There is a lot of talk in Nepal about empowering the Dalit community. The Dalits are considered the lowest of lows in the caste system that has existed here for centuries. They are also called the untouchables.

We met with the official government body tasked with supporting and empowering the Dalit community in Nepal. One of the programs that this commission shared with us was the encouragement of certain persecuted Dalits to change their surname, one of the ways by which a Dalit is easily identified. This strategy seemed to reflect a prevailing attitude at this government office. It seemed that the roughly dozen men and one woman wanted to blend in to the society (in the capital) rather than find pride and acceptance in being Dalit.

Later we met with the Rural Development Centre in the Bara district that also worked on the issue of Dalit rights and empowerment. This organization digs tube wells in a place that requires all castes to access it in the same location. The Jan Jagaran Youth Club in the same district works in schools by having Dalit and other castes sit and eat together while discussing the caste system. These people seemed as proud of being Dalit as they were of their accomplishments in their community.

It will be interesting to see how the government bodies react to what will undoubtedly be a strong Dalit identity infused with pride rather than a desire to erase the identity and walk around unrecognized and without the perceived negative stigma.