THE CASTE SYSTEM IN NEPAL: YOUR SURNAME SPEAKS

Our writer, Asmeeta explores the historical and modern-day impact of Nepal’s caste system, where a surname is more than just a name- it can define a person’s opportunities, status, and social mobility.

Nepal. Captured by Reyan G.

Despite legal abolishment, caste-based discrimination still lingers in Nepali society, influencing education, employment, and personal relationships. From the privileged Brahmins to the struggles of the "Untouchables" (Sundras), this deep dive examines how centuries-old traditions continue to affect lives today.

With increasing awareness and growing movements for equality, will Nepal finally break free from its caste-based prejudices, or will deep-rooted social structures continue to persist for generations?

By Asmeeta Gurung.

Do you think a surname should determine your life? 

Have you ever considered if your surname would mean anything of significance?

These are the questions anyone outside of Nepal or any country without a Caste System in place would probably answer by saying no.

As civilisation has developed, it would be unlikely that a surname would even have any effect towards society, but the history behind Nepali surnames goes way beyond a name given at birth. Although being a full Nepali myself, it is still difficult to fully grasp the idea behind this complicated history, but the more education that comes to light about the caste system, the better the prevention will be moving forward.

The Origins of The Nepali Caste System

Caste, or jaat in Nepalese, refers to the system set in place. The Nepali caste system borrows the four castes of the Hindu Chaturvarnashram model. These consist of: Brahim, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Sundra. Originally, this separation was due to the many different tribes that formed Nepal; this shows the path of someone’s ancestors or hometown. However, this system has been abused throughout the development of Nepal’s monarchy and government system.

How Caste Defined Life

Day-to-day life varies throughout the pyramid, but if you’re at the bottom, you could experience some of the most discrimination and isolation. Caste separation can result in viewing what people’s jobs would be, how much money they would earn and if they would be able to live a life of succession differently. The Nepali society have created such a ripple in what they seem successful or respectable that everyone is always striving to be the best, there is always competition between families or relatives and friends.

The Brahims: Privilege and Power

The top of the system would be the group of Brahim – also known as twice-born – meaning that the people who are named after Brahim were thought to be the embodiment of a God, as Brahmin was a Sanskrit word for God. Usual jobs would be priests, goldsmiths, and government officials. They are the most highly educated in the knowledge of God; they would earn the most and, therefore, are respected the most. As they were at the top of the pyramid, they would have the most influence among all the citizens.

It was very common for families to want to marry their daughters into these families in order to save them from a hard future and gain the respect they didn’t have within this society. Living as a Brahim can make sure that your life is secure; there is additional protection that only a Brahim will experience. Nepal still has a majority of Brahims working in civil jobs or political backgrounds, which keep their caste higher than the majority in terms of wealth, power and influence. The contrast between a Brahim and a Sundra is very vast and almost unbelievable. Every aspect of their life is different.

The Untouchables: A Struggle for Equality

The bottom of the system would be the group of Sundra – also known as the untouchables – meaning that anyone above them in the system would be superior to them. People who were a part of this caste were really looked down upon and discriminated against and usually were the poorest of the poor when it came to living standards. The likeliness of an untouchable going up the social ladder would be extremely unlikely and nearly impossible. It was not only their living standards that were poor, but the lack of respect within the community. For example, some higher caste people wouldn’t let lower caste people enter their homes or use the same items as lower caste. This all stemmed from higher caste people allegedly saying that the untouchables had infectious diseases, didn’t deserve to have access to items or that they were ‘impure’. The effect of this led to Sundras not being able to trust the police or legal system and, therefore, would fall into a life of crime. As most of them were illiterate (among the 73.8% of people that have higher education, only 2.9% come from the lower caste) or too poor to afford proper housing/necessities, the life of crime would be seen as a beneficial way to escape.

Caste in Modern Nepal: Progress or Persistence

Over the centuries, Nepal has abolished the caste system in order to maintain equality in our society, but the issues are still prevalent. As a result, caste systems have been embedded into each and every Nepali, no matter what age, gender or caste. Throughout my visits to Nepal, my first-hand experience with caste discrimination within the community makes me aware that discrimination is still prevalent. The lack of care and accountability has kept the system from progressing.

However, there has been some progress in terms of awareness; more and more people have come forward and shared their experiences with Caste discrimination. Through this awareness, there is more use of these stories in Nepali media, such as films and books, allowing everyone to see the issues come to light.

The caste system that was embedded for centuries may take centuries to fully reverse, and therefore, every step in a positive way will make a big difference.

By Asmeeta Gurung.

POTENTIAL REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING

Nepal’s caste system is rooted in Hindu traditions. The system divides society into four main castes: Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra. Read more

Caste determines jobs, wages, and opportunities. Lower castes, especially Dalits, have faced systemic discrimination for generations. Read more

Brahmins hold privilege and influence. Traditionally serving as priests and scholars, they continue to dominate politics and education. Read more

Dalits struggle for equality despite reforms. Many still face social exclusion, economic hardships, and lack of education. Read more

Nepal banned caste discrimination, but biases persist. Legal reforms exist, but deep-rooted prejudices continue to affect daily life. Read more