Badi People
Encyclopedia
Badi is a Dalit
, Khas
community in Nepal
. 'Badi' means Vadyabadak, one who plays musical instruments, in Sanskrit
. Badi is also a common name used throughout the middle-east and Arab region.
It is estimated that there are 40,000 to 70,000 living in Nepal. Sometimes called untouchables among the untouchables, they have for decades been doomed to supporting their impoverished families through prostitution.
Badis trace their roots to the Licchavi
dynasty in what is now northern India's Bihar
state. In the 14th century, the tribe moved to Nepal, according to a research paper by Thomas Cox, an anthropologist at Katmandu's Tribhuvan University
. There they received land and money for providing concubines to small-time rulers in western Nepal. After 1950, local royalty lost power in a pro-democracy movement, and the Badis saw their clientele disappear. The tribe eventually turned to prostitution.
In 2005, the Supreme Court of Nepal ordered the government to extend formal citizenship to the Badis, establish retraining and alternative employment programs and extend grants to vulnerable families. Bureaucrats stalled until activists threatened in 2007 to undress publicly in Katmandu, embarrassing the government into setting up the programs. But little has changed, say the Badis, who blame inertia, corruption and Nepal's polarized government.
Although society is slowly changing, discrimination against the Badis continues. The Badi are the lowest ranking untouchable
caste
in western Nepal. The rules of orhodox Hinduism dictate that members of higher castes (Braham, Chetri, or Thakuri) cannot allow Badi into their houses, accept water or food from them, use the same village pump, or brush against them. Despite this, higher caste men are allowed to have sex with Badi prostitutes. "For many years, I thought it was my fate to be a prostitute," says a Badi prostitute. "Now I realize this system wasn't made by God. It was made by man."
Dalit
Dalit is a designation for a group of people traditionally regarded as Untouchable. Dalits are a mixed population, consisting of numerous castes from all over South Asia; they speak a variety of languages and practice a multitude of religions...
, Khas
Khas
Originally the Khas / Khasas or Khasiyas are the mountain dwellers living in the southern shadow of the Himalayan range from Kashmir to Bhutan, but mostly in Nepal, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, North Bengal, Sikkim and Bhutan,...
community in Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
. 'Badi' means Vadyabadak, one who plays musical instruments, in Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
. Badi is also a common name used throughout the middle-east and Arab region.
It is estimated that there are 40,000 to 70,000 living in Nepal. Sometimes called untouchables among the untouchables, they have for decades been doomed to supporting their impoverished families through prostitution.
Badis trace their roots to the Licchavi
Licchavi (clan)
The Licchavis were the most famous clan amongst the ruling confederate clans of the Vajji mahajanapada of ancient India. Vaishali, the capital of the Licchavis, was the capital of the Vajji mahajanapada also. It was later occupied by Ajatashatru, who annexed the Vajji territory into his...
dynasty in what is now northern India's Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
state. In the 14th century, the tribe moved to Nepal, according to a research paper by Thomas Cox, an anthropologist at Katmandu's Tribhuvan University
Tribhuvan University
Tribhuvan University [त्रिभुवन विश्वविध्यालय] is a public university located in Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal. Established in 1959, TU is the oldest of the five universities in Nepal...
. There they received land and money for providing concubines to small-time rulers in western Nepal. After 1950, local royalty lost power in a pro-democracy movement, and the Badis saw their clientele disappear. The tribe eventually turned to prostitution.
In 2005, the Supreme Court of Nepal ordered the government to extend formal citizenship to the Badis, establish retraining and alternative employment programs and extend grants to vulnerable families. Bureaucrats stalled until activists threatened in 2007 to undress publicly in Katmandu, embarrassing the government into setting up the programs. But little has changed, say the Badis, who blame inertia, corruption and Nepal's polarized government.
Although society is slowly changing, discrimination against the Badis continues. The Badi are the lowest ranking untouchable
Dalit
Dalit is a designation for a group of people traditionally regarded as Untouchable. Dalits are a mixed population, consisting of numerous castes from all over South Asia; they speak a variety of languages and practice a multitude of religions...
caste
Caste
Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
in western Nepal. The rules of orhodox Hinduism dictate that members of higher castes (Braham, Chetri, or Thakuri) cannot allow Badi into their houses, accept water or food from them, use the same village pump, or brush against them. Despite this, higher caste men are allowed to have sex with Badi prostitutes. "For many years, I thought it was my fate to be a prostitute," says a Badi prostitute. "Now I realize this system wasn't made by God. It was made by man."