35 research outputs found
Christianisme et pouvoirs locaux dans une vallée tamang du Népal central / Christianity and Local Powers in a Tamang Valley of Central Nepal
No full textThe history of Nepal's Christianization teaches us that missionaries had long prepared the actual rise of their religion in this country. Based on her observations from the Ankhu Khola Valley, the author also shows that the Tamang were predisposed to religious change, sometimes for political reasons. Their Christianization is here approached relation to local powers, political and religious. The village's political authority appears to be determinant in spread of conversions. However, the converts also represent an important political element, capable of questioning the legitimacy of some local authorities. In response, the reaction of Buddhists appears as a reconquest of these local powers, but at the same time seems to have a broader political meaning.L'histoire du christianisme au Népal nous apprend que des missionnaires avaient préparé de longue date l'essor actuel de leur religion dans ce pays. Mais l'auteur montre aussi, à partir de ses observations dans la vallée de l'Ankhu Khola, que les Tamang étaient prédisposés à un changement de leur religion, parfois pour des raisons politiques. Leur christianisation est ici considérée dans sa relation avec les pouvoirs locaux, politiques et religieux. L'autorité politique villageoise apparaît déterminante dans la diffusion des conversions. Mais les convertis représentent également un poids politique important, au point de remettre en cause un certain nombre d'autorités locales. Face à cela, la réaction des bouddhistes apparaît comme une reconquête de ces pouvoirs locaux, tout en recouvrant un projet politique vraisemblablement plus large.La historia del cristianismo en Nepal nos enseña que los misioneros habían preparado desde hacia tiempo el desarrollo actual de su religión en este país. Pero el autor muestra también, a partir de sus observaciones en el valle de l'Ankhu Khola, que los Tamang estaban predispuestos a un cambio de religión por razones políticas en ciertos casos. Su cristianización es considerada, en el artículo, en su relación con los poderes locales, políticos y religiosos. La autoridad politica local aparece como determinante en la difusión de las conversiones. Pero los convertidos representan igualmente un peso político importante lo que conlleva la puesta en tela de juicio de cierto número de autoridades locales. Frente a esto, la reacción de los budistas aparece como un proceso de reconquista de dichos poderes locales, en el interior de un proyecto político más amplio.Ripert Blandine. Christianisme et pouvoirs locaux dans une vallée tamang du Népal central / Christianity and Local Powers in a Tamang Valley of Central Nepal. In: Archives de sciences sociales des religions, n°99, 1997. Religion, politique et identités en Himalaya. pp. 69-86
Sexual coercion of married women in Nepal
No full textAbstract Background Sexual coercion is an important public health issue due to its negative association with social and health outcomes. The paper aims to examine the prevalence of sexual coercion perpetrated by husbands on their wives in Nepal and to identify the characteristics associated with this phenomenon. Methods The data used in this paper comes from a cross-sectional survey on "Domestic Violence in Nepal" carried out in 2009. A total of 1,536 married women were interviewed and associations between sexual coercion and the explanatory variables were assessed via bivariate analysis using Chi-square tests. Logistic regression was then applied to assess the net effect of several independent variables on sexual coercion. Results Overall, about three in five women (58%) had experienced some form of sexual coercion by their husbands. Logistic regression analysis found that the literacy status of women, decision-making power regarding their own health care, husband-wife age differences, alcohol consumption by the husband, and male patriarchal control all had significant associations with women's experience of sexual coercion. Literate women had 28% less chance (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.72) of experiencing sexual coercion by their husbands than did illiterate women. Women who made decisions jointly with their husbands with regard to their own health care were 36% less likely (aOR = 0.64) to experience sexual coercion than those whose health care was decided upon by their mothers/fathers-in-law. On the other hand, women whose husbands were 5 or more years older than they were more likely to report sexual coercion (aOR = 1.33) than were their counterparts, as were women whose husbands consumed alcohol (aOR = 1.27). Furthermore, women who experienced higher levels of patriarchal control from their husbands were also more likely to experience sexual coercion by their husbands (aOR = 7.2) compared to those who did not face such control. Conclusion The study indicates that sexual coercion among married women is widespread in Nepal. Programs should focus on education and women's empowerment to reduce sexual coercion and protect women's health and rights. Furthermore, campaigns against alcohol abuse and awareness programs targeting husbands should also focus attention on the issue of sexual coercion.</p
Premarital Sexual Behavior among male college students of Kathmandu, Nepal
