\"Making paper, working hard\": Documenting suffering among Nepali migrants and asylum claimants in the United States

Lecture by IIAS fellow Tina Shrestha.

This presentation contends that the contemporary asylum-seeking process in the United States produces and even relies on claimants’ self-identification and performances as suffering and hard-working migrants.  Drawing from her ethnographic data on Nepali migrants and asylum claimants, she illuminates how the asylum seeking experience—legal interpretation, documentation, and the making of suffering testimonials at asylum interviews and merit hearings—has come to define the relationship, sociability, and imagination of Nepalis beyond the legal realm that it is often consigned to. Dr Shrestha emphasizes Nepalis’ constant use of familiar socio-cultural idioms, such as kaagaz banaune (making paper) and dukkha (suffering) to navigate their entanglements with and incisive critique of the US asylum system. As Nepalis produce “images” of their asylum suffering, profound uncertainties and ambiguities of living and working in the US emerge. She argues that this ambiguity gives testament to the paradox of agency: in becoming asylum claimants Nepalis participate in their own effective legal subjugation producing the very dukkha that obtaining asylum is thought of ameliorating.  

Inline photo: © Adhikaar, 2010, courtesy of Sonam Ukyab

About IIAS Lunch Lectures

Every month, an IIAS researcher or visiting scholar will present his or her work-in-progress in an informal setting to colleagues and other interested attendees. IIAS organises these lunch lectures to give the research community the opportunity to freely discuss ongoing research and exchange thoughts and ideas.

Lunch is provided. Please register using the form below.