Land and Social Change in East Nepal

A Study of Hindu-Tribal Relations

Lionel Caplan

• Publisher: University of California Press
• Year: 2023
• Print ISBN: 9780520366442
• eBook ISBN: 9780520324749
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: Anthropology
• Index: Social Sciences

Land and Social Change in East Nepal: A Study of Hindu-Tribal Relations explores the intricate dynamics between the indigenous Limbu population and Hindu settlers in East Nepal, with a particular focus on the contentious struggle over land. Set in the context of Nepal's unification under a Hindu monarchy in the late 18th century, the book examines the kipat system of collective tribal land ownership, a cornerstone of Limbu identity, and its tension with the raikar system introduced by the state, which facilitated land acquisition by Hindu immigrants. This conflict reveals broader themes of cultural division and economic interdependence, as the Limbus and Hindus coexist in roles of creditors, debtors, landlords, and laborers. By linking land tenure to kinship structures and political hierarchies, the author provides a vivid account of how land disputes have shaped the socio-political landscape of the region.

Through meticulous fieldwork, archival research, and comparative analysis, the study situates the Limbu experience within the broader South Asian context of Hindu-tribal relations. It highlights how economic pressures, state policies, and migration have marginalized indigenous communities while simultaneously sparking movements to defend cultural identity and ancestral lands. This work offers valuable insights into the resilience of the Limbus and the enduring ties between culture and politics in a rapidly changing environment. It is an essential resource for scholars of anthropology, history, and South Asian studies, offering a compelling narrative of adaptation, resistance, and survival.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1970.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents 1
• Preface
• Transliteration
• Chapter I Introductory
• Chapter 2 The setting Ilam district
• The Indreni Cluster
• Chapter 3 Land and kin groups
• Clan and local clan segment
• Lineage
• Household
• Limbus without kipat
• Conclusion
• Chapter 4 Limbus and Brahmans: the cleavage
• Government land policy
• Brahman manipulation of government land policy
• Cultural differences
• The caste hierarchy
• Conclusion
• Chapter 5 Interdependence: the economic context
• The food gap
• Recurrent expenditures
• Contingent expenditures: mortuary rites
• Contingent expenditures: marriage
• Mortgages
• Other kinds of credit
• The exploitation of kipat ownership
• Distribution of mortgages
• Tenancy
• The ‘commercial’ economy: local sources
• The ‘commercial’ economy: military service
• Conclusion
• Chapter 6 Interdependence: the political context
• The leadership hierarchy
• Disputes over compensation
• informal mediation of intra-Cluster disputes
• Factions
• The Panchayat
• The intercalary position of Limbu Notables
• Chapter 7 Land, culture and politics
• The Limbu movement94
• The political role of culture
• Conclusion
• Chapter 8 Conclusion
• Appendix A The measurement of land
• Appendix В Agricultural income
• References
• Glossary*
• Index