Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-xbtfd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-04T19:13:54.519Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Language, caste, religion and territory: Newar identity ancient and modern

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2009

Get access

Extract

The newars are the indigenous inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley, a bowl-shaped plateau about fifteen miles across at a height of approximately 4,000 fest in the Himalayan foothills. It is a plateau in that the major rivers in the immediate area (the Trisuli and the Sunkosi) pass it by at a much lower level. The Valley is surrounded by a rampart of hills rising to 7 or 8,000 feet; according to local belief and myth, and according to geology, the Valley was once a lake. Its soil is exceptionally fertile by Himalayan, or indeed any, standards. Thanks to this, and to the Valley's strategic position astride trade routes to Tibet, it has a long and distinguished history. Written records (inscriptions) begin in the fifth century A.D. and give evidence of a high and literate civilization derived from the Indian plain. The inscriptions are written in a chaste and pure Sanskrit not met with in later periods, but the place-names reveal that the bulk of the population spoke an ancient form of the presentday Newars' language, Newari (Malla 1981 (1). Whereas most of the rest of Nepal remained thinly inhabited and rustic till the modern period, the Kathmandu Valley was able to support a division of labour and a sophisticated urban civilization impossible elsewhere in the Himalayan foothills between Kashmir and Assam.

Type
Notes Critiques
Copyright
Copyright © Archives Européenes de Sociology 1986

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Acharya, Baburam (1979), Newāḥ, Newāḥ bhāy wa Samskṛti (Newars, the Newar Language and Newar Customs) (Lalitpur, Sāhitya Mūlukhā, in Newari; first published in 1953 in Nepali).Google Scholar
Allen, M. R. (1973), Buddhism without monks: the Vajrayana religion of the Newars of Kathmandu Valley, South Asia, II, 114.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Allen, M. R. (1982), Girls pre-puberty rites among the Newars of Kathmandu Valley, in Allen, M. and Mukherjee, S. N. (eds.), Women in India and Nepal [A.N.U. Monographs on S. Asia, No. 8].Google Scholar
Amritananda, , The Ven. (1982), A Short History of Theravada Buddhism in Nepal (Kathmandu, Anandakuti Vihara Trust).Google Scholar
Barré, et al. (1981), Panauti, une ville au Népal, by Barré, V., Berger, P., Feveile, L., Toffin, G. [Collection Architectures] (Paris, Bibliothèque Berger-Levrault).Google Scholar
Bista, K. B. (1972), Le Culte du Kuldevata au Népal en particular chez certains Ksatri de la vallée de Kathmandu (Paris, Centre national de la recherche scientifique, Cahiers népalais).Google Scholar
Brass, P. R. (1974), Language, Religion and Politics in North India (London, Cambridge University Press).Google Scholar
Caplan, L. (1970), Land and Social Change in East Nepal. A study of Hindutribal relations (London, Routledge Kegan Paul).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Caplan, L. (1974), Inter-caste marriages in a Nepalese town, in Fürer-Haimendorf, (ed.), Contributions to the Anthropology of Nepal (Warminster, Aris and Phillips).Google Scholar
Caplan, L. (1975), Administration and Politics in a Nepalese Town. The study of a district capital and its environs (London, Oxford University Press).Google Scholar
Chattopadhyay, K. P. (1980), An Essay on the History of Newar Culture (Kathmandu, Educational Enterprises). Reprinted from Jl. and Pcdings., Asiatic Society of Bengal, XIX (1923) 10.Google Scholar
Clarke, T. W. (1969), Nepali and Pahari, in Seboek, T. A. (ed.), Current Trends in Linguistics: linguistics in South Asia, vol. V (The Hague/Paris, Mouton).Google Scholar
Dharmacharyya Dharma, Aditya (1927), Nepalese Language and Literature. A short history and bibliography of Nepalabhasha or Nepalese (Calcutta, Nepal Bhasa Sahitya Mandal [Pamphlet No. 1]).Google Scholar
Dharmalok, Mahasthavir (1963), Gurumanḍalayā bhāvārtha sahit (Guru mandala and commentary) [self-published in Sanskrit and Newari].Google Scholar
