Caste discrimination is still prevailing in Nepali society. Upper caste Hindus deny access to lower caste Hindus from accessing temples. Dalits are not allowed to enter the houses of upper caste people, or access water. Even if Dalits are offered food, it is served outside the house. In Bhagavad Gita, Chapter-4, Verse 13, Lord Krishna speaks to Arjuna and clarifies the origin and purpose of the caste system: “The four fold order was created by me, according to the divisions of quality and work. Though I am its creator, know me to be incapable of action or change.”
The four-fold order has emphasized guna (aptitude) and karma (function), and not on caste (birth). The varna or the order to which we belong is independent of sex, birth or breeding. A varna is determined by temperament and vocation—not by birth or heredity. According to the Mahabharata, the whole world was originally of one class, but later it is divided into four divisions on account of specific duties. Every person possesses the qualities of all varnas which are manifested in the performance of different duties. A man becomes a Sudra when he cleans his home, becomes Vaishya when he goes shopping, Chetriya while fighting in anger, and becomes a Brahmin while engaged in worship and doing good deeds.
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Here, my concern is with white tourists at the temple of Pashupatinath (Lord of Animals), which is crowded on the day of Mahashivaratri. More than half a million Hindus and non-Hindus visit the shrine to take part in the ceremony. Among the visitors, a few are tourists who, along with the Hindus, try to offer their prayers to the deity, but their efforts find no success. I am very sorry for those white tourists who are not allowed to offer their prayers in Hindu temples. There is a hoarding board at the temple’s gate, stating that only Hindus are allowed inside.
I spoke to an authority at Pashupatinath temple regarding the issue (who requested that his name not be revealed). He told me that if a Dalit, a woman during menstruation, a white person, or a Muslim is allowed into the temple, they will pollute the shrine of Pashupatinath. I also spoke to a white tourist from USA named Henary Lally, who is very disappointed at the discrimination by temple authorities, and unhappy with the discriminatory behavior of the government of Nepal. Lally also pointed out that tourists have to pay more than ten times what Nepali citizens pay to visit tourist spots, while no Nepali needs to pay additional charges if they visit tourist locations in USA.
Even the white people who have converted to Hinduism and married Nepali citizens are not allowed to enter the temple. There are many other temples in Nepal where white skinned tourists are not allowed access. Apart from its natural beauty, religious places are the main attractions for tourists coming to Nepal. Tourists are a source of income for temples, but tourists themselves are not allowed in the temples. Lord Pashupatinath is believed to be the protector of all living creatures on earth, but the temple priests and police on duty exclude the white race. As far as my knowledge goes, I believe that all living creatures are equal in the eyes of God, and Pashupatinath is the temple for all living creatures.
We believe that Nepal is a country of religious tolerance but we do not allow non-believers to enter Hindu temples. Is this what we call religious tolerance? How can we claim that our country practices religious tolerance? Our Interim Constitution has established religious secularism. Secularism is the best way to guarantee every citizen’s freedom of religion or belief. Through human rights treaties, the nation has committed to freedom of religion or belief (including freedom of non-belief and non-religious beliefs), but still the discrimination is going on.
Being a Dalit by birth, I have an interest in the prevailing religious practices of different religions. I did not face any discrimination while entering a Church, a Mosque, or a Monastery. Christians and Muslims believe that non-believers will go to hell for all eternity, and believers go to heaven. I am very happy to go hell as projected by Christians and Muslim, because there I will encounter Gautam Buddha, Lao Tzu, Osho, Einstein, and Rabindranath Tagore.
A man becomes a Sudra when he cleans, Vaishya when he shops, Chetriya while fighting, and Brahmin while worshipping.
What about the words of Lord Krishna in Bhagavat Gita? Chapter -9, Verse 29 says “I am equally disposed to all living entities, there is neither friend nor foe to me; but those who, with loving sentiment, render devotion and service onto me, such persons are in me and I am in them.” If the almighty God himself does not discriminate between us, then who is the Priest to do so? I want to draw the attention of the government to the issue of discrimination towards tourists in public places. Does the Hindu slogan Atithi Devo Bhava (guests are as good as gods) even mean anything to us anymore? Shame on to us! I found vast differences between what we say and what we do.
The caste system in Nepal is the outcome of orthodox Brahmin priests enforcing social status by birth. They believe that it cannot be changed by wealth, education, intellect or social participation. There is a difference between religious scriptures and practice. It is well said that only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches. Similarly, only the discriminated one knows the pain and humiliation of discrimination. The hidden psychology of discrimination is very complex and painful. Discriminatory behavior in Nepali society clearly shows that there is no equality in Nepal.
The author is a sociologist
girithejorba@gmail.com
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