Little is known of Tamang history but it is believed that the Tamangs have been in the Himalayan zone of Nepal longer than any other group. Currently they inhabit approximately half of this zone. The Tamang people are believed to have come from Tibet, possibly around 3000 years ago, and are Nepals largest ethnic group. The Tamangs are distributed densely within central Nepal but are also present throughout the country and in Darjeeling, India. They have their own distinct culture, tradition, language, religion and social system. It is believed that the Tamangs were self-ruled and autonomous until 232 years ago. During the last two centuries, Tamangs have been most discriminated and exploited community of Nepal. Because of their proximity to the capital city, governments have considered that an empowered Tamang community could pose a possible risk to their regimes and consequently have striven to ensure that the Tamang people have remained disenfranchised, exploited and dominated. They were neither accepted into government posts, whether administrative, judicial or political, nor allowed to accept foreign employment till 1950. They were forced to serve as a reserve labour pool for the services of the ruling group. The Tamangs have been terribly exploited even amongst Nepalis. According to the Nepali civil code of 1856, their status was Shudra (The second lowest rank in the Hindu hierarchical system), which meant that they could be killed and enslaved by those of a higher caste. This situation prevailed until the new civil code was formulated in 1962.Much of their land was redistributed and this poverty and lack of a voice within Nepal remains a serious issue in modern Nepal. Low Hills, Nepal, 2019.
DescriptionSadhu, also spelled saddhu, is a religious ascetic, mendicant or any holy person in Hinduism and Jainism who has renounced the worldly life. They are sometimes alternatively referred to as jogi, sannyasi or vairagi. It literally means one who practises a ″sadhana″ or keenly follows a path of spiritual discipline. Kathmandu, Nepal, 2019
Woman from the Tamang tribe in a small village found in the low central hills. Nepal, 2019