Doherty, V. (1978), Notes on the origins of the Newars of the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal, in Fisher, J. F. (ed.), Himalayan Anthropology. The Indo-Tibetan interface (The Hague/Paris, Mouton).Google Scholar
Dumont, L. (1964), Marriage in India. The present state of the question: postscript to part I—Nayar and Newar, Contributions to Indian Sociology, VII, 7798.Google Scholar
Fürer-Haimendorf, C. von (1978), Elements of Newar social structure, Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, 86, II, 1538.Google Scholar
Gaborieau, M. (1977), Minorités musulmanes dans le royaume hindou du Népal (Nanterre, Laboratoire d'ethnologie).Google Scholar
Gellner, D. N. (1984), Cities and Mandalas, Contributions to Nepalese Studies, XII, 1, 115126.Google Scholar
Greenwold, S. M. (1974), Buddhist Brahmans, European Journal of Sociology, XV, 101123.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Greenwold, S. M. (1975) Kingship and Caste, European Journal of Sociology XVI, 4975.Google Scholar
sirGrierson, G. A. (1916), Linguistic Survey of India (Calcutta, Superintendent Government Printing), Vol. IX.Google Scholar
Gutschow, N. and Kölver, B. (1975), Ordered Space, Concepts and Functions in a Town of Nepal (Wiesbaden, Komissions verlag Franz Steiner).Google Scholar
Hasrat, B. J. (1970), History of Nepal, as told by its own and contemporary chroniclers (Hoshiarpur, Punjab, V. V. Research Institute Book Agency).Google Scholar
Hodgson, B. H. (1972), Essays on the Languages, Literatures and Religion of Nepal and Tibet (New Delhi, Manjusri Publishing House) [first publication 1874].Google Scholar
Höfer, A. (1979), The Caste Hierarchy and the State in Nepal. A study of the Muluki Ain of 1854 (Innsbruck, Universitätsverlag Wagner [Khumbu Himal Series: 13, 2: 25–240]).Google Scholar
Joshi, Bh. L. and Rose, L. E. (1966), Democratic Innovations in Nepal. A case study of political acculturation (Berkeley and Los Angeles, University of California Press).Google Scholar
Kirkpatbick, Col. (1975), An Account of the Kingdom of Nepal (New Delhi, Asian Publication Services) [first publication 1811].Google Scholar
Kloppenberg, R. (1977), Theravada Buddhism in Nepal, Kailash, V, 4, 301–21.Google Scholar
Laanatza, M. (1984), Ethnic conflicts in Islamic societies. Politicization of Berbers in North Africa and Kurds in Iraq, in Tägil, S. (ed.), Regions in Upheaval, Ethnic Conflict and Political Mobilization (Lund, Sweden, Scandinavian University Press).Google Scholar
Lakaul, V. P. (1985), Nepālay Sthaviravād gukathā waḥgu khaḥ (How Theravada Buddhism came to Nepal) (Mahabuddha, Malati Lakaul, in Newari).Google Scholar
Lévi, S. (1905), Le Népal. Étude historique d'un royaume hindou (Paris, Leroux), 3 vols. [2nd ed. Paris, P.U.F., 1986].Google Scholar
Locke, J. K. (1980), Karumamaya, The Cult of Avalokitesvara-Matsyendranath in the valley of Nepal (Kathmandu, Sahayogi).Google Scholar
Mahaprajna, (1983), Sāhitya Sutā, Karmasthānācārya wa Bauddha Rṣi, Mahāprajnāyā Ātmākathā (Autobiography of the Jewel of Literature, Master of Life's Various Ritual Stages, and Buddhist Sage, Mahaprajna), ed. Newami, Darasha (Dilli Bazaar, Kathmandu, Sakalopasak, in Newari).Google Scholar
Malla, K. P. (1973), Language, in Rana, Pashupati Shamshere and Malla, K. P. (eds.), Nepal in Perspective (Kathmandu, CEDA).Google Scholar
Malla, K. P. (1979). Nepāl Bhāṣāyā Dhwānā Saphūyā Dhalaḥ, N.S. 1020–1097 (Bibliography of Nepal Bhasa) (Kel tol, Kathmandu, Laytā Dabu, in Newari).Google Scholar
Malla, K. P. (1980), Pûrvaja Lumãkā (In Memory of our Ancestors) [self-published, in Newari).Google Scholar
Malla, K. P. (1981), Linguistic archaeology of the Nepal Valley. Preliminary report, Kailash, VIII, 12, 5–23.Google Scholar
Malla, K. P. (1982 a), Classical Newari Literature: a sketch (Kathmandu, Educational Enterprises).Google Scholar
Malla, K. P. (1982 b), The relevance of Nepāla Saṃvat, The New Year's Day Souvenir (Kathmandu, Ganga Club).Google Scholar
Malla, K. P. (1983), River-names of the Nepal Valley: a study in cultural annexation, Contributions to Nepalese Studies, X, 12, 57–68.Google Scholar
Malla, K. P. (1984 a), Nepāl Bhāṣāyā Dhwānā Saphūyā Dhalaḥ—2, N.S. 1098–1104 (Bibliography of Nepal Bhasa 2) (Bhotahiti, Kathmandu Pāsā Munā, in Newari).Google Scholar
Malla, K. P. (1984 b), Nepala, archaeology of the word, in PATA Conference Souvenir, pp. 6369.Google Scholar
