Practices of witch accusation in Tamang community in Kavrepalanchok District

Abstract

All past research on witchcraft accusations has claimed that it is a form of violence against women and considered it a social problem, but its social causes and existence in human society have not been well explored. To address these shortcomings in past research, this dissertation seeks to explore the reasons for the social structure and construction of witchcraft. This is probably the first study on witch allegations that seeks it from a socially constructive perspective, and it also helps to raise awareness and draw the attention of all concerned in this regard. The main purpose of this study was to identify the socially perceived attributes and factors associated with witch allegations that are mostly prevalent among women in the Tamang community in the Kavrepalanchok district.A qualitative research approach was adopted that helped in acquiring knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding this complex phenomenon to a greater extent. This dissertation studied fifteen incidences of witch allegations in the Kavrepalanchok district and triangulated the findings with each other. The victim, perpetrator, and witch doctor are the primary informants of the study. Some sociological concepts, such as the social construction of reality, social theory and social structure, theories of social facts, and theories of gender inequalities, were used. Unlike these concepts, the explanation of witchcraft presented by the social anthropologist Evans Pritchard was also used in some ways, where he argued that the witch accusation cannot be understood without the social context and its social function. The findings indicated that most of the factors leading to an allegation of a witch in Tamangs are present at their social and structural levels; they are social structure, social network, power, and gender role. Therefore, this dissertation has succeeded in uncovering such hidden social forces related to witch accusations, such as emphasizing that this accusation of a witch is just a myth in the minds of the people. Finally, this dissertation would be a new milestone that helps in bringing knowledge of social reality and the social function of witches. Therefore, this dissertation would be of great significance to the future researcher who wishes to research this subject matter. In the context of Nepal, it certainly helps to reduce the incidence of witch accusations, whereas the international community will be compelled to reflect on it. Along with this, it could be further helpful and valuable to interested NGOs, INGOs, governments, and individuals to plan and implement programs to reduce witch accusations in all parts of the country. Keywords: witch, accusation, social structure, social network, power, gender role