Badi/Vadi
बादी/वादी
Regions with significant populations
Nepal Nepal38,603 (0.1% of Nepal's population)[1]
Languages
Nepali language (Khas kura)
Religion
Hinduism 95.95% (2011), Christianity 3.22% (2011)[2]
Related ethnic groups
Licchavi, Khas people, Damai, Sarki, Kami, Gandarbha/Gaine

Badi (Nepali: बादी) is a Hill Dalit community in Nepal. The 1854 Nepalese Muluki Ain (Legal Code) categorized Badi as "Impure and Untouchable (Pani Na Chalne)" category.[3] Badi are categorized under "Hill Dalit" among the 9 broad social groups, along with Damai, Sarki, Kami and Gaine by the Government of Nepal.[1] 'Badi' means Vadyabadak, one who plays musical instruments, in Sanskrit. Sometimes called untouchables among the untouchables, they support their impoverished families through daily wages and fishing, woodcutting and making musical instruments.

Due to many caste-based discriminations in Nepal, the government of Nepal legally abolished the caste-system and criminalized any caste-based discrimination, including "untouchability" (the ostracism of a specific caste) - in the year 1963 A.D.[4] With Nepal's step towards freedom and equality, Nepal, previously ruled by a Hindu monarchy was a Hindu nation which has now become a secular state,[5] and on 28 May 2008, it was declared a republic,[6] ending it as the Hindu Kingdom with its caste-based discriminations and the untouchability roots.[7]

History

The Badi remain the lowest ranking untouchable caste in western Nepal. The rules of orthodox Hinduism dictate that members of the higher castes (Braham, Chetri, or Thakuri) cannot allow the Badi into their houses, accept water or food from them, use the same village pump, or even brush against them; although higher caste men are allowed to have sex with Badi prostitutes. "For many years, I thought it was my fate to be a prostitute," says a Badi prostitute. "Now I realize this system wasn't made by God. It was made by man."[8][9][10]

Geographical distribution

At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, 38,603 people (0.1% of the population in Nepal) were Badi.[11] The frequency of Badi by province was as follows:

The frequency of Badi was higher than national average in the following districts:

Representation in Culture

A novel 'Nathiya(नथीया)', written by the author Saraswati Pratikshya is based on this community. This is not the reality of Badi community and the author has picked up the random family story and considered the culture of Badi community which is not true. 'Nathiya(नथीया)' can be found in any community and it doesn't mean that the community holds that culture.

Notes

  1. 1 2 "Nepal Census 2011" (PDF).
  2. ↑ Central Bureau of Statistics (2014). Population monograph of Nepal (PDF) (Report). Vol. II. Government of Nepal.
  3. ↑ Gurung, Harka (2005) "Social Exclusion and Maoist Insurgency". Paper presented at National Dialogue Conference at ILO Convention 169 on Indigenous and Tribal people, Kathmandu, 19–20 January 2005.
  4. ↑ Welle (www.dw.com), Deutsche. "Nepal: Deadly caste-based attacks spur outcry over social discrimination | DW | 16.06.2020". DW.COM. Retrieved 2021-02-28.
  5. ↑ "Nepal king stripped of most powers". CNN. 18 May 2006. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  6. ↑ "Nepal votes to abolish monarchy". BBC News. 28 May 2008. Archived from the original on 7 January 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  7. ↑ Crossette, Barbara (3 June 2001). "Birenda, 55, Ruler of Nepal's Hindu Kingdom". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  8. ↑ Los Angeles Times: "Badi women of Nepal are trapped in a life of degradation" June 12, 2011
  9. ↑ The Advocacy Project: "Born Into Prostitution – The Badi Women" Archived 2011-06-19 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ↑ Cox, Thomas E. (2000) "The Intended and Unintended Consequences of AIDS Prevention Among Badi in Tulispur" Himalaya, the Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies: Vol. 20: No. 1, Article 8.
  11. ↑ "2011 Nepal Census, District Level Detail Report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2023-03-14. Retrieved 2023-03-17.

References

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