Book review
It’s school holiday time. Yay! And that means time to read some books. I just finished a book called “Fatalism and Development in Nepal” by Dor Bahadur Bista. Written by a Nepali, the book gives some very helpful and interesting insider perspectives on the potential for development in Nepal. First published in 1991, it is now getting on in years, and it would be interesting to hear if things have changed greatly in recent decades. Nevertheless the book provided me with the following really useful information:
The young and old workers of Nepal
- It is a mistake to assume that Nepal is like India in terms of culture and religion. Nepal is historically and culturally unique, and while there are some in Nepal who like to make much of historical links to validate certain claims to power, the reality is that Nepal is ethnically, culturally and religiously diverse.
- Historically, Hinduism in Nepal was much more of a “cocktail” of belief than the strict caste form of Hinduism found in India. Hinduism in Nepal is traditionally characterised by animism, shamanism, worship of Shiva and ancestor veneration. The migration of Hindu Brahmans from India, and the appeal of the hierarchy of the caste system to the rulers of Nepal (as a way to validate their position), has however meant that since the middle ages caste Hinduism has made increasing inroads into Nepalese society.
- The author argues that caste Hinduism, rather than moving Nepal forward, has served over the centuries to cause stagnation, inflexibility and a resignation to fate that stand in the way of economic, social and cultural development.
- For example – high caste Hindus believe that manual work is the lot of those further down in the caste system. According to the author, high caste Hindus believe that with higher positions should come less work and not more. Education is seen as a means to increased status, but those who take a degree rarely desire to actually put that degree to work in Nepal’s development. For example many people study agriculture at university and attain bachelors degrees but will never actually get their hands dirty with any agricultural project. Rather that degree will be a means for them to gain employment in the government bureaucracy, and even then positions are given on the basis of connections/caste rather than qualifications. The fatalistic belief that caste is determined by the deity and that the outcome of any action is predetermined is argued by the author to be counterproductive to engendering a strong motivation for change or progress. People try to make the most out of their present position for the benefit of their family and “afno manche” (“our people” – those in our circle) because everything has been predetermined anyway.
A Nepali village washing machine
- The author argues that high caste Hindus have the most to lose in changes to the system as they currently hold the positions of political, religious and economic power in the Kathmandu valley and industrial centres in the Terai. The caste system is not so rigid in other parts of the country and the author sees smaller ethnic groups as the key to change.
- Inbuilt into the Nepali mindset is a strong sense of paternalism – dependence on a benevolent father figure. In the past this was the king (though since 2006 there has been no king). The author argues that foreign aid is often seen as a form of paternalism to which Nepal has a right, but this combined with a sense of hierarchy and fatalism encouraged by the caste system often leads to misuse and misallocation of resources.
- Ultimately, the author argues that the way forward for Nepal must be a move away from a rigid caste system that serves a powerful minority, and towards inclusion and co-operation with the less caste driven ethnic groups outside of the Kathmandu valley.
I found it to be a very interesting read and a helpful insight into how Nepal works. I found the information about the religious development of Nepal to be fascinating, as I tended to think of Hinduism as much more homogeneous in Nepal than it actually is. From a Christian perspective I found it really helpful to reflect that all humans are made in the image of God, all with inherent dignity and worth, all created to care for and cultivate the earth (Gen 1:26-28). Perhaps the author of the book “Fatalism and Development in Nepal” is really calling for a rediscovery of what it means to be made in God’s image. T
