Chaurjahari incident and Nepali casteism

Many of us in Nepal might have played Chhoi Dom, a kind of chasing game, while growing up. The game typically involves the contest between a particular player chosen as a Dom and the rest of the players who have to run away from the Dom. Should the Dom succeed in touching others, the role is passed onto the latter and the game goes on.

When Navaraj BK went to his girlfriend Sushma Malla’s home in Soti of Chaurjahari municipality, Rukum on May 23, Sushma’s mother reportedly fumed, “Ta Dom Feri Aais ?”, meaning “Dom, how dare you come again?” It was, for many of us, a baffling proclamation on the mother’s part. The inner meanings of our beloved game finally came to us. The Dom , they say, exists at the bottom of caste and Varna charts. The Dom dare not marry an “upper caste” girl.