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