Sarki (ethnic group)
सार्की/मिजार | |
|---|---|
| Regions with significant populations | |
Himalayas  Nepal  Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Dooars  Bhutan  Burma | |
| Nepal | 452,229 (1.5% of Nepal's population)[1] |
| Languages | |
| Nepali, Thakali some also speak Gurung | |
| Religion | |
| Hinduism 95.46% (2011), Christianity 4.34% (2011)[2] | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| indigenous people, Damai, Badi, Kami, Gandarbha/Gaine | |
Sarki/Mijar (Nepali: सार्की) is an occupational caste in Nepal.[3] They are found in the region of the Himalayas, Nepal, across the hills of Darjeeling & Kalimpong and in Terai area of Dooars. They are experts in playing their musical instrument "Madal" and performing dance in a group which is also called “Khayali Marooni”. According to the 2021 Nepal census, Sarki makes up 1.55% of Nepal's population (452,229 people).[4] Sarki are referred to in the Nepali and Thakali languages.[5]
Due to many caste-based discriminations in Nepal, the government of Nepal legally abolished the caste system and criminalized any caste-based discrimination, including "untouchability" (the ostracism of a specific caste) - in the year 1963 A.D.[6] With Nepal's step towards freedom and equality, Nepal, previously ruled by a Hindu monarchy, was a Hindu nation which has now become a secular state,[7] and on 28 May 2008, it was declared a republic,[8] ending it as a Hindu Kingdom[9]
The 1854 Nepalese Muluki Ain (Legal Code) categorized Sarki as a category.[10] Sarki is categorized under "Hill Dalit" among the 9 broad social groups, along with Damai, Badi, Kami and Gaine by the Government of Nepal.[11]
Geographic distribution[edit]
At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, 374,816 people (1.4% of the population of Nepal) were Sarki.[12] The frequency of Sarki by province was as follows:
- Gandaki Province (4.1%)
- Karnali Province (2.6%)
- Sudurpashchim Province (1.7%)
- Lumbini Province (1.5%)
- Bagmati Province (1.3%)
- Koshi Province (1.0%)
- Madhesh Province (0.1%)
The frequency of Sarki was higher than national average (1.4%) in the following districts:
- Gorkha (7.6%)
- Jumla (7.1%)
- Parbat (6.7%)
- Arghakhanchi (6.1%)
- Baglung (5.6%)
- Lamjung (5.3%)
- Bajura (5.0%)
- Dhading (4.8%)
- Gulmi (4.8%)
- Dadeldhura (4.5%)
- Tanahun (4.3%)
- Pyuthan (4.2%)
- Syangja (4.0%)
- Sindhuli (3.6%)
- Myagdi (3.4%)
- Kalikot (3.2%)
- Palpa (3.2%)
- Dailekh (3.1%)
- Ramechhap (3.1%)
- Okhaldhunga (2.9%)
- Dolpa (2.8%)
- Khotang (2.8%)
- Udayapur (2.6%)
- Kaski (2.5%)
- Doti(2.4%)
- Surkhet (2.4%)
- Bhojpur (2.3%)
- Humla (2.3%)
- Bajhang (2.2%)
- Dang (1.9%)
- Kavrepalanchok (1.9%)
- Jajarkot (1.8%)
- Salyan (1.8%)
- Western Rukum (1.8%)
- Nuwakot (1.7%)
- Kanchanpur (1.6%)
- Terhathum (1.6%)
- Sindhupalchowk (1.5%)
Language[edit]
The Nepali language spoken by Khas Arya is their mother tongue. They also speak Gurung .
References[edit]
- ^ National Statistics Office (2021). National Population and Housing Census 2021, Caste/Ethnicity Report. Government of Nepal (Report).
- ^ Central Bureau of Statistics (2014). Population monograph of Nepal (PDF) (Report). Vol. II. Government of Nepal.
- ^ Whelpton 2005, p. 31.
- ^ National Statistics Office (2021). National Population and Housing Census 2021, Caste/Ethnicity Report. Government of Nepal (Report).
- ^ Vinding, Michael (1998). The Thakali: A Himalayan Ethnography. Serindia Publications. pp. 388, 443. ISBN 9780906026502.
- ^ Welle (www.dw.com), Deutsche. "Nepal: Deadly caste-based attacks spur outcry over social discrimination | DW | 16.06.2020". DW.COM. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ "Nepal king stripped of most powers". CNN. 18 May 2006. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- ^ "Nepal votes to abolish monarchy". BBC News. 28 May 2008. Archived from the original on 7 January 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- ^ Crossette, Barbara (3 June 2001). "Birenda, 55, Ruler of Nepal's Hindu Kingdom". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- ^ Gurung, Harka (2005) Social Exclusion and Maoist Insurgency. Paper presented at National Dialogue Conference at ILO Convention 169 on Indigenous and Tribal peoples, Kathmandu, 19–20 January 2005.
- ^ "Nepal Census 2011" (PDF).
- ^ 2011 Nepal Census, District Level Detail Report
Bibliography[edit]
- Whelpton, John (2005). A History of Nepal. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0521804707.