No full textAbstract Background In Nepal, as in other Asian countries, the issue of sexuality still remains a taboo. Despite this fact, an increasing number of sexual activities is being reported by Nepalese students. This trend warrants serious and timely attention. Due to the sensitivity of the topic of premarital sexuality, youth receive inadequate education, guidance and services on reproductive health. The main objectives of this paper are to explore the sexual behavior especially focusing on prevalence of premarital sex among college men and to investigate the factors surrounding premarital sexual behavior. Methods A cross-sectional survey of college students was conducted in April-May 2006. A self-administered questionnaire was completed by 573 male students. Association between premarital sex and the explanatory variables was assessed in bivariate analysis using Chi-square tests. The associations were further explored using multivariate logistic analysis. Results Despite the religious and cultural restrictions, about two-fifths of survey respondents (39%) reported that they have had premarital sex. The study has also shown that substantial proportions of students indulge in sexual activities as well as risky sexual behavior. Sex with commercial sex workers, multiple sex partners, and inconsistence use of condom with non-regular partner was common among the students. Less than two in five male students (57%) had used condom at the first sexual intercourse. The prevalence of premarital sex varied on different settings. Older students aged 20 and above were more likely to have premarital sex compared with younger students aged 15–19. Men who had liberal attitude towards male virginity at marriage were almost two times more likely to have engaged in premarital sex compared to their counterparts who have conservative attitude towards male virginity at marriage. Moreover, those students who believe in Hindu religion were more than two times (OR = 2.5) more likely to have premarital sex compared with those who follow other religions. Furthermore, those men who have close unmarried friends who have experienced premarital sexual intercourse were eight times (OR = 8.4) more likely to be sexually active compared to those who did not have such sexually active friends. Conclusion Prevalence of premarital sexual intercourse and risky sexual behavior are not uncommon in Nepal. Young people are exposed to health hazards due to their sexual behavior; hence sex education should be provided. School or college based sexuality education could benefit even out-of-school youths, because their partners often are students.</p
Shamanism and medicine in developing Nepal
No full textThe major social function of the shaman in Tamang society is the diagnosis and treatment of illness. This paper has two purposes: first the author investigates the indigenous categories of illness and examines the unique relationship that exists between modern medicine and shamanism in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal. Then the author turns to the curing practices of the Tamang shaman, comparing these to certain concepts of psychotherapy in order to show how the shaman accomplishes much the same same task as his modern counterpart albeit within the context of a very different cultural belief..
Women's Status and Violence against Young Married Women in Rural Nepal
No full textAbstract Background Studies conducted around the world consistently show the existence of violence against women. Despite the increasing number of studies being conducted on violence against young married women elsewhere, this subject has received little attention from researchers and policy makers in Nepal. This paper assesses the prevalence of violence among young married women in rural Nepal. Specifically, it examines [factors related to] women's status in order to better understand the risk of violence. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2009 among 1,296 young married women aged 15-24 years in four major ethnic groups. Bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression were used to examine the association between selected risk factors and violence. Results More than half the women (51.9%) reported having experienced some form of violence in their lifetime. One-fourth (25.3%) reported physical violence and nearly half (46.2%) reported sexual violence. Likewise, one-third (35.8%) of women reported experiencing some form of violence in the past 12 months. No or little inter-spousal communication and low autonomy of women significantly increases the odds of experiencing violence among married women. Conclusions The violence against women is quite common among young married women in rural Nepal. Although the Domestic Violence and Punishment Act 2066 has been enacted, equal attention needs to be given to increasing women's autonomy and activities that encourage inter-spousal communication. Furthermore, more research is required in Nepal that examines dynamics of violence perpetrated by husbands.</p
Suffering in silence: consequences of sexual violence within marriage among young women in Nepal
