Land,Culture and Politics

1. Land,Culture and Politics Chapter 7

2. Discussions of the chapter • 1. movement against government’s action ofabolishing or reducing Kipat system • 2. the role of cultural exclusiveness in the political struggle

3. Kipat • A land tenure system in Nepal (now abolished) • Very closely associated with Limbu culture • The typicality of the land tenure system is supposed to be the reason for cultural exclusiveness of Limbus. • The cultural identity tends to become political identity in the context of the struggle to preserve the kipat system.

4. The Movement • Attempts to oppose government’s action to convert the Kipat into raikar. • However, not much support was seen from top leaders, rather ad-hoc committees were formed to deal with the government. • 1901- permanent alienation of Kipat • 1913-1917- establishment of united front against government authorities.

5. Meetings held by ‘subbas’ of limbus in order to settle the matter of land conversion • A form of legal transformation tried to be implemented • An vague but unintensional attempts of establishing a sentiment of ‘bottom up leadership’ seen among the Subbas in their demand to include one of them in decision making about Kipat and its condradictions with the existing laws of the state.

6. Demand for a separate law for Limbus Signify their attempts to preserver their traditional way of life as well as their political positions. The Subbas had been serving as advisors for the government regarding administrative The introduction of panchayat system was felt as a threat to the political hold of the Subbas in the government

7. There was opposition towards the system claiming it to be an encroachment of the Limbus’ traditional adminsitrative and adjudicative rights • They felt new system of government and policies was a threat to the Kipat land tenure system.

8. The movement took the form of a separatist political organization during the 1950/51 revolution. • The organization was divided in terms of approaches to the revoluton. • One group preferred taking a moderate step limiting themselves to formulating proposals regarding the safeguard of Kipat system

9. The other was more extremist who even suggested demanding a separate state for the Limbus • However, these discussions never came into action. • “they drank and boasted of what they were going to do” (one of the Limbus attending the meeting)

10. There were proposals presented to the then panchayat government with a view to secure kipat. • However, King tribhuwan then acknowledging the existence of a variety of ethnic groups in east Nepal held onto the decision of transforming kipat into raikar. • His attempt can be analyzed as a gesture to maintain ethnic harmony and respect to majority opinion then.

11. Political role of culture • Sanskritization- • “means whereby a subordinate group in a society recognizes the superiority of another by emulating its cultural practices.” • The Limbus were found to be an exception compared to other tribal groups • The reason being- Kipat- an economic identity that the Limbus felt strongly about.

12. Cultural exclusiveness- guided by cultural inferiority • Identity among Limbu community is fostered by various kinship relations • Continuous interaction among them strengthens their links • For example –visits during festivals • Marriage, morning rites

13. These rites serve a dual purpose • One that of strengthening links or ties • The other of practicing customs and a common cultural background. • Dispute settlement • Tradition(common tradition) plays the role of an umbrella • No mediators involved

14. Language • Both a bridge and a barrier • Bilingual Limbus in Ilam • Interesting is to note that while going out for business, Limbus seek Limbu households or inns run by Limbus to reside. • Spatial segregation and commong language reflect a sense of cultural exclusiveness

15. Strive to resist sanskritization through cultural exclusiveness • The motive behind is not to maintain their tr • tribal solidarity but to secure the Kipat land. • The writer alerts on the cultural identity of the Limbus that is on stake.(since the everything is guided by Kipat)

16. Conclusion • Chapter 8 • The book is about the interrelationship between the Limbus and Brahmans in East Nepal. • A relationship of cleavage and interdependence among Limbus-Brahmans

17. Cleavage- no social interraction, land confrontation, cultural divisions • Interdivision- sharing similar agricultural lands ,their differential rights regarding the same land • Social change occured in this relationship between the Limbus and Brahmans in due course of time...remarkably during the late 19th c.

18. A self sustaining economy • Land in Ilam back then was not of high value since it was free and there were less people. • More lands- more holdings by the Hindu Immigrants for economic and political assistance. • Land became a factor for political gradation like subbas and these people in superordinate positions enjoyed differential rights on land.

19. Subbas- tax collectors( a hierarchy by the state) • Present( the setting of the book)Politico-economic change- • More influx of people resulted shortage of land-( more pledging of lands by Limbus for household purposes) • Government transferred all lands granted by subbas to hindu immigrants into raikar. • Gradually hindu migrants became the chief source of credit and tenancy for the Limbus.

20. The hindu immigrants dominated the Panchayat Committees. • The shortage of land even redefined the kinship relation among Limbus • Now, only patrilineal descent became the sole category for obtaining Kipat • As a result Limbus in some settlement areas do not own any kipat at all

21. Household system also affected due to land pressure • Three distinct principle played as catalyist in the socio-cultural and political changes in east Nepal • Govt ban on Kipat • Gorkha service • Post 1951 economic developments

22. Political effect of post 1951 development • Emergence of class among Limbus due to gorkha service • The book holds relevant to the universal problem of domination of one community by the other.

23. In 1964 a comprehensive series of land reform measures were announced by the government with the intension of introducing the program in all areas of the kingdom. • Kipat was abolished by the 2nd amendment of the Land Reform Act 1964.