Political Transformations in Nepal: Dalit Inequality and Justice

This thesis uncovers the underlying causes of Dalit inequality and the necessary institutional reforms required addressing the impact of institutional barriers and biases, with a view to formulating and implementing socially just policies. The central thesis is that Dalit requires special measures to achieve participatory parity and institutional reforms to change long-standing injustices. Recognition of the devalued identity of Dalit together with the redistribution of state power and resources are indispensable for Dalits’ social and political equality. This thesis asserts the need for a group differentiated politics of recognition to counter the extant generalised understanding of Dalit assimilation in the society as their end goal. To understand the causes and effects of the ongoing hegemonic caste hierarchy and required institutional reform, this research is grounded in a two-dimensional—redistribution and recognition— conception of social justice, drawing in particular on the work of critical theorist Nancy Fraser. The nature of extant injustices against Dalit as well the institutional barriers to Dalit in the recent political reform processisexplicated through a phenomenological research methodology. Personal experiences of Dalit demonstrate that despite State anti-caste discrimination measures, changing the patterns of caste discrimination remains very slow, as evidenced by rampant everyday discrimination. Furthermore, recent efforts to bring about political reform, including State restructuring and Federalism have been relatively ineffective in addressing Dalit issues. Due in part to their overemphasis on the ethnic identity discourse, fundamental issues faced by other marginalised groups like Dalit received inadequate attention. Nevertheless, Dalit demands have to some extent been recognised in the new constitution promulgated by the Constituent Assembly (CA) in 2015, and as such, Dalit now needs to achieve internal unity and strategic action to continue their struggle. By studying the dynamics of Dalit inequality, hegemonic socio-political structures and institutional reforms, this research study has generated new empirical perspectives for Dalit that can be widely utilised by policymakers as well as academics for further research and policymaking processes