Socio-Cultural Conditions of the Kami Community: An Anthropological Study of Bobang Village, Baglung

Abstract

This study looks at the sociocultural circumstances, educational difficulties, and changing dynamics of the Kami community, a well-known Hill dalit tribe that has traditionally worked in metalworking and blacksmithing, in Bobang Village, Baglung district. due to poor family finances, household duties, traditional vocations, and seasonal migration, which restrict access to education and economic mobility, many Kami youngsters drop out between grades 5 and 7 despite being close to schools. Children are forced to work in wage labor, agriculture, or ironwork due to financial limitations that further limit their access to higher education. However, industrialization, media exposure, economic opportunity, and a more transparent political climate are driving significant socio-cultural change in the neighborhood. Although women's political engagement is still low, traditional vocations are changing and younger generations' knowledge of education is growing, encouraging attitudinal shifts and intercommunity integration. The study offers insights for academics, policymakers, and practitioners looking to improve dalit empowerment, educational access, and rural development in Nepal by highlighting the dual function of education in fostering social and economic success.