No full textAbstract Background Despite the grave consequences of sexual violence, and it's persistence both within and outside marriages, this subject has received relatively little attention from researchers, policy makers, and programme managers in Nepal. This paper explores the definition of sexual violence and its various forms and consequences as reported by young married women in Nepal. In addition, it describes the coping mechanisms used by young married women to avoid sexual violence perpetrated against them by their husbands. Methods This paper analyzes data collected during the qualitative study on "Sexual violence among young couples in Nepal", conducted amongst two major ethnic groups - Brahmin/Chhetri and Tharu - between 2006 and 2007. The data is comprised of 39 free-lists and 15 in-depth case histories with married women aged 15-24 years. The average rank and Smith's Salience were calculated from the free-listing data. The thematic analysis approach was used for the analysis of information from the case histories. Results Approximately three-quarters (74%) of the young women mentioned 'sex against one's wishes' as sexual violence within marriage (SVWM). Sixty-two percent of respondents described 'forced sex during illness' and 'forced sex after consumption of alcohol' as SVWM. About half of young women (48.7%) who participated in the free-listing exercise reported having experienced SVWM. The types of SVWM ranged from unwanted sexual touch to forced sex. Backache, headache, lower abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding and thoughts of suicide were the most commonly reported negative physical and psychological health consequences of SVWM. Women reported various coping strategies including 'trying to convince husbands', 'sleeping in a separate room', 'visiting maternal home', 'waking up the children', and 'using pretexts such as being ill or menstruating', to avoid SVWM. However, in most cases, women reported that these coping strategies were unsuccessful. Almost all women experiencing SVWM were socially isolated and did not turn to institutions, relatives or friends for advice and support. Conclusions Sexual violence within marriage is common in Nepal. Findings provide circumstantial evidence of links between sexual violence and negative general and reproductive health outcomes for women. Various actions are required to prevent SVWM and provide immediate support to the victims.</p
Naturally fermented ethnic soybean foods of India
No full textAbstractKinema, hawaijar, tungrymbai, bekang, aakhone, and peruyaan are naturally fermented ethnic soybean foods of India; they are popular among the Mongolian-origin races in the Eastern Himalayas. Bacillus subtilis is the dominant functional bacterium in all naturally fermented soybean foods of these regions. Although there is a good demand for ethnic fermented soybean foods among local consumers in north-east India, the production is limited to household level. A ready-to-use pulverized starter culture for kinema production can be introduced to kinema-makers or similar sticky fermented soybean foods of north-east India and adapted to local conditions for additional income generation. Ethnic fermented soybeans are one of the major food resources in the Eastern Himalayas; they supplement inexpensive, high-digested plant protein in the local diet with low fat/cholesterol content and high nutritive value as well as antioxidant and other health-promoting properties
The Fall and Rise and Fall of the Chantyal Language
No full textIn this paper, the author discusses the history and current status of the Chantyal people and their language, a Tibeto-Burman language in the Chantyal-Gurung-Manang-Tamang-Thakali [CGMTT] group, spoken in the Central Nepal region. He shows how the language underwent the curious, simultaneous 'fall and rise' of the title, and how the language is currently undergoing a slow and, mostly likely, inexorable decline, the last 'fall' of the title
The Distribution and Classification of the Himalayan Languages (Part II)
No full textIn Part II (Section 4) , the author first presents a detailed examination
of all the so-far proposed genetic classifications of the Himalayan
languages, Tibeto-Burman languages spoken in the Himalayas to the
west of Bhutan, and recapitulates that there is admittedly concensus on
the classification of three subgroups: (1) the Himalayish languages, a
subgroup which nearly corresponds to Shafer's West Himalayish Section
and Benedict's Himalayish subnuclear group, including Manchad (Manchati/
Pattani) , Kanash (Kanashi) , Kanaur (Kanauri/Kinnauri) ,
Chhitkal (Chhitkali) ; Tinan (Tinani) , Ranglo (Rangloi) ; Bunan,
Thebor, Rangkas, Darma (Darmiya) , Chaudans (Chaudangsi) , Byans
(Byangsi) , (2) the Central Nepal languages, a tentative subgroup which
consists of Shafer's Gurung Branch and several newly found languages,
including the Tamang group (Tamang, Gurung, Manang, Thakali, Marpha,
Syang, Chantel) , Nar, Ghale, Kaike, and (3) the Rai-Limbu or
Kiranti languages, which nearly corresponds to Shafer's East Himalayish
Section and Benedict's Bahing-Vayu or Kiranti nucleus, including thirtyeight
languages according to G. Hansson's recent classification [1988].
He then examines the first two subgroups and their subclassifications,
proposing a slightly modified subclassification for Himalayish with an addition
of a newly found language, Rangpa, to this subgroup (Fig. 1) ,
and the interrelationships of the languages of the second (Fig. 2) with a
subclassification of the Tamang group (Fig. 3) . He also discusses the
linguistic position of Zhangzhung in relation to Himalayish in some
details.
As for the third subgroup, Rai-Limbu or Kiranti, whose
subclassification here adopted is that of Hansson, the author has compared
it in detail with those of Shafer [1953, 1967] and W. Winter [1987].departmental bulletin pape
