MUSAHAR

MUSAHAR

The kingdom of Nepal lies in south Asia between two large countries, India in the south, East, West and the Tibet region of China in North with different geographic and socio-cultural conditions encompassing an area of 1, 47,181 sq. km. covered with rural areas and inhabited by 32.1 million people (CBS: 2001) fixing an annual growth rate of 2.25% in 1991-2001 decade having three major regions: Mountain, Hill and Terai. Nepal is characterized as a mountainous, landlocked, subtropical kingdom whose most of the population is below the poverty line and isolated. It is land of various caste, tribe and ethnic groups. Each group has its own unique language, culture, social organization, myths, customs, moral values and traditions. So, Nepal is also known as a multilingual and multi religious country. The Terai is a plain region which is hotter than other regions where Rajputs, Danuwars, Tharus, Telis, Sudhis, Yadavs, Brahmins, Chhetries, Muslims, Chamars, Musahars, Dushads, Doms, Sarkis, Kurmis etc dwell. It is a need to identify the community to which Dalit groups belong to caste system and refers to an occupationally segregated, hierarchically and ritually discriminatory social system based on heredity of an individual or group of individuals. They are economically exploited, politically voiceless, socially humiliated and treated as “Untouchables”. In essence, the victim of caste-based discrimination and untouchable can be considered as Dalits. The Dalits have been placed at the bottom in the Hindu caste system. The major Dalit caste groups in the Terai are Musahar, Chamar, Dom, Tatma, Dusadh etc. while such caste groups in the Hills are Damai, Kami and Sarki. In the Kathmandu valley, the major Dalit castes include Pore and Chyame.The Musahars are concentrated more in districts like Morang, Jhapa, Sunsari, Saptary, Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Bara, Parsa, Rauthat, Rupandehi, Kapilbastu, Nawalparasia, Banke, Bardia. The total population of the Musahars people in Nepal is 9,756(0.04%) according to CBS: 2001.

The Musahars are considered the lowest untouchable caste groups of the Terai. They are not allowed to fetch water either from the private or public tube-wells. They have separate tube-wells for their own use or go to the nearby stream/pond to fetch water. Working as a labor is their traditional caste occupation. They dig mud for construction of houses, roads and work in farming fields as laborers. In addition, cleaning roads/rivers/canals are also considered as traditional occupation of Musahar. These are their main source of earning a livelihood. The conditions of Musahar women are more critical. Generally they are house wives. Few women help their husband as a labor, and few work as a maidservant in the houses of their landlords. The research study is focus on the present socio-economic status of the ‘Female Musahar Community’ of Saptary district, Nepal.

 THE PROBLEM

Nepal is a multiethnic, multi-religious, multilingual as well as multi cultural country. Each and every ethnic group has its own cultural, economic, social and religious beliefs. Different scholars have described the Nepalese culture & social life in different ways. Described Nepalese culture and social life is an example of syncretism of various ethnic groups. Saptary District is inhabited by various Dalit groups, which also include the Musahar community. The Musahar people have their own tradition and culture. They are untouchable and landless. The ethnography of the Musahar community provides more information about the social institutions such as marriage, family, kinship, dress pattern, food habits, religion and economy. The problem of the present study is to investigate the socio- economic status of the Female Musahar community that has occurred because of the process of modernization and the influence of dominant caste groups. . According to the “Dictionary of sociology, 1989: The term socio-economic status means- “In a system of social stratification, it refers to a combination of various social and economic indexes of rank which are used in research studies”. According to “The concise oxford Advanced learners' Dictionary 1990”: Socio-economic status means- “Relating to or concerned with interaction of social and economic factors in a system of social stratification. It refers to a combination of various social and economic indexes of rank, which are used in research studies. Similarly, "Sabai Jatko Phoolbari" is another book of Bista, which describes the thnography of different people. Bista has given a short ethnography study of the people of Sharki in his book "Mechi Dekhi Mahakali Samma". However, there is also lack of detail information about the socio-economic change among other untouchable groups. Regmi (1971), studied about Dhimals. His contribution is also a milestone of ethnography of Dhimal community. G.S. Nepali studied about Newars, the book entitled "The Newars". G.M. Gurung studied about Chepangs in his book "The Chepang". They all have tried to give an ethnographic picture of the Nepalese society. But very few contributions have been done on the lowest castes as Dom, Musahar, Dushad, Sarki, Kami, Chamar etc.

source:- aanamika karna

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Impact of Tourism

Impact of Tourism

Positive

It is a good source of earning foreign currency. It reduces gap of balance of payment, increased tax revenue, giving rise to economic development of nation. Provides new opportunity to marginalized people and women for economic independence, since it offers wage-based economic. Provides employment opportunities to local people, helps increase the standard of living and it is another new livelihood option, increased income security of local people. It may provide new market for local people to their products, such as agricultural product, livestock and others.

