ABSTRACT
This chapter explores different examples from Nepal and Nepali diasporas which illustrates that the social and territorial belonging of an individual is multi-layered and dynamic. It sheds light on how the sense of belonging is constructed within the country of origin. The sense of belonging as a symbolic dimension of social relations and interactions also reflects the needs for networks essential for different livelihood strategies. It gives some glimpses of regional, ethnical, caste-based and national senses of belonging, which is observed in Nepal and in two Nepali diasporas - in India and in Switzerland. The sense of belonging comes into being when people emphasise their migration practice, their multi-local life and what they have in common as migrants. The well-established Nepalese and their Swiss partners have known each other very well for a long time. In the Swiss diaspora, the Nepalese migrants stressed themselves that different social milieus were developed and shaped by Swiss government rules.
