Casteism is likely to continue in Nepal, and it’s unfortunate

The Nepali caste system, historically, functioned as the basis of the feudalistic economic structure. Caste was largely codified by Manusmriti that divided four varnas: the dominant Brahmins (priests and scholars), Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishyas (merchants and traders), Shudras (labourers), and the outcast Dalits (untouchables). Although castes were based on various professions, untouchability evolved later. Even after a decade-long civil war, the fall of the monarchy and, the caste system may no longer technically exist in a fledgling democracy, but the practice is still alive in Nepal.

A recent video of Rupa Sunar, a Dalit journalist, went viral on the internet, in which she claimed that Saraswati Pradhan ( a house owner) refused to rent her a flat citing her so-called lower caste. So, she filed a complaint against Pradhan as per the Caste-based Discrimination and Untouchability Act, 2011. Pradhan, however, was released . This event gives us an occasion to understand that the caste system is still intact today. More strongly, arguments on social media that followed reflect society will need a long time before existing casteism will change.