Negative:

There is high risk of shifting traditional economy to market based economy, over dependent on single tourism industry. Living cost of local community may increase, may increase the demand for foreign goods and technology. It provides only seasonal employment, leaving people unemployed for rest of time. Some time it may exert pressure to import technology and infrastructure that the host-country economy cannot afford Higher the per capital income of people in the country, the chance of civil war goes on decreasing, so per capital income and civil war have inverse relationship. The main component of civil war is, per capital income, endowment of natural resources, size of population and ethnic-linguistic fragmentation. Income level of people has positive co-relation with maintaining peace in the country, improvement in the income of rural people of Nepal may help to end the ongoing conflict.

Social impact of tourism:

To understand the culture of a particular place it is important to know the value and custom of local people. Values and custom includes their clothes, music, dance, religious believes, art, historical place, different ceremonies, their unique lifestyle and food. Tourism always brings new people with new culture and values to local people. In short tourism is such an industry which brings people with different culture and religion into one place. Sometime it is common to be influenced by culture of one group and tries to adopt it. This may influence local people and people may lose their local culture and tradition. In Nepalese culture kissing in public place is not accepted, which is common in western society, so it is important to respect local culture by tourist. Also it will be more beneficial for tourist if they study about society of particular place before they make visit to that place. The main attraction of rural tourism in Nepal is its culture. Culture must be preserved in its originality. There are also other negative impacts of tourism in society such as increase in crime, increase of sex trade among women, increase in consumption of alcohol, negative impact in lifestyle of local people, exploitation of local resources, impact in religion and practice of local people, negative attitude toward tourism). Tourism must always preserve culture and promote to use local resources and manpower to promote economy of that place. On the other hand increased flow of tourists may aggravate the problem of traffic and parking in city areas, increases urbanization in places where there is more flow of tourism increasing noise and environmental pollution. Construction of new hotels and resort may have negative impact on monuments and buildings of historical significance as construction of big building near ancient monuments may decrease its beauty. Local youth are motivated for consumption of alcohol and uses of drug as they are enjoyed by tourist. It also increases illegal hunting and killing of wild animals for souvenir hunting. The negative impact of tourism in social and cultural life of people is change in value system, change in lifestyle, individual behavior, family relationship, safety and security, celebration of traditional ceremonies and community unity, creates some socio-cultural conflict among young and old generation to preserve it or go for some change. Tourism has created pollution in mountain region of Nepal, there is high demand of firewood due to increase number of tourist, to fulfill these need there is lots of deforestation, and harm in wildlife habitats, also there is lots of tin and plastic bottles, batteries that pollute the environment. Consumption of firewood in Annapurna conservation area project (ACAP) by tourist is twice the consumption of firewood of local people. There are many positive impact of tourism; it increases interaction among different culture and religion helping each other understanding one culture and religion. More interaction with other culture and religion give ample of opportunity to understand that culture and religion which lead to more respect to each other culture and religion which increases harmony around the globe. Today our world is facing many problems due to lack of understating religion of each other, tourism may help to reduce such differences by bring all cultural and religion people at a place. More flow of tourism increases awareness among local people to preserve their local culture and tradition, which is a main attraction of tourism. This further increases more flow of tourist to such places. Growth of tourism increases sanitation and hygienic of local people in least developed countries like Nepal. People built toilet for tourist and they start to use it for their own purpose too, improving hygienic and sanitation practice. People are motivated to pursue high education to obtain new job, increase literacy rate. Local people develop tolerance habit and attitude to appreciate other culture. It provides opportunity for social and recreational activities, increase individual confident. This gives a platform to exchange culture between people around globe, local people This gives a platform to exchange culture between people around globe, local people and tourist. It preserve old and traditional handicraft skills, motivate new generation to learn it. Local people are motivated to promote communal identity rather than self-identity. It provides opportunity for new generation to redefine and reclaim cultural and ethnic identity. Daily exposure and communication with outsider may motivate local people to adopt their lifestyle and values, loss of community identity.
source:- Bharat budhathoki

