Visible Weapons, Invisible Woes

The Question of Caste in Darjeeling Hills

Abstract

The traditional khukuri is an important cultural marker of the Indian-Nepali community which is often seen as a symbol of Gorkha valor. In the Nepali community, the khukuri is an essential part of wedding ceremonies, religious, and death rituals and many even believe it to be a container of sacred energy. While this weapon is much celebrated as a marker of valor and Nepali pride, the makers of this weapon are often not a part of mainstream discourse, and quite undeservedly so, being Nepali Dalits. Revisiting social customs and items related to the cultural study and the politics of social inclusion and exclusion, this paper attempts to spell out this unique situation of caste within the background of the larger national identity of Nepali pride, valor, and loyalty, symbolized by the khukuri. The paper aims to interrogate and unveil the mainstream Indian-Nepali discourse, especially in the Darjeeling Hills which has continued to turn a blind eye to the Nepali Dalits and overlook their contribution to the cultural heritage of Nepali people to the larger narrative. Hence, it is a study of the culture, history, and society of the Darjeeling Hills to provide a more comprehensive and inductive view of the Nepali Dalits, the makers of khukuri whose lived reality within the larger community is often overlooked and goes unseen.