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Two video documentaries on the Dalits in
Nepal
Why
are some people considered “untouchable” by others? Why do many
upper caste people sprinkle water to purify themselves ritually
when are touched by a Dalit?
Two
documentary films about the lower caste people -the Dalit- in
Nepal have just been finished. The films are a result of a joint
project between Danish Association for International Co-operation
(MS-Nepal), Danida/HUGOU’s Dalit Support Unit and a Danish
filmmaker/anthropologist. The two films “We have the Same Kind of
Blood” and “Why Dalit?” are the first ever close portraits
of Dalits made in Nepal.
 “We Have
the Same Kind of Blood”
gives a sensitive and in-depth view of the daily life of
Dalits as it is experienced by the villagers in Pachnali, a
small mountain village in Doti district in West Nepal. The village
is inhabited by several Dalit castes - the Kami (blacksmiths),
Damai (tailors) and Bhul (leather workers) among others, as well
as some Thakuri upper caste households. The filmteam settled in
the village for 1½ month to participate in the daily life and
create a close relationship to the villagers. At first the
villagers were reluctant to be filmed: “Why should other people to
see our poverty?”, they asked, being shy of wearing their worn out
clothes in front of the camera. Slowly the confidence was built
up.
Some
of the glaring examples of the caste based discrimination are
revealed in the film: as in many parts of Nepal, they are not
allowed to use the water taps reserved for the higher castes; they
cannot enter the Hindu temples as they are considered to be
“impure” and have a “reckless” behaviour. The strong influence of
the religious cosmology upon the caste behaviour and the daily
life as such is also reflected in the films.
 “Why
Dalit?”
provides an insight portrait of the Dalits’ situation in Nepal at
large. Through the words of Dalit and upper caste people, the film
explores many of the paradoxes in the caste based
discrimination: like why are the shoes made by Sarkis, lower caste
people, allowed into the house of the upper castes, when the
person who made the shoes cannot enter? The film moves from the
mountain areas in the West down to the Terai in the South and
sheds light on different Dalit castes and their living
circumstances - e.g. the Sunars (goldsmith) who try to escape from
the caste discrimination in the hill villages by migrating to the
more populated market areas in Terai; the Badis who
struggle to get citizenship for their fatherless children; the
Dhobis (washermen) who spend their life washing clothes, but still
are considered “dirty”.
The
practice of caste discrimination is illegal and punishable by law
in Nepal. But the caste system still forms an essential part of
the cultural landscape. In many ways the Dalits live on the margin
of the Nepalese society - economically as well as culturally. But
the films also show the humour and strength of the Dalit as they
try to live a life in dignity. Being the first in-depth portrait
of Dalits’ way of life and the discrimination as it takes place
every day in many parts of Nepal, the films are important inputs
in the process of asking for equality for all citizens in Nepal
and raising awareness about caste discrimination.
Produced and directed by Ms. Berit Madsen/Manche Film with Ms.
Ganga Gurung as sound engineer/interpreter, the two documentaries
have enjoyed expert inputs from Dalit NGO Federation, Feminist
Dalit Organization and Dalit Welfare Organization. The
documentaries, edited by Mr. Rabindra Pandey, are enriched by
Aavaas’s music/lyric and songs by Mr. Tirtha Gandharva.
Video Distribution in Nepal & Asia:
MS-Nepal
Dillibazar, Kathmandu
GPO Box 4010
Nepal
Tel. 977 1 434040
Email: msnepal@mos.com.np
DANIDA
(HUGOU)
Baluwatar, Kathmandu
PO Box 6332
Royal Danish Embassy, Nepal
Tel. 977 1 432131
Email: hugou@hugou.org.np
Video distribution in Denmark & Europe:
MS-Mellemfolkeligt
Samvirke
Copenhagen, Denmark
Tel. +4577310000
Fax +4577310101
Email: ms@ms-dan.dk
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