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Tourism in Ghandruk

Tourism in Ghandruk

From 1975 to 1985, hundreds of groups of trekkers and mountain climbers came through the way to Ghandruk for sightseeing and mountain climbing together with their guides and porters. There were no lodges, hotels or home stays in Ghandruk during that time. The tourist and expedition teams used to sleep in tents in an empty land. The group used to purchase the food items and firewood from the villagers. They used to set up a camp fire in the evening and participate in the cultural programs performed by villagers. The villagers used to raise fund for the school by showing cultural dances. After sometime there was an arrival of many individual tourists. The Sherpas (an ethnic group of mountainous region of Nepal considered to be very brave and strong) and guides encouraged the people of Ghandruk to establish lodges and they also taught villagers the way to cook foods for foreigners. In 1976 the first lodge was opened with 10 beds named Annapurna lodge by local entrepreneur Sankar Man Gurung who was also a teacher of Ghandruk School.  Ghandruk lies on the Annapurna trekking trail. According to a survey by Modern Maturity (USA), Annapurna is recognized as one of the world‟s tenth best trekking trail . The Annapurna region has been a unique place in the world because of various characteristics. The region contains the world’s deepest river gorge Kali Gandaki Gorge, the world’s largest rhododendron forest in Ghorepani, and the fresh water lake Tilicho situated in the world’s highest altitude. The area is rich in terms of cultural diversity, biodiversity and a house for 1,226 species of flowering plant, 102 mammals, 474 birds, 39 reptiles, and 22 amphibians  A magnificent view of three peaks over 8,000 meters can be seen from this trail (Eco walk 2013).

Thus, this has become one of the best trekking part and the pleasurable tourist destination. Moreover, this is the most important and popular route for all the Annapurna travelers, mountaineers who choose their destination through this exciting route. It is considered the way from Ghandruk is the easiest and fastest way to reach Annapurna and Machhapuchre base camp. The mountain views of Annapurna and Machhapuchre can be seen clearly from this village . The basic route ascends from the Modi Khola, a river crossing the suspension bridge at Birethanti. It lies on the eastern side of the village. It is then followed by beautiful trace to forest and hill village. It presents a unique opportunity of median beauty and natural significance. It is said that the visit to Nepal will be incomplete without the visit of Ghandruk. Ghandruk has attracted many national and international tourists. Among the tourists who visits Pokhara (the nearest city of Ghandruk), 60-70 percent go trekking to Annapurna area. The report says that 70,000 foreigners go trekking to Annapurna area every year but there is no data how many Nepalese go trekking in this area . Except the nature, people visit Ghandruk to see the art and culture. Most of the visitors are there to spend holidays and some Nepalese couple for honeymoon (Sharma 2011). The houses are made of stones, mud’s and the roofs are made up of thin sliced stones. Ghandruk has a peaceful environment and the streets are stone paved beautifully. People have taken care to maintain the cleanliness of the village area and trekking trails. The effort of local groups, tourists, ACAP and other participants has played a vital role to preserve the natural beauty of the region. Ghandruk is one of the far western regions of Nepal but is still an important route of tourism. As of 2012 fiscal year, 7.4 percent of GDP was contributed in Nepal by travel and tourism. Tourism in Nepalese rural Himalayan villages has been a mileage to the local economy. It is possible that there may not be better example of locally controlled tourism in the country rather than in the Everest and Annapurna regions. The majority of restaurant and lodge owners, guides, porters, staffs are from the local villages. The majority of the people of Ghandruk were serving in military and agriculture and it was the main occupation in the past. . Now-a-days tourism industry is growing in Ghandruk and it has been the source of income for the inhabitants. The local people are getting employment as guides and potters. Because of tourism the occupation of people has been changed from agriculture or military to tourism entrepreneur. The employment opportunity can be found in the village by which the local people don’t need to migrate to bigger cities or other countries to work. The local economy of the village and life standard of people has been changed by the foreign exchange earnings. In other hand, when the local people are attracted towards tourism the people don’t want to work in agriculture as a result the fertile land turned to barren. Before the place was introduced to the tourists, its culture was virgin and unspoiled. The people of Ghandruk had attraction, respect and positive attitude. After the development of tourism, both positive and negative effects were seen in the society. For example, a positive impact was seen in the living standards of the local people. They got a chance to establish an income generating tourism business companies such as guest houses, lodges and coffee houses.  Beside the positive impacts, tourism has also created a gap between rich and poor people in Ghandruk bringing a social partition. The development of tourism has banned access to previously accessible natural resources for the poorer people of the society (Nepal 2002, 42). The negative impact and influence of tourism was directly seen among the young generation of Ghandruk in terms of clothing, food, language, songs and dances. Instead of wearing the traditional local Gurung dresses they copied foreign culture and dressed in modern western style clothes. The traditional dances and songs were endangered and English, Nepali modern songs and dances were in practice.

source:- shrestha promad thesis

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British Gurkhas Nepal - Exercise HUMLA TIGER

 

