This book is a detailed account of how hierarchy has been maintained historically by the Nepali state, affirming the uniqueness of a caste-based social order by bringing outsiders, especially ethnic groups and religious minorities, into the caste fold. Focusing on the contemporary state of Dalits, the community that was and is put at the bottom of a very hierarchical social order in Nepal, the author argues that the traditional caste-based social order is still prevalent in the “new” Nepal even after the recent socio-political and constitutional changes. Illustrated by scientifically employed and interpreted data mainly in the three sectors of education, politics and employment, the book postulates that people who were and are born into the “high caste” still have more access to the resources and opportunities available in society in comparison with those born into the “lower” caste. It further argues that although reservation policies are in place to address social exclusion, these could not bring expected outcomes mainly due to the lack of engagement, if not ignorance, of both dominant groups and the community in the margin. The absence of clarity among political actors on the positive discrimination and affirmative actions has contributed to backtracking the recently created space in line with “inclusive Nepal”.
Uddhab Pyakurel currently teaches political sociology while heading the Department of Development Studies at the School of Arts, Kathmandu University, Nepal. He completed his master’s degree in political science and sociology from Tribhuvan University, joined the Delhi School of Economics (University of Delhi) to pursue an M. Phil, and earned a Ph.D. from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
Pyakurel, who has been an adjunct fellow at the School of Social Sciences and Psychology, Western Sydney University of Australia, is also associated with various democracy forums including South Asian Dialogues on Ecological Democracy (SADED), Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (VK), and the Network Institute for Global Democratization (NIGD). He often writes op-ed articles for local newspapers as part of his campaign for ‘public sociology’ and also engages in general academic articles and book chapters on poverty, people’s participation, social inclusion/exclusion, conflict, identity, democracy, elections, Nepal's foreign relations and other socio-political issues of Nepal and Asia. In addition, he is the author of the book
Maoist Movement in Nepal: A Sociological Perspective (New Delhi: Adroit Publishers, 2007); co-author of three books:
Nepal–India Open Border: Problems and Prospects (New Delhi: Vij Books, 2016),
Dalit Representation in National Politics of Nepal (Kathmandu: NNDSWO, 2012) and
State of Conflict and Democratic Movement in Nepal (New Delhi: Vij Books, 2013). Additionally, he is the editor of three books:
Contemporary Nepal (Delhi: Kalinga Publications, 2012),
Higher Education in Nepal: Inclusive Policy Guidelines (Lalitpur: School of Arts, Kathmandu University and SNV-Nepal, 2014), and
Samajbad, Sambridhi Ra Bikas (Socialism, Prosperity and Development) (Kathmandu: Sangri-la Books, 2020). He also serves as the editor of the
Nepali Journal of Contemporary Studies.
