Caste Hierarchy, False-equivalence Argument, and Mount Everest

Post published:January 23, 2020
Post category:Social Justice

When a hill so-called high caste Hindu counters a member of another caste describing the challenges in their lives because of the caste they are born into by saying that they too struggle and have had to work hard to get as far as they have gotten in life, they are basically making a false-equivalence argument. What is a false-equivalence argument anyway? I go into the details by using an analogy -- that of climbing Mount Everest.

So You Think There is No Caste-based Discrimination in Nepal? Think Again!

Post published:January 16, 2020
Post category:Social Justice

Being told again and again that very little or no caste-based discrimination exists in Nepal, I started documenting, on Twitter, news reports about just that -- caste-based discrimination. The articles I shared in the tweets were mostly about discrimination and mistreatment of Dalits, the lowest caste. In this blog post, I have reproduced all the tweets in that thread.

Excruciating Dilemma of Young Adult Nepali Couple

Post published:November 6, 2018
Post category:Social Justice

The story of two young Nepali adults in love but struggling with a dilemma that many like them do: they are from different castes and their parents don't approve of their desire to get married and start a family. But the comments under their story on Facebook, where I found it, fills me with hope!

Drawbridge Game Adapted for Nepalis

Post published:September 26, 2018
Post category:Nepal Education & Parenting

An educational exercise that explores how the realities of power, authority, and societal values influence our perceptions of the world. If you are an educator, you could easily do this with your students at school or college or university.

Grade 8 Social Studies Textbook: The Caste System Is a “small” Issue

Post published:July 18, 2018
Post category:Nepal Education & Parenting

A Grade 8 Social Studies textbook has nothing on the one system that has defined and shaped our society and is responsible for, directly or indirectly, many -- if not most or even ALL -- of the social, economic, and political problems our country faces, hindering its progress: the caste system! And the reason? It's a "small" issue!

SMD: Human Rights & Education of Marginalized Nepalese

Post published:July 24, 2016
Post category:Presentations & Speeches

The plight of marginalized Nepalese, notably, Dalits, women, Tharus and Tamangs, how education can uplift them, what COMMITTED is doing to that end and why I am involved in all that.