The Persistence of Nepal's Caste System
Nepal's recent youth uprising, demanding jobs, dignity, and an end to corruption, has highlighted the country's rigid social order: caste.
Kathmandu has seen tens of thousands of youth taking to the streets, but beneath their anger lies a centuries-old hierarchy that continues to shape the country's politics, society, and economy.
The Caste Hierarchy
The Muluki Ain, or the National Code of 1854, codified a rigid hierarchy, placing:
- Bahuns (Brahmins) and Chhetris (warriors) at the top
- Dalits at the bottom
- Indigenous Tibeto-Burman groups in the middle
Madhesis in the southern plains were largely ignored in the legal framework.
the dawn of a “new Nepal”
Over generations, this system became deeply entwined with political power.
Author's summary: Nepal's caste system persists despite youth movement.