Protracted Refuge and Ethno-Nationalistic issue of Bhutanese Magar Ethnic Refugee Community in Nepal

Abstract

This ethnographic study is concerned with Magar ethnic community of Lhotsampas and their pendulant situation in the nationalistic stand. Magars in Bhutan practiced Brahministic ritual tradition before they exiled. After they found refuge in Nepal, they changed their ritual practice from Brahministic one to their original Lamastic tradition of Bonbo sect. Even though actions taken by authorities to repatriate these refugees to Bhutan and the expatriate extremists in refugee camps also compel them to return to their national homeland, Magars refute to return there and stipulate to reintegrate within Nepal population. The study finds that as exiled Magars found their refuge in Nepal, they have changed their ritual tradition in order to adjust their way of life consistent with the Nepal’s Magar communities. Such change has its reflections in ethno-nationalistic stand of this community and it eventually let them to stay firm in reintegration strategy among three enduring resolving strategies of refugee problem.