| History of Nepal |
|---|
| Mythology of Manjushree |
| Gopal era |
| Mahispal era |
| Kirat era |
| Licchavi era |
| Thakuri era |
| Malla era |
| Shah era |
| Rana era |
| Democratic era
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The History of Nepal is characterized by its isolated position in the Himalayas and its two dominant neighbors, India and China. The term South Asia usually refers to the political entities of the Sub- Himalayan region - namely Republic of India, Pakistan, This article is about the history of South Asia prior to the Partition of British India in 1947 The South Asian Stone Age covers the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic periods in the South Asia. Mehrgarh, ( Urdu: مﮩرگڑھ) one of the most important Neolithic (7000 BC to 3200 BC sites in Archaeology, lies on what The Indus Valley Civilization (Mature period 2600&ndash1900 BCE abbreviated IVC, was an ancient Civilization that flourished in the Indus River basin The Cemetery H culture developed out of the northern part of the Indus Valley Civilization around 1900 BCE in and around the Punjab region which is located on the The Vedic Period (or Vedic Age) is the period in the History of India during which the Vedas, the oldest sacred texts of Hinduism, were being The Iron Age in the Indian subcontinent succeeds the Late Harappan (Cemetery H culture also known as the last phase of the Indus Valley Tradition Mahajanapadas ( Sanskrit: महाजनपद Mahājanapadas) literally "Great Kingdoms" (from Maha, "great" and Janapada Magadha (मगध formed one of the sixteen Mahājanapadas ( Sanskrit, "great countries" or regions in ancient India. The Maurya Empire ( 322 – 185 BCE) ruled by the Mauryan dynasty was a geographically extensive and powerful political and military Middle kingdoms of India refers to the political entities in India from the 2nd century BC since the decline of the Maurya Empire, and the corresponding The Sātavāhanas ( Marathi: सातवाहन Telugu:శాతవాహనులు were a Dynasty which ruled from Junnar ( The Kushan Empire (c 1st &ndash 3rd centuries) was a Bactrian state that at its cultural zenith Circa 105 &ndash 250 The Gupta Empire ( Hindi: गुप्त राजवंश was ruled by members of the Gupta dynasty from around 320 to 550 C The Pala Empire was a dynasty in control of the northern and eastern Indian subcontinent, mainly the Bengal and Bihar regions from the 8th to The Chalukya dynasty ( Kannada: ಚಾಲುಕ್ಯರು ʧaːɭukjə was an Indian royal dynasty that ruled large parts of southern and Central The Rashtrakuta Dynasty ( Sanskrit: राष्ट्रकूट rāṣṭrakūṭa, Kannada: ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರಕೂಟ was a royal The Western Chalukya Empire ( Kannada: ಪಶ್ಚಿಮ ಚಾಲುಕ್ಯ ಸಾಮ್ರಾಜ್ಯ) ruled most of the western Deccan, South The Hoysala Empire ( Kannada: ಹೊಯ್ಸಳ ಸಾಮ್ರಾಜ್ಯ ( pronunciation: in Kannada was a prominent South Indian Kannadiga The Kakatiya dynasty was a South Indian Dynasty that ruled parts of what is now Andhra Pradesh, India from 1083CE to 1323CE During the late Middle Ages, several Islamic Empires were established in South Asia. The Delhi Sultanate ( Urdu: دلی سلطنت, दिल्ली सलतनत or Sultanat e Hind ( سلطنتِ هند; सलतनत ए The Deccan sultanates were five Muslim -ruled late medieval kingdoms–- Bijapur, Golkonda, Ahmadnagar, Bidar, and Berar The Ahom Kingdom (1228–1826 called Kingdom of Assam in medieval times was a medieval kingdom in the Brahmaputra valley in Assam that maintained its The Vijayanagara Empire ( Kannada: ವಿಜಯನಗರ ಸಾಮ್ರಾಜ್ಯ Telugu: విజయనగర సామ్రాజ్యము was a South The Mughal Empire ( Persian and self-designation گورکانی; مغلیہ سلطنت) was an Islamic imperial power which ruled most The Maratha Empire ( Marathi: मराठा साम्राज्य Marāṭhā Sāmrājya; also transliterated Mahratta The Sikh Confederacy was a nation that existed from 1716 to 1799 The Sikh Confederacy was a nation that existed from 1716 to 1799 The Honourable East India Company ( HEIC) referred to most commonly as the East India Company, also historically and colloquially as John Company, or For usage see British rule in India British Raj ( rāj, lit "reign" in Hindustani) primarily refers to the British The Partition of India was the partition of the British Indian Empire which led to the creation on August 14, 1947 and August 15, History of Bengal Bangladesh became one of the last major nation states following its secession in 1971 from the nation of Pakistan which achieved its independence from the British Bhutan 's early history is steeped in Mythology and remains obscure The History of the Republic of India