The Kulung Indigenous People: A Brief Indtroduction

About Kulung Community Info

Bases and concepts for Enlisting of 7 Kiranti Ethnic and Indigenous groups in the list of National Foundation for Development of Indigenous Nationalities (NFDIN) as per the Act 2058 BS

Kulung, Chamling, Bantawa, Lohorung, Baahing, Yaamphu, Naachhiring, Thulung are Kirantis and are the indigenous groups of Nepal. Each of these groups possesses their own language, culture, tradition, history and structure and has been practicing their culture and rituals in their own mother languages. Since the Nepal unification, the state has imposed the discriminatory culture of one language and one religion and limited the process of accessing and controlling the state resources thus excluding all the ethnic and indigenous groups of the country.

After the restoration of multiparty democracy in Nepal in 1990 AD, the Government has established National Foundation for Development of Indigenous Nationalities (NFDIN) through the act 2058 BS in order to bring indigenous communities in the country’s development mainstream. Despite having substantial evidences to sign up as the indigenous communities in the list of NFDIN on the basis of definitions of International Labour Organization (ILO) 169 convention, UN covenant on Indigenous Rights and act 2058, the Kulung, Chamling, Bantawa, Lohorung, Baahing, Yaamphu, Naachhiring and Thulung have not been able to register yet. This has resulted exclusion of these groups participation into nations development process and self-identity crisis. Therefore, these groups are struggling for their own rights and self-identity. Followings are the bases that declare these groups are the indigenous communities of Nepal:
1. Kulung, Chamling, Bantawa, Lohorung, Baahing, Yaamphu, Naachhiring and Thulung have their own language, culture, tradition, social structure, and history. These groups have been practicing their rituals in their own mother languages. Article 2 of the act 2058 of the NEFDIN has provision of registering those groups who have their own mother language, distinct culture, traditional rituals, social structure and written and unwritten history, in the indigenous ethnic list.
1. Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) act 2047 (revised through 5th general assembly 2060) article 2 (c) defines “Indigenous Ethnic Group” are generally those not included in Hindu Hierarchy system and having traditional geographic territory, religion, culture, history, mother language, traditional rituals, cultural identity and social structure etc. Those 8 groups possess all these characteristics.
1. These groups possess bases for signing/registration in Indigenous Ethnic Groups as per the definition of ILO Convention 169 and UN Indigenous and Human Rights Masauda Ghosana Patra - draft covenant.
1. National census has explicitly mentioned that Kulung, Chaamling, Bantawa, Lohorung, Baahing, Yaamphu, Naachhiring, Thulung etc. possess specific languages under Kirant communities.
1. Other Kiranti groups such as Yaakhha, Limbu and Sunuwar similar to Kulung, Bantawa, Lohorung, Baahing, Yaamphu, Naachhiring, and Thulung have registered.
1. Kulung, Chaamling, Bantawa, Lohorung, Baahing, Yaamphu, Naachhiring, Thulung have their own genealogy like other Kiranti groups that has distinct structure and speaks about the history.
Besides these, sociologists, anthropologists and other intellectuals have also considered language, culture, geographic territory, social phenomenon are the bases for ethnic identity. According to Joseph Stallion’s - ‘Marxism and Ethnic Issues’ - Caste is a fixed community group established historically having common language, geographic territory, economic life and common culture. Dr. Harka Gurung has claimed that language is the major factor of self-identity. In an interaction program organized by the NFDIN held on 2060/03/21 in the topic - Analysis of 2060/61 Budget in the perspective of Dalit, Janajati and Women, Dr. Gurung had mentioned that the language is the major identity of any caste group. Likewise, in a paper - Concepts and Experiences on Registration of Indigenous Ethnic group, presented in the occasion of Second World Indigenous Decade (2005-2010) celebration in 2062/04/24, pg. 1 point b has defined that language is the base for identification of any caste. Table 1, pg. 2 of the same paper mentions existence of 37 different languages under Kiranti communities, where only 2, the Laahorung and the Mewahaang have dialects. Therefore, all these Kulung, Chaamling, Bantawa, Lohorung, Baahing, Yaamphu, Naachhiring, Thulung under Kirant communities are different caste groups. These groups have their own separate mother language, culture, traditional rituals, social structure, written or unwritten history and historic territories. That is why these 7 Kiranti groups Kulung, Baahing, Chaamling, Naachhiring, Lohorung, Yaamphu and Bantawa have started movement for their rights - right to self-identification. Except these 7 groups, other groups under the Kirant communities have also realized importance of self-identity and are in the process of joining the movement for their rights.

