Guest Lecture

History, Evolution,
Practices (Dhikur,
Guthi, Parma, Rodhi)
RA J E N D RA S H A R M A
N AT I O N A L C O L L E G E , ( B F I N )
27, APRIL, 2O2O
Indigenous Practices
-Traditionally, these are the (few) practices of the Indigenous
nationalities such as Gurung, Magar, Thakali and other caste groups.
-Voluntary practices that has been sustained for centuries.
-It has been stated that, these practices actually originated with the
collection of food grains (Dhikur), Media center (Rodi or Ro-dhin),
Philantropic (Guthi), mostly guided by religious values and for
community welfare.
-Barter system, Mela-Parma, labor donation in community work etc.
Discussion:
How the modern Financial
mechanisms differ from
Indigenous practices?
a) Popular Participations?
b) Low transaction costs?
c) Effective social controls, resulting low default rates?
………………………………………………………………………

d) In terms of quality and reliability of the deposit…?

e) And many features of modern financial institution and economic
parameters?
Rodi
-Rodhi (Ro-dhin) is practiced by the Gurung’s of Nepal.
-teenagers and youth adult boys and girls voluntarily gather in a
specific house in the evening followed by singing, dancing, story
telling etc.
-this functions like media center where all boys ad girls share
information about firewood and fodder collection, pasture, animal
husbandry, agriculture, irrigation, forest etc.
-plan and policies of the community, household and their cultural
tradition are discussed, planned including financial as well.
Parma
-Parma is popularly known among Gurungs and Limbus.
-It is labor exchange that has been practiced from centuries.
-Voluntary labor organization called NOGYAR by the Gurungs,
PORIMA by Limbus, and PARMA by the case groups.
-Labor exchanged mostly during Peak agricultural season.
Guthi
-Mainly, practiced by the Newars.
-Guthi now has been associated with a kind of land tenure system, religious and
philanthropic endowments, foundations, trust, oil-processing cooperatives etc.
-The traditional Newar Gutis are basically of three types; Clan Based, Linage
Based, and Territory Based.
-other varieties of Guthis,
Si Guthi: related to death rituals
Dewali Guthi: related to worship of the clan deity, and
Nasa Guthi: related to music and so on.
Recent Guthi Bill (2019)
-https://kathmandupost.com/valley/2019/06/14/everything-you-need-
to-know-about-the-guthi-bill
-https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/guthi-bill-protest-a-
cultural-convergence/
-https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/06/thousands-nepal-protest-
cultural-guthi-bill-190619121216425.html
-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-43Qj-AS0jM
Dhikur
-Dhikuroriginated with the three indigenous nationalities, namely Thakalis, Gurungs,
and Bhotes of the Western mountain and Hills.
-Voluntary credit associations
-Dhikur actually originated with the collection of food grains but has turned into a
mechanism to raise capital for investment in trade and business.
-Coordinator of the Dhikur is called GHOPA
-Every month each volunteer deposit money and all money collected would be given to
one of the participants, first with the most needy ones.
-The interest rate is low compared to profit made after its investment.
- As the turn completes the volunteer Dhikur group automatically terminates .