Guthi
Encyclopedia
Guthi is a social
organization that used to maintain the social order of Newar
society. Presently, most of the guthis are defunct and are vestigeal representation of what once was the most powerful social organization of the Newars.
Guthi is a form of institutional landownership, the religious and charitable aspects of which have given rise to special problems and charatgerstics in the fields of land tenure and taxation.
Social
The term social refers to a characteristic of living organisms...
organization that used to maintain the social order of Newar
Newar
The Newa , Newār or Newāl) are the indigenous people and the creators of the historical civilization of Nepal's Kathmandu Valley. The valley and surrounding territory have been known from ancient times as Nepal Mandala, its limits ever changing through history.Newas have lived in the Kathmandu...
society. Presently, most of the guthis are defunct and are vestigeal representation of what once was the most powerful social organization of the Newars.
Organizational structure
Guthi is traditionally a patriarchal kinship based on certaion norms that are moderated by the guthi members. It consists of a thakali or the eldest person of the guthi. The consent of the thakali is essential for the formulation of most of the norms of the guthi.Guthi is a form of institutional landownership, the religious and charitable aspects of which have given rise to special problems and charatgerstics in the fields of land tenure and taxation.