The Persistence of Nepal's Caste System
Nepal's recent youth uprising, demanding jobs, dignity, and an end to corruption, may seem like a step towards a "new Nepal". However, beneath this anger lies a centuries-old, rigid social order: caste.
The country's caste system, codified in the Muluki Ain (National Code) of 1854, is a hierarchical structure that has shaped Nepal's politics, society, and economy. The system places Bahuns (Brahmins) and Chhetris (warriors) at the top, Dalits at the bottom, and indigenous Tibeto-Burman groups in the middle, with Madhesis in the southern plains largely ignored in the legal framework.
the dawn of a "new Nepal"
This centuries-old hierarchy has become deeply entwined with political power, persisting despite the Gen Z movement.
Author's Summary
Nepal's caste system remains a rigid social order shaping the country's politics and society.