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Book Review:
High Inequality
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Strategy for the Upliftment
of the Oppressed
Edited by Professor Haribansha
Jha
Published by Center for Economic
and Technical Studies and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung
Price: Not mentioned
Pages: 144
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Ethnicity and the plight of the oppressed
class are popular themes among Nepalese intellectuals.
This book highlights different facets of the situation
of the oppressed class, including their social status
in the context of Nepalese society. Interestingly, Brahmins
still lead the process of social reform in the terai and
hills. A terai Brahmin himself, Dr. Jha comes out with
important issues of discrimination against the community.
The book highlights the plight of the large segment of
the oppressed class that continues to be deprived of its
right to equality.
The book, which is based on articles
presented at seminars organized by the Center for Economic
and Technical Studies, provides a historical perspective
of the oppressed class. Whether in the terai or in the
hills, Nepalese society has evolved through the tenets
and structures of Hinduism. According to the Manu Smriti,
society is divided into two classes, "touchables"
and "untouchables". The class division is based
on the profession of the individual.
Although Dr. Jha tries to make a distinction
between the "untouchables" of the terai asnd
the hills, he has not been able to show any significant
differences in the way they are treated in those regions.
SPOTLIGHT
The National Newsmagazine, Vol. 20, No. 28, Jan 26
- Feb 01, 2001
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