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| torilaure |
Posted
on 24-Feb-02 04:51 AM
Hi there,
I have to write a review of Fatalism and Development for my sociology class, which has become quite a task for me as this kinda thing is very new to me. Considering the rate of intellectual discussions in this site, I thought I have much to benefit from your ctiticisms on my review. I would be very much interested in hearing your views about this book.
Go on, have a field day.....
Fatalism and Development (Nepal’s struggle for development)
Dor Bahadur Bista
Orient Longman Price Rs.195 (IC)
First Published – 1991
A Review
Before going on about reviewing the book I thought it would only be fair if I could describe the platform where I stand. Going by the author’s definition, I am from an ethnic Matwali group. I spent most of my childhood in a boarding school and most of the years, thereafter, outside Nepal. Therefore, I would be misleading the readers if was to present the caste system in Nepal as an insider (or a native). I do not remember(or at least, I wasn’t made aware of) the existence of any caste system(as in its sociological meaning) during my school life. It was the merit(or skills in various fields) of the students rather than their caste that mattered. As for my stint outside Nepal, the only thing that mattered was how hard one worked. Considering this, it would be surprising if you were not to ask; So what gives you the authority to review this book considering your background not to forget that it already has been more than a decade since the book first came out?
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| torilaure |
Posted
on 24-Feb-02 04:55 AM
Well, I think every reader has the right to review a book or at least comment on it(at least from his own perspective). And the fact that being an ignorant insider makes it more than worthwhile as the book has been a revelation(of my own society) to me. In fact, I found the reviews and comments made by various sociologists and scholars(on the book) just an example of scholarly debate fuelled by personal egoisms. So, consider this as just an innocent and unbiased review of high-caste Bahun’s work by a Sojho and low caste Gurung (pun intended).
From my understanding of the book, Dor Bahadur Bista is on a mission to prove that the Bahuns are solely responsible for the caste system in Nepal (though he says that the Bahuns themselves didn’t import or impose the system but the local ruling elite were responsible for doing so for further enhancement of their own class status) and the value system (fatalism) brought on by the caste system has been the main obstacle of development in Nepal much to the chagrin of the Bahun Community. It would, however, be undermining the author’s intention if the so called ethnic communities find solace(of any kind whatsoever) from the book. The fact that the author segregates all of the ethnic communities in one group and the sole Bahuns (and some Chettris) on the other, in doing his comparison, proves that the Bahuns are indeed very powerful and important in our society. He overlooks the diversity among the various ethnic groups, considering his authority-setting statement in the Introduction part -- “This book is based on observations made over thirty years on Nepal’s attempt to develop and respond to change.”(pg. 6).
Readers, new to Nepali society or Nepalese who themselves aren’t fully aware of their society(like me) will be swayed away by the strong tone, rampant generalizations and the flowing language of the author throughout the book. The author defends his generalizations by saying in the Introduction – “But generalization is the only way with which we can learn anything about the complex society such as that of Nepal” (pg. 7). Also, he is aware that readers will be commenting on his generalizations. Hence, he says -- “But to insist on exceptions to prove the generalizations wrong would suggest that Nepali society is beyond the reach of a systematic study under any discipline in the social sciences; and by inference, beyond the possibility of guided correction, change and development.” Therefore, it would be much helpful to check out the details (statistics) before confirming to the author’s ideas.
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| torilaure |
Posted
on 24-Feb-02 04:59 AM
As mentioned earlier, I am from a lower caste, according to the book(not that it matters). Similarly, my family background is not that of an educated one. Instead I come from a Lahure community (which again, the author has failed to acknowledge in his book, considering this community constitutes a major part of our society and is one of the major source of foreign exchange in Nepal). Therefore, I certainly cannot be considered an exception and from my personal observation(unlike the author’s observation, it might be narrow or short-termed, but an observation it is), there is a whole generation of similar people in Nepal. Also, in this age of globalization and information technology, today’s young Nepalese tend to believe their fate is in their own hands(another generalization, you might add), unlike the author’s concept of fatalism(“..that one has no personal control over one’s life circumstances, which are determined through a divine or powerful external agency.” Pg. 4). In today’s Nepal the author couldn’t be more correct when he says that – “Economic or political considerations tend to divide people rather than caste distinctions’’(pg. 55).
Criticisms aside, it would be unfair not commend the courageous and insightful work the author has produced. I say courageous because the author is right in saying that – “The precarious job of walking on a thin edge, frequently changing sides from being an object to be studied to being an outsider who studies at the same time has, by no means, been easy.”(pg. 8). The insights(on various issues ranging from caste system, family structure, values, politics, education to foreign aid and development) provided by the author on the Nepali Society with a flowing language challenges the reader to think and even manages to provoke the reader, at times(the frequency depending on who you are). Every Nepali, regardless of their caste or class, will be forced to think and look at their own society from a different perspective after reading the book. As for the outsiders(meaning new to the Nepalese Society), all I have to say is that don’t get carried away by the book.