began on August 15, 1947 when India became an independent Dominion within the British Commonwealth The Maldives is a nation consisting of 26 natural Atolls, comprising 1192 islands Historical setting Since very ancient times the Maldives were ruled The history of Pakistan as a modern nation began with independence from British India on 14 August 1947, although Traditionally the recorded History of Sri Lanka boasts of 25 chronicled centuries The history of Assam is the history of a confluence of peoples from the east west and the north the confluence of the Indo-Aryan, Austro-Asiatic and The Baloch people are an Iranian ethnic group that are mainly settled in the Balochistan areas of Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan. See also History of Bangladesh The history of Bengal (including Bangladesh and West Bengal) dates back four millennia The history of Himachal Pradesh dates back to the time when the Indus valley civilisation flourished Orissa formed in 1926 was known as Kalinga in ancient times Kalinga was a prosperous nation whose merchants traded with the lands of Java and Sumatra The former subdivisions of Pakistan are states provinces and territories which mainly existed between 1947 and 1975 when the current provinces The first known use of the word Punjab is in the book Tarikh-e-Sher Shah Suri (1580 which mentions the construction of a fort by "Sher Khan of Punjab" The history of South India covers a span of over two thousand years during which the region saw the rise and fall of a number of dynasties and empires Tibetan history is characterized by a special dedication to the Buddhist religion both in the eyes of its own people as well as for the Mongol and Manchu Coinage of India, issued by Imperial dynasties and smaller Middle kingdoms of India began during the 1st millennium BCE, and consisted The following list of Indian monarchs is one of several Lists of incumbents. Economic history of India, in the sense of the meaning of the term economic in its current sense is at least 5000 years old Indology refers to the academic study of the languages texts History and Cultures of the Indian subcontinent, and as such a subset of Asian studies Originating over 5000 years ago the linguistic history of India describes the evolution and transformation of early human communications techniques - from pictures pictorial scripts Indian literature is generally acknowledged as one of the oldest in the world Indian maritime history begins during the 3rd millennium BCE when the inhabitants of the Indus Valley initiate trading with Mesopotamia. India has a long military history dating back several millennia This is a timeline of Indian history. It includes the history of South Asia ( Indian subcontinent) especially the history of the regions now known Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Even though Nepal's heart land was independent through most of its long history, its territorial boundaries have varied greatly over time and internal mosaic of kingdoms restructured often: right from the period of Mahajanapadas, through Greater Nepal to the British Raj. Mahajanapadas ( Sanskrit: महाजनपद Mahājanapadas) literally "Great Kingdoms" (from Maha, "great" and Janapada Greater Nepal is a concept referring to the state of Nepal extending beyond present boundaries to include territories ceded to the British East India Company under For usage see British rule in India British Raj ( rāj, lit "reign" in Hindustani) primarily refers to the British
Due to the arrival of disparate settler groups from outside through the ages, it is now a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-lingual country. Its population is predominantly Hindu with significant presence of Buddhists, who were in majority at one time in the past. A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Nepal was split in three kingdoms from the 15th to 18th century, when it was unified under a monarchy. The national language of Nepal is called 'Nepali', a name given - long after unification of Nepal - to the language called Khas Kura.
Modern Nepal experienced a failed struggle for democracy in the 20th century. Since the 1990s, the country has been in civil strife.
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Toponymy
The word Nepal is believed to derive from Nepal (नेपा:); the old name of Kathmandu valley was Nepal in Nepal Bhasa, the language of Newars, who were the early inhabitants of the valley, long before the unification of Nepal. Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia.
