Inter-caste marriage in Nepal

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.

The Muluki Ain caste/ethnicity hierarchy of Nepal, 1854

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

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

2004 Saptari kidnapping

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
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

Inter-caste marriage in film

Inter-caste marriage in literature

See also

References
  1. 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. 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. Sunar, Giri Bahadur. "Rough road to inter-caste marriage". My Republica. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  12. "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. "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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