Times have changed since the author wrote the book. I don’t think the author, himself, would be comfortable in saying that the book presents a balanced view of the present Nepali Society. It is about time, the author or any other scholar(with equally numerous years of experience and observation, of course), come out with an updated but equally insightful version of the Nepali Society today.
Thanks!!
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| Trailokya Aryal |
Posted
on 24-Feb-02 05:30 AM
Dear Torilaure,
a great topic for discussion indeed! I remember reading that book 5-6 years ago and till today I haven't come across any book as biased, as useless and as full of generalizations as his. The book goes on bashing bahuns for the underdevelopment of Nepal, and being a bahun, i certainly don't agree with that. You can call me biased, feel free to, but, i too have my rights to defend my group from the accusation that "bahuns are responsible for nepal's underdevelopment", don't I?
Now, as you already mentioned, his book is full of gebneralizations and nothing more. Furthermore, there's no academic analysis in his book. So, I don't think his book makes any sense at all [especially to a biased bahun like me].
Now, let's make a few things clear:
1. Dor Bahadur Bista wasn't/isn't trained in Anthropology, and he has/had no knowledge whatsoever regarding collecting/analyzing field data. he merely worked as a data collector for a British (could be an american) anthropologist some Hammindroff(sp??) in the early 50s, and when Hamindroff Nepal, Dor bahadur Bista became the self proclaimed ANTHROPOLOGIST of Nepal. I don't even think he has ver read any book on Anthropology. [quite a srtrong statement to make, but if you read fatalism and development again and again, it clearly shows his poor understanding of the subject matter]
2. As I was talking about this book with anothet Sajha.com visitor in kathmandu, quite sometimes ago, he gave me a very good answer regarding why that book has become the Bible of seto-chalas working at various NGOs/INGOs in Nepal.
This book has the easy solution to all their problems/questions. Why no development even when money keeps on pouring in Nepal? Well, its the caste system. When the Seto-chala people get frustrated by the lack of development and embezzelment of funds, and when they don't know what to say to their hakim-saabs in america/england, canada, they just quote lines from DOB's book and say, hey, everything's in here: Bahuns are the most corrupt ones, and unless and until you get rid off Bahuns from Nepal, there won't be any ddevelopment. This is why, the book has been very popular among the bideshis workinbg in Nepal, but not among the academicians at schools in the US because it lacks analysis, it is biased and its just a sheer waste of money to buy that book.
well, to summerize the whole thing: Its a biased book.
and I don't consider an unbiased bahun.
yes, I am making a statement here that DOB's book is useless.
and generalizations don't make any sense.
Now, am willing and all prepared of attacks from Ritu :-)
Trailokya Aryal
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| Milan |
Posted
on 24-Feb-02 03:22 PM
Trilokya:
Just a brief comment, since I just couldnot help with your repeatations.
How do you know that Dor Bahadur Bista was not trained as an anthropologist? Of course he didn't have a PhD, but as far as I am aware he completed his post-graduate diploma (not a PhD) in anthropology under the supervision Christoph von Furer-Haimendorf in the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Check with any anthropology faculty in TU; don't try to involve your emotion with your argument.
Of course, you have every right to defend your caste or whatever, but don't make some ridiculous line of arguments like "no brahmins were the kings or....". One has to think beyond what s/he would like to believe in such issues and separate emotion or judgement call from logics.
my two cents
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| Saiyan Prince |
Posted
on 24-Feb-02 03:46 PM
From what I have read in Nepalresearch.com, he claims that Chettris and Thakuris are not of Indian origin, but of Nepali origin. He says that many Chettris, Thakuris, and Bahuns are of Magar origin. DNA test should should be able to tell us how much mongoloid blood we really have, and who we are mixed with. Are there any human geneticists in Nepal? Researchers have done genetic analysis on various caste groups in Andhra Pradesh, and the result was pretty interesting. It showed that even the high castes(the Brahmins) had significant Siddhi(African Indian) blood So, yes, us bahuns should have mongoloid blood, since we have been living together with mongoloids for ages.
There are some surnames in Nepal(and Uttaranchal/Himachal Pradesh), that can only be found in Maharastra. Some say that during the muslim invasion of Maharastra, some Peshwas(the Koknastha Brahmins) fled to the hilly regions of the Indian subcontinent(Uttaranchal, Western Nepal). Thus, last names like Dixit is actually from Maharastra. About the Khasas, I don't think much research has been done on them. Some people claim they were mongoloids, whereas others claim they were caucasoids.
