Table 1: Demography and Location
More than 98 percent of Badis speak Nepali as a native language at home and in schools. Besides Nepali, they also speak a kind of code language palsi. Most
of the Badis 85.83 follow Hinduism, while, 12.5 percent were found to believe in Christianity see Table 1. he trend of conversion into Christianity
is quite high among the Badis in comparison to other hill Dalit groups. hey are attracted to convert into Christianity because of its professed equality and
non-discriminatory behavior, rather than religious understanding.
Discrimination is the primary reason for Badis conversion to Christianity. Badis interviewed for this proile say that it is better to belong to a religion in which
there is no discrimination. A Badi youth says that the feeling that there is no discrimination in Christianity and all humans are treated equally, is growing in
the community. He says that it gives dignity to people. Similarly, a converted Badi woman says Christianity teaches that children should be educated. She says
that nowadays there is equal relation not only among Badi Christians, but also non-Badi people who have begun to behave respectfully toward them. “After we
learned from the church, and after we changed our behavior and habits, others have changed their perspectives toward us.” It has also been observed that some
people converted to Christianity due to superstition and disbelief, when they were told that praying to god would cure illness. Some have also converted after
they learned about the principles of Christianity. In addition to Christianity, some women converted to Islam at the time of marriage.
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Demography Total
38,603 of 0.145 Male 18,298 Female 20,305
and Locaion Populaion
Populaion
Age Group 5 Years 13.80 5-19 Years 40.33 20-59 Years 41.93 60+ Years 3.94
Marital status
Unmarried 44.21 Married 47.26 Separated 1.22 Widow 4.57
Language
Speak naive 98.68 Speak naive 98.68 who can speak 92.77 language in family
language in school naive language
Speak naive language 97.37 Nepali Speaking proiciency 98.68
in govt. oice
Religion
Hinduism 85.53 Chrisianity 12.50
Buddhism 0.00
Source: NSIS 2012
1.2 Methodology
his study was conducted primarily at Rakam VDC of Surkhet District and Shrigaun VDC of Dang District. he research took place from September 10
to November 20 of 2012. Research methodologies implemented during the period included observation methods, group discussions, interviews, in-depth
interviews, case study methods and collection of data. Altogether, out of the 25 total interviews, three in-depth interviews were taken from diferent persons
and places on diferent topics. Out of 11 group discussions, three focused on Badi youths, women and aged people exclusively, eight mixed-group discussions
were held in Rakam village of Surkhet district. Similarly, during the 26 days of study in Shrigaun, Dang District, out of 20 interviews, two key informant
interviews, nine mixed group discussions, and ive expert opinion interviews were held.
Map 2: Study area
CHAPTER II
Demography, Settlement, Territory
CHAPTER II
Demography, Settlement, Territory
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2.1 Settlements of Badis in Surkhet
here is a Badi settlement in Jamune Bazaar of Ward 6 and 2 of Rakam VDC. Badis themselves call it Jamune Bazaar. It is on a plateau made by the Bheri river,
where Badis were the irst to settle. he place received its name because there was a
Jamun tree Indian black berry on the plateau, and the irst settlement was made in the shade of the tree. Today it is a small bazaar, with villages in
the east, west, and south and Bheri river in the north. he Badi settlement is surrounded by the settlements of other Dalits, hakuris, Bahun-Chhetris, and
other groups. It is compact and clustered.
here is an interesting story about the naming of Rakam. Once, during Satya
Yug, there was a great lood on the Bheri river a tributary of the Ganges. he lood was causing damage in the upper areas. It was already dawn when the
lood reached the lower area. Gangaji asked a rooster if she should wash the area away
falnu, the rooster requested Gangaji to keep rakham it. hus, the area got its name.
Today more people born outside Surkhet district live in Rakam. People from
all walks of life come to live here.. A discussion with other merchants revealed that because this area accommodates people from everywhere, it got its name
rakam let’s keep.
In the Badi tole, Badis are known according to their place of origin. Srigaon Letar is a settlement of Badis. Before Badis irst settled here, they were settled
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to the east or north of this area. As the village was at the top shir, it was
named Srigaon. According to another saying, there is a Siddha Baba temple at the top of the village he priest who worshiped there daily gave the name to
the village. Badi settlements are also called Bagar because Badis live near the riverbank
bagar. Badi toles are named according to the original place from where the people have come, such as Falawangi tole from Falawang; Salyani
from Salyan; Sangkoti from Sangkot, etc. Such naming distinguishes people of a common place of origin, which helps to establish relationship at the time of
marriage, death, and other occasions.
2.2 History of Settlement
