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Magar Community in Hong Kong

Magar community in Nepal is the largest ethnic group among the marginalized “Janajati” groups with total population accounting for almost 7.14% of the entire population (ICG, 2011; Shris, 2018). Other larger marginalized ethnic groups are Tamang (5.64%), Rai (2.79%), Gurung (2.39%) and Limbu (1.58%). Magar community is also the third largest group behind Chhetri (15.8%) and Bahun (12.74%) in the whole population of Nepal. However, the position of Magar ethnic group in Nepal’s developmental index is to be mostly inferred, as little data is available lately. Although a few Magar individuals have always made to the periphery of state power (Budha Magar, 2015; Thapa, 2014; Shris, 2018), earlier accounts suggest that Magar community in general is among the most disadvantaged groups in Nepal (Hachhethu, 2003; Shris, 2018). For example, representation of Magar community members in Nepal’s higher education is only 1.34% (Shris, 2018) compared to more than 68% representation from Bahun-Chhetri groups (Bhatta, Adhikari, Thada & Rai, 2008). Few studies within Nepal have attempted to illuminate Magar identity through social institutions (Thapa, 2014), Magar history (Shris, 2018), and political participation (Budha Magar, 2015). Excluded from broader political, economic and social participation (Laoti, 2008), smaller and less powerful ethnic groups like the Magar community in Nepal are subjected to oppressive policies and rules at home and in the abroad. Any voices for equitable participation in the social, economic, political and cultural activities of these communities at home and abroad always fall into the deaf ears of the dominant forces. Studies on Magar community’s identity in the diaspora would contribute to understanding and initiating the transformative actions in order to maintain the ethnic and cultural identity among the younger generation Magars and other ethnic groups in the diaspora. There is a lack of information about the date when Gurkha battalion was deployed to Hong Kong. Bullock (2009) mentions that Gurkha soldiers were deployed in Hong Kong on a rotating basis from Malaysia headquarter to safeguard the British interests before the 1960s. The British military grave in San Tin military barracks has a cemetery of a Nepali soldier who died during his service in 1956, which means that Magars, as part of the British military force arrived in Hong Kong in the early 19th century, because Hong Kong had been colonized since 1842. By the time the British government handed Hong Kong over to China in 1997, a large group of Magars, as civilians, had already made to the city, as they were born during their fathers’ service in the British colonial military force. According to Hong Kong’s Census and Statistics Department (2017), the population of Nepali community in Hong Kong is roughly 25,000, and among which Magars coming from Baglung, Myagdi, Parbat, Gulmi, Syanja, Palpa, Rupandehi, Nawalparasi, Chitwan, Kaski, Tanahun, Gorkha, Taplejung, Sankhuwasava, Sunsari and other districts, perhaps, make up the largest proportion. There is no data about the actual population of Magar community in Hong Kong, but inference is made that Magars and Gurungs make up the largest proportion of Nepali population in Hong Kong, where mostly Magar, Gurung, Rai, Limbu, Tamang, Newar, Thakali, Chhetri and Bahun communities live.

Hong Kong Magar Association also organizes Lakhan Memorial Day and other activities as part of its cultural identity. In addition, there were suggestions in the past that Buddha Jayanti (Buddha Day) be celebrated as a major festival as part of Magar cultural identity, but that has not been widely recognized by the Magar individuals in the case of Hong Kong.

Ale, S. (2013).Assessing the situation of Nepalese community in Hong Kong. Unpublished Master Dissertation. Hong Kong: City University of Hong Kong.

Bhatta, P., Adhikari, L., Thada, M.&Rai, R. (2008). Structures of denial: Student representatio in Nepal’s higher education. Studies in Nepali History and Society, 13 (2), 235-263. Kathmandu: Martin Chautari.

Bullock, C. (2009).Britain’s Gurkhas. London: Third Millennium Publishing. Budha Magar, B. (2015). Political History of Magar Community (Second Edition). Kathmandu: Magar Academic Group.

Census and Statistics Department [CSD]. (2016). Population by-census: Thematic report- Ethnic minorities: accessed on 20/12/2019: https://www.statistics.gov.hk/pub/B11201002016XXXXB0100.pdf

Fife, W. (2005).Doing Fieldwork Ethnographic Methods for Research in Developing Countries and Beyond. England: Palgrave Macmillan.

Hachhethu, K. (2003). The question of inclusion and exclusion in Nepal: Interface between state and ethnicity. Paper presented in the Conference on “The Agenda of Transformation: Inclusion in Nepali Democracy” organized by Social Science BAHA. Kathmandu. International Crisis Group [ICG]. (2011). Nepal: The politics of identity and federalism. Report Number 199. Kathmandu. Laoti, M. (2008). Exclusionary democratization in Nepal 1990-2002.Democratization, 15 (2), 363-385. Thapa, C. B. (2017).Understanding secondary school Nepali students’ identities and investments in learning English and Chinese (Cantonese) in Hong Kong. An unpublished PhD Thesis. Hong Kong: The University of Hong Kong. Thapa, C. B. & Adamson, B. (2018).Ethnicity, language-in-education policy and linguistic discrimination: Perspectives of Nepali students in Hong Kong. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 39 (4), 329-340. Thapa, C. B. (2019).Nepali students' identities and investments in learning English and Chinese (Cantonese) in Hong Kong: An ethnography inquiry. Gube J. & Gao F. (Eds.)m Education, ethnicity and equity in the multilingual Asian context (p. 33-49). Springer. Thapa, B. B. (2019). Bharseli Gurkha Gatha ra Serofero (The Gurkha Saga of Bharseli and Surroundings). Lalitpur, Nepal. Thapa, S. (2014).A study of Magars affiliated with the Nepal Magar Association: Transition from assimilation to identity construction. Unpublished PhD Thesis.Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University.