| Nhuchche |
Posted
on 22-May-02 10:06 AM
Nepal is less Hindu
Keshav Pradhan
(Kathmandu, May 20)
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A six per cent drop in Nepal's Hindu population in the last decade has evoked a mixed reaction in the sole Hindu kingdom.
The recently published census report for 2001 shows Hindus make up 80.6 per cent of the population as against 86.5 per cent in 1991. Compared to this, the number of Buddhists rose to 10.9 per cent from 7.8 per cent while that of Muslims went up to 4.2 per cent from 3.5 per cent over the same period. The kingdom's total population is 2.32 crores.
Similarly, the population of kirats (hill tribes professing animism) grew to 4.2 per cent from 1.7 per cent. The population of Christians, who numbered about 100 five decades ago, is slightly over one lakh.
During enumeration, Buddhist and kirat organisations had called upon their people not to classify themselves as Hindus, as in the past. Most Buddhist homes displayed stickers saying " We're Buddhists." This, despite the fact that differences between them and Hindus are indistinguishable as both have common temples and festivals.
(From The Hindustan Times)
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