Lindsay Buchanan, Washington University in St. Louis
“Mute Mushahar? The Question of Voice and Agency in Development”
Abstract: In the past decade, many organizations, both local and foreign, have attempted to develop the Mushahar from the outside though trainings, projects, education, etc. However, during my field work it became apparent to me that often the Mushahar were denied a voice in these initiatives because of systemic blockages in the power relationship between giver and receiver. What are the effects of this denial of agency? How has this developed within the context of the Mushahar community? This research focuses on the role of agency in the successful (and unsuccessful) development initiatives among the Mushahar, a “low-caste” group located in the Terai, the southern region of Nepal bordering India. The research sought to understand why their voice may not be heard in these projects. Thus the paper will be exploring caste/ ethnicity relationships between outside high caste aid givers and the low caste Mushahar aid recipients. This research attempts not only to add to the limited literature about the Mushahar, but to explore the role of agency in development, which is critical to sustainable, successful development. Furthermore, by understanding why agency is crucial to development, this research aims to demonstrate how and why development must be conceptualized as freedom and social inclusion, not just economic well-being.
