06 Oct Tourism Breaking Down Barriers: Untouchable No More.

We came to their village and they welcomed us with warm smiles and simple gifts; Flowers, tea, tasty snacks. The head of the community spoke words of friendship and we walked through the village, the Annapurna range in the distance. We stopped by a well and spoke to the young people, collecting water for the evening meal. We were sharing our evening meal with a small group of families. After dinner, they brought out their iPhone and wireless speakers and played an eclectic mix of traditional Nepalese songs and modern dance music. We danced together – young and old – enjoying the meeting of two cultures. The evening was very special – but even more so as out beautiful hosts were Untouchables.

Untouchable. For any social animal, including humans, the need for touch and connection is vital. The simple act of a handshake connects people in a unique way. So the idea that someone is “untouchable” is a unique form of discrimination that cuts deep into the psyche. Of course, discrimination using the caste system has been outlawed Nepal for over five decades but the vestiges of permeate culture. Nevertheless, changing mindsets that go back generations is a challenging task. People from the Untouchable caste, the Dalits, still face discrimination in many ways.

My experience in the Aapsara Dalit Homestay was the result of a unique collaboration between the village and the Hands On Institute, a grassroots NGO based in Nepal. Samrat and Bijaya, founders of Hands-on Institute, worked with the villagers to prepare them to host guests in their community. The project provides great value to both host and guest. For the hosts,  the result is not only economic benefits but increased understanding and appreciation for the unique cultural experience that can only be provided by this community. For the guests, it is an authentic, ignorance shattering cultural experience.