The Discrimination That Made Her
Reeta no longer feels ashamed to speak her name
“All my life, I had to prove I am human,” Reeta recalls, her lips slightly quivering. “Because I belong to one of the most deprived castes in Nepal, the Untouchable.”
Dalits and Nepal’s social structure
Nepal’s social structure is very tricky and remains concealed from most visitors. It is a structure based on an ancient and discriminatory caste system that irrevocably assigns people their position in society. From the moment they are born and forever tethered to their family names.
Dalits were long since considered‚ “untouchable” and thus relegated to the margins of society. They have always existed at the bottom of Nepal’s social ladder. Often making their living as wage laborers and pursuing occupations society has tossed at them like breadcrumbs for the hungry.
Even though the government officially abolished the caste system, it still persists in many minds. Much has been accomplished since to dismantle these rigid structures. And the abolition has undoubtedly paved the way for broader awareness. But social change requires time. And above all, it takes resilience from those most affected by exclusion and gruesome discrimination.