I wonder what Bista looks like. Does he look like a Magar or something???
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| Trailokya Aryal |
Posted
on 24-Feb-02 08:09 PM
Dear Milan,
OK, agree, that I am being repetious/stupid, but you aren't being very wise eitehr. Based on what I know, he merely worked as a data gatherer for Hamiendruf, then, hamiendrof probably gave him the deegree or took him to london and make him do his post graduate work there, but still:
IF he was a TU graduate, then TU does not have anthropology/ethnic studies in Nepal
2 years of training in Anthropology does not qualifty you to make generalizations/comments. It just qualifies you tyo writ "sabai jaat--ko foolbari and The peoples of nepal"
Trailokya
My ONE dollar! (THAT'S 70 rs. NEPALI)
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| milan |
Posted
on 25-Feb-02 09:13 AM
Trailokya:
Don't wanna get personal with you, but you sound as silly as your emotional statements. When did I say he was a TU graduate? If you don't know the facts, then you should not make such claims. Just check the history of anthropological work in Nepal (or talke to any Nepali anthropolgoists). Again, he had a post-graduate diploma in ethnology (anthropology) from the SOAS. Hey, are you questioning British post-graduate system or what? Who are you to tell two years of academic training in anthropology doesn't qualify you to be a professional? Have you heard of a masters degree? He was the first anthropologist in Nepal when the anthropology department, tied up with sociology, was first established within the TU system some twenty years back. He was the department head from 1982 for a four years term. He has trained a number of anthropologists in Nepal, including well-known Nepali anthropologists like Shaubhagya Shah (now in Harvard), Laya Upreti, and Tulasi Pandey.
I am just correcting simple facts related to his academic credentials for once and all, not that I take his book "Fatalism and Development" as western academics or NGO/INGO expatriates would like to do. Yes, being an anthropologist myself, I am in total agreement that his "Fatalism and Development" was not based on any particular ethnography, rather reflects much of the field observations he did for Prof Furer-Haimendorf. However, I would like to put his observations into the context when similar types of ethnography (doing so called salvage ethnography to study cultural areas) was common in socio-cultural anthropology during the 1950s and 1960s. Prof Furer-Haimendorf was one of the leading scholars to do such works in the Himalayan region. There are, of course, many limitations and therefore some generalizations in their part to explain complexity of the caste system, which was shaped by the dominant Hindu ideology. Lionel Caplan's work (i.e., Land and Social Change in East Nepal as well as Hindu and Cobbler...) provides more detailed ethnography of the caste system and how ethnic minorities were excluded from their customary land rights. Some other relatively recent ethnographies by Tom Fricke, Augusta Molnar, David Holmberg and Stanley Steven discuss, albeit in short, ethnic relations and the impact of the Hindu religion on ethnic groups. I personally wish more native version have had dealt these in details.
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| krishna |
Posted
on 26-Feb-02 02:09 PM
I think the "seto-chalas" to whom Aryal refers should take their swadeshis' hard-earned money out of Nepal.
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| mugger |
Posted
on 26-Feb-02 09:33 PM
Just a few points:
1. Let's not make DBB's degree an issue. There are already thousands of fake degree holders shining in Nepal. What DBB wrote is good enough for me as I don't have to take everything in his book as dhruva satya. As they say, the proof of the pudding is in ...... There are books, supposedly written by degree walas, that are far worse and distorted than DBB's.
2. What's this about seto chhala? Why blame seto chhala when the discrimination is rampant in Nepal in the name of caste right in front of your eyes at every blink of it.
3. No more beating to Dor Bahadur Bistha when he is not participating in this discussion. If you must disagree with what he has written, do write an article so that others can also express their views on what you have said about DBB's book.
4. For the person who is writing the term paper/review on DBB's book, let it be said that this is one book that tells the truth candidly as experienced by the author. Again, I do not mean to say all what he had said has to be accepted by all.
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| sunakhari |
Posted
on 27-Feb-02 08:28 AM
OKAY guys
I urgently need to get my hands on a copy of this book. I have read it in the past but I now need it for some work-related matters. COULD SOMEONE PLEASE LEND IT TO ME? OR SELL ME A COPY?
TIA
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| sunakhari |
Posted
on 27-Feb-02 06:23 PM
ANYONE????????
NOONE has the book??
I guess then most of us were referring to this book we read ages ago!!
I don't mind paying for UPS or fedex
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| milan |
Posted
on 28-Feb-02 11:56 AM
Sunakhari:
Wished I had my copy here with me--left in Nepal. Hope others, specially ToriLaure might be able to help you. Always enjoyed your postings.
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