{"id":17498,"date":"2020-07-09T19:47:51","date_gmt":"2020-07-09T14:02:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dorjegurung.com\/blog\/?p=17498"},"modified":"2022-05-30T10:14:52","modified_gmt":"2022-05-30T04:29:52","slug":"pointing-out-structural-issues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dorjegurung.com\/blog\/2020\/07\/pointing-out-structural-issues\/","title":{"rendered":"Pointing out structural issues in Nepal, to Khas-aryas, is…”pointing fingers”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One of the many reasons behind the hill so-called high caste Hindu Nepalis placing everyone else under them in the Hindu social system was their belief in the multitude of indigenous peoples being “inferior” to them for different reasons and in different ways.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The system, called the caste system (see image below), was legitimized in the blatantly and highly discriminatory 1854 Muluki Ain <\/em>(The Law of the Land). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The<\/a>
The hill so-called high caste Hindus, also referred to as Khas-arya<\/em>, occupy the top position.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

We have no shortage of hill so-called high caste Hindus who look down on indigenous people — whether consciously (because they have learned and internalized the belief that they are indeed superior) or unconsciously<\/a> (through acculturation) — especially on someone like me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As an ethnic Tibetan (Bhote<\/a><\/em> in Nepali)<\/em>, I belong to the third caste, to the enslavable alcohol drinkers. One reason may be because we are “yak eaters” (see below). Yaks, to Hindus, are equivalent to cows, a sacred animal!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Caste<\/a>
Though my surname says I am “Gurung,” I am NOT. (For more on that click here<\/a>.)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

This article<\/a> in Nepali language (Khas-kura<\/em>) describes in detail why even the so-called “progressives” among the hill so-called high caste Hindus struggle to practice what they preach when it comes to the question of caste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the years since returning to Nepal (in 2013), I have been heavily involved in social justice issues, among other things. I have blogged<\/a> a lot. I have collated and published data<\/a> exposing the structural issues our country suffers from. I have written on the importance of, the value in, and the benefits of inclusion and diversity<\/a>. I have also written on gender equality etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have also had discussions with fellow Nepalis both face-to-face and on social media on caste and other topics, including the highly warped<\/a> systems and structures which disproportionately benefit the Khas-aryas<\/em>, more specifically the men<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the years, I have received different reactions to my writings and opinions on that. One I have gotten from mainly Khas-aryas<\/em> is essentially, \u201cWhy are you blaming us for that?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, to begin with, what follows are some examples of fellow Nepalis accusing me of “pointing fingers” at them. I’ll follow that up with my own theories for why they do that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Incidentally, this time around, I haven’t bothered to redact the names and handles of many users because all the exchanges are in the public domain and accessible to anyone and everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s the first one from way back in September 2016. It’s from a hill so-called high caste Hindu man, a Nuclear Fuel Engineer, who lives in the US. I can’t link you to the original tweet under which this exchange took place since he appears to have deleted it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

.@SanuBhatta_ I must b a dumbf%#+ then. Cuz I help Khas children while blaming Khas ppl! @patansoup<\/a> @mukesh2006<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/t5hI5qVLV9<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Dorje Gurung, ScD (h.c.) (@Dorje_sDooing) September 28, 2016<\/a><\/blockquote>