Like Gods, Like Humans? Or, Like Humans, Like Gods? Or, Like…F*cked up?

If the Gods discriminate, why can't -- or even shouldn't -- the humans as well?! If the Hindu Gods themselves discriminate against some humans (at least Dalits) the way at least some Hindus believe they do, what’s wrong with humans discriminating against the same humans?! After all, who better to follow than the Gods?! Right?

Continue ReadingLike Gods, Like Humans? Or, Like Humans, Like Gods? Or, Like…F*cked up?

Caste System Fostered and Propped up Groupism in Nepal Corrals People into Small Social Circles Part II

The "brilliance" of the caste system is what Ambedkhar characterized as its inherent "graded inequality."

In Nepal, the gradation can be found not just between the five castes, but also between the ethnic groups, between communities that make up an ethnic group, within communities and therefore between individuals.

And because social status is valued so much, the gradation has determined who you could marry and form a familial alliance with, which in turn dictates who you socialize with the most. Were inter-caste marriage the norm, the caste system would break down.

Continue ReadingCaste System Fostered and Propped up Groupism in Nepal Corrals People into Small Social Circles Part II

When Looks Can…Deceive

Nepalis generally make a lot of assumptions about and are judgmental of fellow Nepalis based on their appearance and/or their name and/or surname, a consequence of our social system, the monstrous caste system.

In this blog post I relay a typical incident of a fellow Nepali making assumptions about who I am and what I do based entirely on my facial features -- my ethnicity.

Continue ReadingWhen Looks Can…Deceive