Badi people

Badi/Vadi
बादी/वादी
Regions with significant populations
Nepal	38,603 (0.1% of Nepal's population)[1]
Languages
	Nepali language (Khas kura)
Religion
	Hinduism
Related ethnic groups
	Licchavi, Khas people, Damai, Sarki, Kami, Gandarbha/Gaine

Badi (Nepali: बादी) is a Hill Dalit community in Nepal. The 1854 Nepalese Muluki Ain (Legal Code) categorized Badi as "Impure and Untouchable (Pani Na Chalne)" category.[2] Badi are categorized under "Hill Dalit" among the 9 broad social groups, along with Damai, Sarki, Kami and Gaine by the Government of Nepal.[1] 'Badi' means Vadyabadak, one who plays musical instruments, in Sanskrit.

According to 2011 Nepal census, Sarki make up 0.1% of Nepal's population (or 38,603 people).[1] Sometimes called untouchables among the untouchables, they support their impoverished families through daily wages and fishing, woodcutting and making musical instruments.

History

The Badi remain the lowest ranking untouchable caste in western Nepal. The rules of orthodox Hinduism dictate that members of the higher castes (Braham, Chetri, or Thakuri) cannot allow the Badi into their houses, accept water or food from them, use the same village pump, or even brush against them; although higher caste men are allowed to have sex with Badi prostitutes. "For many years, I thought it was my fate to be a prostitute," says a Badi prostitute. "Now I realize this system wasn't made by God. It was made by man."[3][4][5]

Representation in Culture

A novel 'Nathiya(नथीया)', written by the author Saraswati Pratikshya is based on this community. This is not the reality of Badi community and the author has picked up the random family story and considered the culture of Badi community which is not true. 'Nathiya(नथीया)' can be found in any community and it doesn't mean that the community holds that culture.

Notes

"Nepal Census 2011" (PDF).
Gurung, Harka (2005) "Social Exclusion and Maoist Insurgency". Paper presented at National Dialogue Conference at ILO Convention 169 on Indigenous and Tribal people, Kathmandu, 19–20 January 2005.
Los Angeles Times: "Badi women of Nepal are trapped in a life of degradation" June 12, 2011
The Advocacy Project: "Born Into Prostitution – The Badi Women" Archived 2011-06-19 at the Wayback Machine
Cox, Thomas E. (2000) "The Intended and Unintended Consequences of AIDS Prevention Among Badi in Tulispur" Himalaya, the Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies: Vol. 20: No. 1, Article 8.

References

Cox, Thomas (1990). "The Badi: Prostitution as a Social Norm among an Untouchable Caste of West Nepal" (PDF). Kailash. 16 (3–4): 165–186.
Kelly, Thomas L. "Fallen Angels" (PDF). Photos of badis at plates 38–30, 41, 48, 50, 51.
Kelly, Thomas L. (2000). Fallen Angels: the Sex Workers of South Asia. New Dehli: Roli Books. Photojournalism.

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[cbs-1] "Nepal Census 2011" (PDF).

[2] Gurung, Harka (2005) "Social Exclusion and Maoist Insurgency". Paper presented at National Dialogue Conference at ILO Convention 169 on Indigenous and Tribal people, Kathmandu, 19–20 January 2005.

[3] Los Angeles Times: "Badi women of Nepal are trapped in a life of degradation" June 12, 2011

[4] The Advocacy Project: "Born Into Prostitution – The Badi Women" Archived 2011-06-19 at the Wayback Machine

[5] Cox, Thomas E. (2000) "The Intended and Unintended Consequences of AIDS Prevention Among Badi in Tulispur" Himalaya, the Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies: Vol. 20: No. 1, Article 8.