Other toponym theories include: -
- "Nepal" may be derived from the Sanskrit nipalaya, which means "at the foot of the mountains" or "abode at the foot", a reference to its location in relation to the Himalayas. Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical Thus, it may be an Eastern equivalent of the European toponym "Piedmont. "
- It has also been suggested that the name comes from the Tibetan niyampal, which means "holy land". Tibetan refers to a group of languages spoken primarily by Tibetan peoples who live across a wide area of eastern Central Asia bordering South Asia as well as by overseas
- A third theory suggests that Nepal came from combounding the words NE, which means wool, and PAL, which means a tented house; long time ago, Nepal used to produce a lot of wool and the houses were used to store the wool - hence the word NE-PAL.
- The name, Nepal, is also supposed to be derived from the Sanskrit word "NEP"(नेप), with the suffix "AL"(आलadded) to it; though still under controversy, NEP were the people who use to be cow herders - the GOPALS (गोपाल) - who came to the Nepal valley for the first time from the Ganges plain of India.
- According to Nepali scholar Rishikesh Shaha, the ancient chronicles report that, a sage (muni) named Ne became the protector (pāla) of this land and the founder of its first ruling dynasty. Rishikesh Shaha (b 1925 d November 13, 2002) was a Nepalese writer politician and Human rights activist The name of the country, Ne-pāla, therefore originally meant the land 'protected by Ne. '[1]
Early ages
Prehistory
Neolithic tools found in the Kathmandu Valley indicate that people have been living in the Himalayan region for at least 9,000 years. The Neolithic (from Greek νεολιθικός — neolithikos from νέος neos, "new" + λίθος lithos The Kathmandu Valley (नेपाः स्वनिगः Nepāḥ Svānigaḥ) located in the Nepal, lies at the crossroads of ancient civilizations of It appears that a people who were probably of Tibeto-Burman ethnicity lived in Nepal 2,500 years ago. The Tibeto-Burman family of languages (often considered a sub-group of the Sino-Tibetan Language family) is spoken in various central and south Asian countries including
Legends and Ancient times
Though very little is known about the early history of Nepal, legends and documented references, like the following, reach back to the first millennium BCE:
- The epic Ramayana, which dates from an era before the Mahabharata, states that Mithila, currently known as Janakpur in Nepal, is the birth place of goddess Sita. The Rāmāyaṇa ( Devanāgarī: sa रामायण is an ancient Sanskrit epic attributed to the Hindu sage ( Maharishi) Valmiki Mithila ( Sanskrit: मिथिला mithilā) was a city in Ancient India, the capital of the Videha Kingdom SITA is a multinational Information technology company specialising in providing IT and telecommunication services to the Aviation industry
- Also, the presence of historical sites, e. g. Valmiki ashram, indicates the presence of Sanatana (eternal) Hindu culture in Nepal at that period. Valmiki ( Sanskrit: वाल्मीकि vālmīki) (ca 400 BCE northern India is celebrated as the poet harbinger in Sanskrit literature
- The epic Mahabharata mentions the Kiratas among the inhabitants of Nepal. The Kirata ( Sanskrit: किराट is a generic term in Sanskrit literature for people who lived in the mountains particularly in the Himalayas and Kirati king Yalambar had the dubious honor of being slain in the battle of the Mahabharata, in which gods and mortals fought alongside each other. Legend credits him with meeting Indra, the lord of heaven, who ventured into the Valley in human guise.
- According to some of the chronicles the successors of Ne were the gopālavaṃśi or "Cowherd family", whose names often end in -gupta and are said to have ruled for some 491 years. They are said to have been followed by the mahaiṣapālavaṃśa or "Buffalo-herder Dynasty", established by an Indian Rajput named Bhul Singh. Rajput constitute one of the major Hindu Kshatriya groups from India [2]
- inscriptions found on archeological stoneworks, which list mostly the dates and commissioners of these constructions, also communicate royal edicts, religious mantras or historical notes sometimes and, through the corroboration of local myths with such evidence, a people prior to the Licchavi have been identified, known as the Kirata. The craft of stonemasonry has existed since the dawn of Civilization - creating Buildings structures and Sculpture using stone from the earth Licchavi (also Lichchhavi, Lichavi) was an ancient Republic which existed in what is now Bihar state of India, since the before the The Kirata ( Sanskrit: किराट is a generic term in Sanskrit literature for people who lived in the mountains particularly in the Himalayas and
Kirat Period
Nepal's recorded history began with the Kiratis, who arrived in the 7th or 8th century BCE from the east. Little is known about them, other than their deftness as sheep farmers and fondness for carrying long knives. The Kirats ruled for about 1225 years (800 BCE-300 CE), their reign had a total of 28 kings during that time. Their first and best remembered king was Yalambar, who finds a reference in the epic Mahabharata.
