Home Institution
University of New Hampshire
Publication Date
Fall 2015
Abstract
Nepal's new constitution was received with both jubilation and violence. Protests swept across the plains of Terai leading to a blockade with India and a deadly fuel crisis. One’s opinions on the situation depend heavily on one’s own ethnicity, caste, and regional location. This research takes a deeper look into one ethnic minority, Tharu, to better understand Nepal’s complex political situation. Through many conversations in Chitwan, with both high and low castes, one can piece together a most intriguing analysis of Nepal’s politics. The political divide in the nation is severe and shows no willingness of compromise. The constant struggle between nationalism and ethnic identity may have reached its pinnacle in Nepal. The future of Nepal awaits the answer.
Disciplines
Civic and Community Engagement | Political Science | Politics and Social Change
Recommended Citation
Calato, Cameron, "Where the Plains and Hills Collide: Understanding Nepal’s Political Tension Through Tharus in Chitwan" (2015). Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection. 2215.
https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection/2215
Included in
Civic and Community Engagement Commons, Political Science Commons, Politics and Social Change Commons
Program Name
Nepal: Tibetan and Himalayan Peoples