Manandhar, M. S. and Ranjitkar, N. G. (1981), Change in land value in Kathmandu city (1954–1978), The Himalayan Review, XIII, 7283.Google Scholar
Maske, C. M. (1984), Cittadhar ‘Hṛdaya’—guru śiṣya nitā khaḥ (Hridaya was to me both master and pupil), Nepāl Ṛtupau, XXXII, 56, iii, 20–4, in Newari.Google Scholar
Nepali, G. S. (1965), The Newars. An ethno-sociological study of a Himalayan Community (Bombay, United Asia Publications).Google Scholar
Pradhan, K. (1982), Pahilo Pahar (First Watch) (Darjeeling, Shyam Prakashan, in Nepali).Google Scholar
Oldfield, H. A. (1981), Sketches From Nepal, 2 vols. (New Delhi, Cosmo Publications) [first publication 1880].Google Scholar
Pant Mahesh, Raj (1981), Nepāl Saṃvatko Rāṣṭriya Mānyatāko Anaucitya (Why it is inappropriate to give national recognition to the Nepal Era) (Kathmandu, Samsodhan Mandal, in Nepali).Google Scholar
Quigley, Declan (1984), The Social Structure of a Newar Trading Community, East-Central Nepal (Ph. D. London School of Economics).Google Scholar
Rana, P. R. (1978), Rana Nepal. An insider's view [self-published].Google Scholar
Regmi, D. R. (1950), A Century of Family Autocracy in Nepal (Nepal, the Nepali National Congress).Google Scholar
Regmi, D. R. (1960), Ancient Nepal (Calcutta, Firma K. L. Mukhopadhyay).Google Scholar
Regmi, D. R. (1965), Medieval Nepal (Calcutta, Firma K. L. Mukhopadhyay), 4 vols.Google Scholar
Riccardi, T. (1977), The Royal Edicts of King Rama Shah of Gorkha, Kailash, V, 1, 2965.Google Scholar
Rosser, C. (1966), Social mobility in the Newar caste system, in Fürer-Haimendorf, (ed.), Caste and Kin in Nepal, India and Ceylon. Anthropological studies in Hindu-Buddhist contact zones (Bombay, Asian Publishing House).Google Scholar
Shakya, Hemraj (1969), Guru Śrī Dharmāditya Dharmācāryajūyā Saṃkṣipta Paricay (A Brief Introduction to my guru Dharma Aditya Dharmacharyya) Śānti-Vijaya, I, 65–9, in Newari.Google Scholar
Sharma, P. R. (1977), Caste, social mobility and sanskritization: a study of Nepal's old legal code, Kailash, V, 4, 277299.Google Scholar
Sharma, P. R. (1983), The land system of the Licchavis in Nepal, Kailash, X, 12, 11–62.Google Scholar
Lai, Shhestha Svayambhu (1968), Jhiji (All of Us) (Kathmandu, Cwasā Pāsā, in Newari).Google Scholar
Singh, D. G. (1929), Nepal's New Day. Significance of Mha Puja in Nepal, Buddhist India, III, 34, 28–34.Google Scholar
Slusser, M. (1982), Nepal Mandala. A cultural study of the Kathmandu Valley (Princeton, Princeton University Press), 2 vols.Google Scholar
Sresthacharya, I. and Tuladhar, N. M. (1976), Jyāpu Vocabulary (Kathmandu, Institute of Nepal and Asian Studies).Google Scholar
Stiller, L. S. (1973), The Rise of the House of Gorkha. A study in the unification of Nepal, 1768–1816 (New Delhi, Manjusri Publishing House).Google Scholar
Stiller, L. S. (1981), Letters from Kathmandu: the Kot massacre (Kirtipur, CNAS, Tribhuvan University).Google Scholar
Tamot, K. (ed).) (1977) Pāṭhya Saṃskṭt-Nepālbhāṣā Khāgwaḥ-dhukūcā (Concise Sanskrit-Newari Dictionary) (Nepal, Nepālbhāṣā Lidhãsā Saphūcā Pithanā Guthi, in Newari).Google Scholar
Toffin, G. (1975), Un peuple à la recherche de son identité: les Néwar du Népal, Pluriel, III, 2939.Google Scholar
Toffin, G. (1977), Pyangaon, une communauté néwar de la vallée de Kathmandou: la vie matérielle (Paris, Centre national de la recherche scientifique).Google Scholar
Toffin, G. (1981), L'organisation sociale des Pahari (ou Pahi), population du Centre Népal, L'Homme, XXI, 2, 3968.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Toffin, G. (1984), Société et religion chez les Néwar du Népal (Paris, Centre national de la recherche scientifique).Google Scholar
Dhanavajra, Vajracharya (ed.) (1962), Itihās-saṃśodhanko Pramāṇ-prameya (Sources and Evidence for Correct History) (Patan, Jagadamba Prakashan, in Nepali).Google Scholar
Vergati, A. (1982), Social consequences of marrying Visnu Narayana: primary marriage among the Newars of Kathmandu Valley, Contributions to Indian Sociology (n.s.), XVI, 2, 271287.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Webster, P. (1981), To plough or not to plough? A Newar dilemma. Taboo and technology in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, Pacific Viewpoint, XXII, 2, 99135.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
D., Wright (ed.) (1972), History of Nepal (Kathmandu, Nepal Antiquated Book Publishers) [first publication 1877].Google Scholar