Group: | Indian Nepali |
Regions: | Terai region, Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Birganj, Jhapa, Mahakali, Butwal, Chitwan |
Langs: | Bhojpuri, Maithili, Marwari, Bangla, Various Nepalese languages |
Indian Nepali, Indian Nepalese or Indo Nepalese are people residing in Nepal who have their heritage from regions of what is now the Republic of India, predominantly since Mughal India and British India during which they started migrating to the Kingdom of Nepal.
The Marwadi people have lived in Nepal for several hundred years. They came to Nepal from Rajasthan as traders and flourished in Nepal where there was very little trade activity then. Now the Marwaris control majority of top businesses of Nepal. There are also a few Punjabis and Bengalis in major cities of Nepal. Many Muslims have also immigrated from India to Nepal. A majority of them are involved in low profile works like rickshaw pullers, cobblers, tailors, scavengers etc. Some run small businesses also.
In 2001, it was estimated that around 4 million Indians had migrated to Nepal over the previous 35 to 40 years while an estimated 7 million migrated from Nepal to India mostly for work.[1] [2]