Mediaeval history
Birth of Buddhism
One of the earliest confederations of South Asia was that of the Shakya clan, whose capital was Kapilavastu, near the present-day border with the Republic of India. Kapilavastu is the name of an region of ancient Shakya kingdom that is considered a holy pilgrimage place for Buddhists, located close to Lumbini. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country One of its princes was Gautama Buddha, Siddharta Gautama (563–483 BCE), who renounced his royalty to lead an ascetic life and came to be known as the Buddha ("the enlightened one"). Siddhārtha Gautama ( Sanskrit; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual Teacher from Ancient India and the founder By 260 BCE, most of North India and southern Nepal were ruled by the Maurya Empire. Events By place Roman Republic The Roman advance continues westward from Agrigentum with their forces relieving the besieged Geography Northern India lies mainly on continental India and a very small part of it lies on the Indian peninsula The Maurya Empire ( 322 – 185 BCE) ruled by the Mauryan dynasty was a geographically extensive and powerful political and military It was during this period that Buddhism first came to Nepal; it is claimed that Buddha and his disciple Ananda visited the Kathmandu Valley and stayed for a time in Patan. Although not all of Nepal was under Maurya occupation, there is evidence of at least the influence of Maurya Emperor Ashoka the Great, the legendary Buddhist proselytiser and ruler from 273 BCE to 232 BCE. Ashoka ( Devanāgarī: अशोकः IAST: Aśokaḥ, aɕoːkə(hə Prakrit Imperial title Devanampriya Priyadarsi Ashoka was a visitor to Kathmandu in this period and, as a follower of Buddhism, he visited Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, and erected stupas in Kathmandu. His daughter married a local prince and further spread the religion. The remains of a Buddhist convent have been found in the Kathmandu Valley.
As the Kirat dynasty came to an end in the valley, parts still remained in the eastern mountains, where they are considered to be the forefathers of today's Limbu and Rai castes.
By 200 CE, Buddhism had waned, and was replaced by Hinduism, brought by the Licchavis, who invaded from northern India and overthrew the last Kirati king. The Hindus also introduced the caste system (which still continues today) and ushered in a classical age of Nepalese art and architecture.
Licchavi rule
It is unclear when exactly the Licchavi kingdom began. Licchavi (also Lichchhavi, Lichavi) was an ancient Republic which existed in what is now Bihar state of India, since the before the From the findings at the ancient capital of Handigaun, it appears that Licchavi rulers were in power on two occasions: from about 200 CE to the 5th century, and from about 750 to 1200 CE. [3]Archaeological evidence for the Licchavi period mainly consists of stonework inscriptions, reckoned on two separate, consecutive eras; the former era evidence, in the Åšaka or Saka era, has an epoch corresponding to 78 CE, whereas the latter, of Aṃshuvarmā or Manadeva-II's era, reckons from 576 CE. The Shalivahana era, also known as the Saka era, is used with Hindu calendars the Indian national calendar, and the Cambodian Buddhist calendar Year 78 was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. Aṃshuvarmā (also Anshuverma, Amshuvarm) was a monarch of the Nepali kingdom of Licchavi between 605 and 621.
