The Susceptibility of the Subject in Documentation: A Case Study of Inter-Buddhist-Muslim Research in Nepal

Abstract (English)

This paper discusses the process of perception of Islamic faith among Muslims and researchers in Nepal, and considers how this process can be interpreted. Despite its multi-ethnic and multi-religious nature, Nepal has managed to maintain peaceful relations in the modern era, likely due to the absence of any significant religious policy. The Muslim population of Nepal constitutes approximately 4% of the total population, and is thus considered a minority. In Kathmandu, a city with a recorded history dating back to medieval times, it is estimated that there are approximately 20,000 Muslims reside, second only to the Buddhist population. These Muslims are engaged in various economic activities, such as running restaurants, slaughterhouses, and clothing and accessory stores, which have a tangible impact on people's daily lives. Nevertheless, interpersonal relationships among individuals with divergent "beliefs" and faiths are often characterized by challenges. This study aims to comprehend how individuals in a multi-religious society navigate interpersonal dynamics, particularly in the context of "reconciliation," "inclusion," and "indifference."
In Kathmandu, there are several Muslim communities of different generations and origins, including Kashmiri Muslims and Chinese Muslims, Tibetan Muslims, in addition to Nepalese Muslims. The study examines the experiences of Muslims within a society that is predominantly Buddhist, and analyzes the perceptions of Muslims and the degree of cultural acceptance they encounter in various communities. This analysis is informed by preliminary conversations with the author, who is a researcher and "practitioner of Islam." Each interlocutor, while sharing the common denominator of being a Muslim, has a different background and confronts the heterogeneous presence of the researcher. In the ethnographic process of writing/being written, the repetition of this phenomenon and its profound impact on the researcher, as well as the researcher's reception and re-receipt within temporal and spatial domains, are of particular interest. By placing emphasis on the process of non-purpose-based groping, the researcher will be able to take into consideration the sensitivity of both the researcher and the interlocutor.