NEPALESE TRIBES/RELATIONS WITH NEIGHBORS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00047R000200770006-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 28, 2003
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: May 7, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

Appro ?sr g"R 2003/12/09 : CIA-RDP82-00047R00020077000 ?
40 2
COTrc'TD TTTAT-
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTRY Nepal/Bhutan
SUBJECT Nepalese Tribes/Relations with Neighbors
25X1A
DATE DISTR. 7
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED . F- -0W)
25X1A SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION EFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
o UNITED STATES, WITHIN THE 1E NINOOP TITLE IS, SECTIONS 153
O THE
OF THE U. U.S. CODE, AS OED. ITS TS NSMISSI0N DE TEST.
TION OF ITS CONTENTS TO RECEIPT BT AN UN AUT HOB I EEO FEESOS II
FBOHI BI TED BT LAW. THE RE P BD D U C T I ON CF TMIS FORM I! PS O HIB I II O.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
25X1X
1. The geographical areas in Nepal occupied by the :many tribes there are
difficult to define since members of all the tribes are found in all parts
of the country. However, the following most important tribes are from
the areas named:
(a) Rais (descendants of Kirantis) - east
(b) Sherpas (:! aumbu District)
(c) Gurungs
(d) Tamangs
(e) Chetris
(f) Dotials
(g) Tharus
- north and northeast
- east and southeast
- east and southeast
- central
- west
- southwest
(h) Yolco.s (Mustang L sicJ District)-northwest
25X1X
25X1
I mitted the Limbus who are from east Nepal and the Newars
from central Nepal since they are not true tribes but clans.
2 The L mhus and Rais are agricultural; the Sherpas are mountain climber:
and picked for many expeditions; and the Tewars are tradesmen, writers,
politicians, artisans and the richest people in Nepal. The Nepalese in
Tibet are Newars. The Dotials, Tharus and Yolmos were the Mongoloid or
lamastic people but are now Hinduized. The former Kirant,is are popularity
bat incorrectly called Kirats. Kirat is the name of part of the area in
which the Kirantis (now Rais) live. The Limbus and Rais produced the Nepal
rulers at one time.and their members consider themselves better than the
other Nepalese. However, the Chetris, from whom the Ghurkas come, are
ranked second to the priests in the caste system. This makes the Chetris
the highest tribe in the social order.
DISTRIBUTION
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 25X1A
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3. There is no definite tension among Nepal's tribes. The only possible
friction may result from the tribes' positions in the social caste
25X1X system. Ia statistical comparison because Nepal has never
25X1X taken a census. the Limbus are most numerous in the
east and throughout Nepal with the Chetris and Newars outnumbering the
tribes or clans in the south and central areas, respectively.
4. All the tribes and clans have complete freedom of movement Wdhin Nepal.
The most migratory are the Limbus, Rais and Darangs. The Newars are the
only people who have migrated to neighboring countries in great numbers.
They settled as traders in Tibet many years ago but, like all their
countrymen, are not going there now (1953J. However, they continue
to enter Sikkim and now outnumber the Sikkimese there. This migration
is a result of an original Nepalese resettlement policy initiated by
the British.
5. Relationships between the Nepalese tribes and the Bhutanese are good.
(There is no tribe correctly named 'BotiasTM or "Bhotias". 'Bhotia" is
a Tibetan word given to all Tibetans south of the $imalayas.. Therefore
there is no Bhotia tribe in Bhutan in the true - sense . , The popularly
named Bhotias there are actually the same as' he tribes in sepal,or other
areas who came from Tibet.)
6. The Sikkimese greatly resent the influx of Nevars. Also,,. wars between
Sikkim and Nepal years ago have resulted in an unfriendly feeling between
the two countries. However, the Newars are more ambitious. and industrious
and have ,managed to secure a sound grasp on Sik im's edotoxt arid-politics.
It-is doubtful that Sikkim's resentment will lead to any major quarrels.
Approved For Release 2003/12/09 : CIA-RDP82-00047R000200770006-8