British Gurkhas Nepal - Exercise HUMLA TIGER

Although current times are not easy within the Armed Forces, unique opportunities still exist for officers and soldiers alike! As the current SO3 G4 in Kathmandu, I was fortunate enough to join the Gurkhas on Ex Humla Tiger, a high altitude Adventurous Training expedition to the Humla region, one of the most remote regions of Nepal. Following a two-day minibus journey into the back of beyond and a flight (in what was small enough to pass as a toy aircraft) through towering mountain passes, we landed in a small town (Simikot) at 3,000m and two weeks’ walk from civilization! The dirt strip of a landing field was chiseled at an angle out of the mountainside and it took a fair few bounces of the plane before the solid stop! Acclimatization, donkey loading, guide finding, ration shopping (dhal bhat twice a day would be powering us through for the following three weeks) and we were all set for the off. My initial perception of civilization had already been left behind, but I wasn’t quite prepared for the remoteness we would be encountering. All in all we were a team of 11 people and five donkeys! The objective was to complete the Limi valley, trekking the southern section of the valley to the Tibetan border at Hilsa and continuing along the remoter Northern section (only recently re-opened) back towards Simikot. We predominantly rested weary heads in tents, but also found a few huts for refuge - tents being rather more preferable as the mud huts were populated by other forms of nature we were unable to distinguish. One rather memorable campsite was situated at 4,300m, tents perched centimeters from a vertical cliff below, whilst we sat beneath a colossal cliff face of potential rock fall - I wasn’t 100% confident I’d survive the night. The scenery changed dramatically by the hour with each site being uniquely overwhelming. Hilsa (on the Tibetan border) resembled a perception of space with dry, overpowering, desert mountainsides. The only people we encountered were leading their yak, donkey and goat convoys carrying salt, Chaing (the local tipple) and timber vast distances over tough terrain. However, a two-week walk to the local trading post was their equivalent of visiting the corner shop! The paths we ascended/descended (flat was rarely an option) continuously met the eye with doubt. I was utterly surprised the mountain goats could negotiate them, let alone a human and donkey convoy. At 4,300m we rather thankfully but totally unexpectedly stumbled across endless open plains, leaving any sign of life behind apart from a scattering of Tibetan villages, only accessible by foot or helicopter for a few months a year. Lakes appeared from nowhere, out of place sand dunes surrounded them and raging rivers with awesome beaches took precedence! Never did I expect to be trekking at 4,300m in my flip-flops along beaches! On one of our more memorable river crossings (needless to say no bridges) levels were dubiously high and currents incredibly strong and our fortunes took a potential turn for the worse. The intention was to negotiate the river utilizing the donkeys to ferry personnel, but as one donkey was dramatically swept downstream on his back this was ruled out! We are thankful that our insane local guide managed to grab a few of the team, supporting each other in a doubtful attempt of a river crossing, scrabble across hazardous boulders and drag the donkey to safety after it had bumped along and been swept to the bank! Surprisingly the Tibetan villages were incredibly wealthy in the midst of nothingness! Stone-built houses, open courtyards, beautifully clean streams running through and such hospitable people willingly hosting us for tea. I was incredibly excited about my cup and potential elevenses. However, Tibetan tea is a creation of yaks butter mixed with salt and the snack, evidently, a bowl of hard grown flour from the fields. A spoonful of flour followed by a swig of yaks butter (the Tibetan way to consume it) was not quite what I had imagined! We glimpsed a fascinating matriarchal society with wives having three husbands and certainly ruling the roost! We were vegetarian for the time we were away, but it didn’t stop the attempts to sling shot the illusive ‘blue sheep’, 200m above us on the cliffs - certainly one of the more demanding

methods of hunting I’ve encountered! The snow leopards were more productive in capturing their prey. Unfortunately, one event tainted the expedition, as I was robbed of a substantial amount of money on our penultimate day as we hiked out of the grand valley back to the base town of Simikot. Fortunately, with our local guru guides and a band of Gurkhas, the hunt for the criminal in a vast valley simply became the next thing on the ‘to do’ list which they seemingly thrived on! Within 24 hours, I received the majority of the money back, the whole valley was aware and involved, the thief was in a cell (apparently a notorious ‘badmash’) and the band of merry men quite ecstatic! I felt incredibly privileged to be a part of such a unique expedition to an area above and beyond all expectations. Having the opportunity to spend ‘quality time’ with the Gurkhas and gain an insight with them into their country and culture was fascinating. Those that grew up in the hills wondered what the awe-inspiring fuss was all about! I’m now recovering back in Kathmandu, piling down the food I craved and getting stomach cramps as a result of the different diet! Quite typical!
source:- kukri_2011pdf

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