Filmmaker reveals horrors of Nepal caste system through documentary

'Castaway Man', a documentary film highlighting the existence of a caste system in Nepal was recently showcased at an event titled 'Justice Project' here.

Directed by Kesang Tseten, the documentary is based on the real life story of Dor Bahadur Bista, an anthropologist, who disappeared in 1996. The film investigates his disappearance and focuses on the practices and injustice based on caste. The film also lays emphasis on fatalism and development in Nepal.

"It's been really a great pleasure to screen this film in India obviously because of the subject, which is about this man, the anthropologist, and also about his ideas and his critique of caste and society or Brahmanism as he called it. Screening this film in India is the testing ground of the film," said Tseten.

Kesang believes that caste-based discrimination and inequality still affects the Nepalese.

"The biggest discourse of the last few centuries is about inequality and how to get a society where people are given dignity and not disempowered by this extreme kind of hierarchy," said Kesang.

Fourteen researchers and five film makers from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have converged to screen their films at the India International Centre.

The project has been coordinated by Aakar, a Delhi based trust, with the support of International Development Research Centre (IDRC).

The 'Justice Project' will conclude on May 30 with panel discussions on the theme of justice and conflict.