Cultural Hegemony and Displacement in Buhran

Abstract

This research work tries to explore ambivalence of cultural hegemony faced by the Tharus in the movie Buhran. It tries to dig out Tharus’ buried history. Hilly regions’ people overflowed as malaria had been eradicated. The Land Reform Act (2021 BS) introduced new law limiting twenty eight Bighas land for per family in the Terai. This act was for landless people however, power holder Parvatiyas influenced it and enhanced their intention. Panchayat Regime made Parvatiya language official language and sponsored Parvatiya culture. This movie revolves around these incidents. How was Tharu culture monitored by Parvatiya culture? What was the cause of their economic deprivation and displacement from Dang? are the key research questions. The protagonist of the movie,,Matwa, accepts Patwari’s cultural supremacy and his capitalist ideology. He assumes Patwari a financial supporter, scholar and a leader though his family members deny this. Finally, he realizes the domination but cannot sort out its exact cause. This is a qualitative research. It borrows ideas from Stuart Hall, Karl Marx, Louise Althusser, Antonio Gramsci, and EP Thompson to address the issue of the representation of Tharu culture and conflict, domination, hegemony, and subjugation of their history respectively. Besides, James Monaco’s film framework helps to analyze the historical representation of Tharu culture in visual form. Findings of this thesis are: Parvatiya culture dominated native Tharu culture, effaced their identity, limited their economic approach and constructing bourgeoisie knowledge, made them accept it as their fate resulting into their exigency for displacement. Keywords: Culture, Hegemony, Ideology, Tharu, Domination, Displacement