In spite of being eligible (as per the ILO 169 Convention, UN Covenant on Indigenous Right and NFDIN act 2058) for Enlisting, these above mentioned groups were not able to register them in NFDIN list. Several attempts and appeals were put forwarded, but not succeeded yet. These groups were neither registered nor proved to be non-indigenous groups of Nepal. Being the Kiranti native of the country, these groups were always deprived for their rights and still excluded from the development mainstream. The Kirant Rai Yayokhha (KRY), an organization established for the welfare of all ‘Rai’ communities, has been putting obstruction for registration process. The KRY has been arguing the step will separate all ‘Rais’ and are seeing these groups as a separator (30, 32 different Rai groups). In fact, the ‘Rai’ itself has registered as one of the Indigenous ethnic group under the NFDIN without having basic minimum characteristics. The ‘Rai’ does not possess its own language, culture, social structure, historical lands etc. This is very irrational. On this irrational justification, the NFDIN has been overlooking the appeal. This has ultimately excluded most of the groups (shadowed under the ‘Rai’ category) are not getting opportunities to participate in any national development process. Some of the groups from the 30, 32 are now at the verge of extinction since their own language, culture were not protected and conserved on time. Their self-identification is at risk.

This movement is not against the ‘Rai’ and for Separation. Since we have our own language, culture, tradition, we are advocating for our own self-identity - Right to Identity. We understand that ‘Rai’ is a ‘designation’ rather than a specific caste and do not posses own language, religion and culture. Designation can be claimed by anyone; hence it does not resemble any specific caste. ‘Rai’ can be found added with other registered castes like Magar, Danuwaar, Limbu, Yaakhha, Haayu, Derai, Jirel etc. In ‘Nipsung’ magazine, No. 22, Years 12 published in 2062 BS Baisaakh (Nepali calendar) by the KRY in an article - Rai and Subba, Surname by: Mr. RamChandra Rai has cited that 16 fore-dynasty of the Late King Prithvi Narayan Shah were also ‘Rai’. This fact clearly says that Rai is not a specific caste; rather it is a designation that could be given to anyone. Dr. Dilli Ram Dahal in ‘Rajdhani’ magazine of 2062/04/25 pg. 4 - has written that in Nepal’s Kiranti account, history of Rai is less than 250 years. After the victory over Eastern Region by the Sen Kings, they designated some leaders of Kiranti region as ‘Raya’. This Raya has later changed into Rai. But, within Rai, there exists different caste groups like Kulung, Bantawa, Chhamling, Lohorung, Khaaling and are distinct lingual and culturally. He has also mentioned that ‘Rai’ became a group of those people with the designation. We have been claiming that we are indigenous people as we all possess our own language, culture, religion, historical lands with own kind of lifestyle. We have factual information on existence of long history of Kirant, Kirant land, and religious script. ‘Rai’ does not possess any such land, religion, language, script etc. which imply that the ‘Rai’ is not a specific indigenous ethnic group as such. Therefore, we under the Kirant category, Kulung, Bantawa, Chamling, Lohorung, and Yaamphu etc. are indigenous caste group and we possess distinct significance. We want to a part of Kirant community.

To say caste significance leads to separation within a group is a wrong perception. This only manifest culture of past Hinduism - one language, one religion, one caste, and does not accepts others existence. Caste identification provides ample opportunities for the development of their own community’s culture, language and to participate in the national development. There will be a conducive environment for each specific caste groups to flourish their own language and culture in a coordinated manner. The NEFIN is the prominent example where diverse ethnic groups are getting opportunities to flourish their own language and culture. The unity among the Rai, Limbu, Yaakhha and Sunuwar within the Kirant community is another such instance. The existing exclusionary policy of KRY has resulted a distance between the unregistered Kiranti groups and the KRY itself. Coexistence, coherence and peace can be achieved when there will be prospect for equitable participation and development of all the groups. Exclusion and ignorance can only create dissatisfaction that ultimately lead to separation. In the present context where the right to self-identity and respect to all the indigenous and ethnic groups have been respected universally and their promotion (economic, social and cultural rights) has become the prime responsibility of the state, these groups can not be simply ignored. If the issue can not be solved on time by the concerned authorities (NFDIN, KRY, NEFIN etc.), there could be possibility of faction within the indigenous ethnic groups. We belief that registration/signing in does not separate the ‘Rais’, rather exclusion/ignorance will definitely separate us. Finally, we re-emphasize our concerns and appeal once again with concerned authorities to listen to our voice and take necessary actions on time.

An appeal on Behalf of
Kulung, Chamling, Bantawa, Lohorung, Baahing, Yaamphu, Naachhiring and Thulung

Translate by: Rina Kulung

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