incident.[18]

Notable inter-caste marriages[edit]

Inter-caste marriage in film[edit]

Inter-caste marriage in literature[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Atreya, Alok; Shrestha, Milan; Acharya, Jenash (2018). "Inter-caste lovers' suicide pact – Case report from Nepal". The Medico-Legal Journal. 86 (2): 103–106. doi:10.1177/0025817217730993. ISSN 2042-1834. PMID 28901244. S2CID 32348563. Archived from the original on 24 June 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  2. ^ "Inter-caste Marriages In Nepal Face Violence And Intimidation" (PDF). The Advocacy Project. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  3. ^ Subedi, D. B. (7 May 2018). Combatants to Civilians: Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Maoist Fighters in Nepal's Peace Process. Springer. ISBN 978-1-137-58672-8.
  4. ^ a b c d Basnet, Chudamani; Jha, Ratnakar (29 October 2019). "Crossing the Caste and Ethnic Boundaries: Love and Intermarriage Between Madhesi Men and Pahadi Women in Southern Nepal". South Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal (in French). doi:10.4000/samaj.5802. ISSN 1960-6060. Archived from the original on 24 June 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  5. ^ "Nepali Politics And The Rise of Jang Bahudur Rana, 1830–1857" (PDF). ProQuest. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  6. ^ "Abrogation of Some Criminal Cases and Remission of Punishment Act, 2020 (1963)". Nepal Law Commission. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  7. ^ Bishwakarma, Mom (7 March 2019). Political Transformations in Nepal: Dalit Inequality and Social Justice. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-429-75615-3. Archived from the original on 24 June 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  8. ^ Yadav, Punam (28 April 2016). Social Transformation in Post-conflict Nepal: A Gender Perspective. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-35390-4. Archived from the original on 24 June 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  9. ^ "Nepal, an emerging rainbow nation". Nepali Times. Archived from the original on 11 March 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  10. ^ "Inter-caste Newlyweds Face Eviction, Discrimination in Nepal". Global Press Journal. 10 August 2010. Archived from the original on 24 June 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  11. ^ a b c Sunar, Giri Bahadur. "Rough road to inter-caste marriage". My Republica. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  12. ^ a b c d "NEPAL: The Dalit community in Saptari district was attacked due to an inter-caste marriage and the couple was kidnapped". Asian Human Rights Commission. Archived from the original on 24 June 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  13. ^ "International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights" (PDF). TreatyBody Internet. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 June 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  14. ^ "Nepal: violence against Dalits because of an inter-caste marriage". World Organisation Against Torture. Archived from the original on 24 June 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  15. ^ a b "Soti Incident: 15 including ward chair arrested in connection with Nawaraj BK's killing". The Himalayan Times. 26 May 2020. Archived from the original on 28 May 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  16. ^ "Bodies of two Dalit men recovered from Bheri River". kathmandupost.com. Archived from the original on 28 May 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  17. ^ "One more body recovered from the Bheri River on Monday". kathmandupost.com. Archived from the original on 28 May 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  18. ^ "UN calls for impartial investigation into Rukum (West) incident in which Dalit youths were killed". kathmandupost.com. Archived from the original on 28 May 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  19. ^ "Caste no bar". Nepali Times. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  20. ^ "Unifying Nepal via Marriage: Pahade Wives and Madhesi Hubbies". 2 August 2007.
  21. ^ "Oli's Radhika". The annapurna express. 7 May 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  22. ^ "Does blackface have a place in Nepali comedy? Probably not". Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  23. ^ "Batomuniko Phool (A flower under the trail), a must see movie for social reformer". Nepal Dalit Info. Archived from the original on 31 October 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  24. ^ "Inter-caste romance in Ghaampani". My Republica. Retrieved 25 June 2020.; "Ghampani collects Rs 12 m in 3 days". My Republica. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  25. ^ Nepali, Min (2017). "Humanity in BP Koirala's Sumnima". Crossing the Border: International Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies. 5 (2): 37–50. doi:10.3126/ctbijis.v5i2.18437. ISSN 2350-8922.
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