Nepal : feudalism and rural formation

There are certain 'economic enclaves' in the Third World which suffer persistent blockage of productive forces, such as mountain valley zones, lowlands (Tarai) and other isolated geographical zones. An 'economic enclave' of Nepal Tarai, called the 'granary' of Nepal, has been selected to describe sociologically, the form of rural life in Tarai villages of Nepal. The Tarai population, predominantly of Indian origin, maintains kinship and cultural ties with Indian across the border.

There were three classes of people related to the Tarai region: The landed aristocracy, the intermediaries like the Jimidar, Chaudhari, and Mukhiyas, and the peasantry. The surplus of the peasants was appropriated by the landed aristocracy, the peasantry remained poor. The detrimental effect of the system of intermediaries in the rural formation was nothing less than oppression on the successions of peasantry for generations. The peasants, in many instances, had to flee away in order to save their skin from the repressive measures adopted by the intermediaries who strived on extorting taxes and the surplus.

As a result of 25 years of Nepal government policies, a new class has emerged that is determined to get concessions from the government in the name of development. The 'autocratic feudalism' has been transformed into 'neo-feudalism'. It is eager to accept new technology if it does not change the existing pattern of exploitation. The subject political culture of Nepal (where masses are supposed to be taught and guided) requires a complete new set of political values.