It is most welcome to have this stimulating collection of essays on the Dalits, the most underprivileged and discriminated caste/class in Nepali society. Written by academics and social activists, these well-researched essays challenge our thoughts and actions. The essays deal with a phenomenon that is at once harsh and cruel and yet enigmatically elusive and persistent. This book deserves a wide readership from among those interested in inequality and social change in Nepal today. – KEDAR BHAKTA MATHEMA, Former Vice-Chancellor, Tribhuvan University, and Former Ambassador of Nepal to Japan