In between, in the fourth century CE, the country fell under the influence of Indian Gupta Empire - considered to be a golden period of Hinduism in India - whose cultural diffusion is evident, despite their lack of direct control of Nepal. The Gupta Empire ( Hindi: गुप्त राजवंश was ruled by members of the Gupta dynasty from around 320 to 550 C
First Licchavi rule evidence: A well-preserved life-sized sandstone sculpture of a king named Jaya Varman, discovered in Maligaon in the eastern part of Kathmandu, contains an inscription dating it to the 'samvat' year 107, which most probably is in the Shaka era and is, therefore, from 185 CE; this dating is also supported by the style of the sculpture which is clearly Kushan in origin. The Shalivahana era, also known as the Saka era, is used with Hindu calendars the Indian national calendar, and the Cambodian Buddhist calendar Events By place Roman Empire Pertinax quells the mutiny of the British Roman legions Perennis his family The Kushan Empire (c 1st &ndash 3rd centuries) was a Bactrian state that at its cultural zenith Circa 105 &ndash 250 It is unclear whether Jaya Varman was a Licchavi or a pre-Licchavi monarch. However, most scholars are agreed that, Licchavi rule of the Kathmandu valley must have begun in the first or second century CE. [4][5]
Second Licchavi rule evidence: Two known dated inscriptions, both Licchavi, are a broken pillar inscription from Pashupati dated 381 (459 CE), and the Cangu Narayana pillar inscription of King Manadeva in 386 (464 CE). [6][7]
There is a good and quite detailed description of the kingdom of Nepal in the account of the renowned Chinese Buddhist pilgrim monk, Xuanzang, dating from c. See also Xuanzang (fictional character Xuanzang ( pronounced Shwan-dzang) was a famous Chinese Buddhist Monk, scholar traveler 645 CE. [8][9]
The Licchavi rulers arranged for the documentation of information on politics, society, and the economy in the region. Licchavi (also Lichchhavi, Lichavi) was an ancient Republic which existed in what is now Bihar state of India, since the before the Most of the Licchavi records—written in Sanskrit—are deeds reporting donations to religious foundations, predominantly Hindu temples; and the last such record was added in 733. Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical
The Licchavi dynasty went into decline in the late eighth century and was followed by a Newari era, from 879, although the extent of their control over the entire country is uncertain. The 8th century is the period from 701 to 800 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era.
Thakuri rule
By 879, the Licchavi era had petered out and was succeeded by the Thakuri dynasty. A grim period of instability and invasions often referred to as the 'Dark Ages' followed, but Kathmandu Valley's strategic location ensured the kingdom's survival and growth.
Malla dynasty
Several centuries later, the Thakuri king, Arideva, founded the Malla dynasty, kick-starting another renaissance of Nepali culture. Despite earthquakes, the occasional invasion, and frequent feuding between the independent city-states of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur, the dynasty flourished, reaching its zenith in the 15th century under Yaksha Malla.
Chalukkya dynasty
By the late 11th century, southern Nepal came under the occupation of the Chalukaya Empire of southern India. The Chalukya dynasty ( Kannada: ಚಾಲುಕ್ಯರು ʧaːɭukjə was an Indian royal dynasty that ruled large parts of southern and Central South India is the area encompassing India 's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union Under the Chalukayas, Nepal's religious establishment changed as the kings patronised Hinduism instead of the prevailing Buddhism.
Newar Empire: Three medieval kingdoms
Thirteenth-century Nepal was occasionally attacked by the rulers of Delhi Sultanate of northern India, and was consequently marked by increased Nepali militarisation. The Newa ( Nepal Bhasa:नेवाः Newa or Newah, Old Nepal Bhasa नेवार Newar, नेवाल Newal) are the The Newa ( Nepal Bhasa:नेवाः Newa or Newah, Old Nepal Bhasa नेवार Newar, नेवाल Newal) are the The Delhi Sultanate ( Urdu: دلی سلطنت, दिल्ली सलतनत or Sultanat e Hind ( سلطنتِ هند; सलतनत ए Geography Northern India lies mainly on continental India and a very small part of it lies on the Indian peninsula By the late 14th century, much of the country came under the rule of the king Jayasthitimalla, a Newar King, who managed to unite most of the fragmented power bases. Jayasthitimalla was a 14th century king of Nepal belonging to the Malla dynasty. The Newa ( Nepal Bhasa:नेवाः Newa or Newah, Old Nepal Bhasa नेवार Newar, नेवाल Newal) are the This unity was short-lived; in 1482 the territory was carved into three kingdoms : Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhadgaon. Kathmandu (काठमांडौ येँ is the Capital and the largest city of Nepal. Bhaktapur (भक्तपुर जिल्ला Bhaktapur Jillā) also Bhadgaon or Khwopa (ख्वप Khvapa) is an ancient
Between 1717 and 1733, the Nepalese in the west, and also the Bhutanese from the east, attacked Sikkim many times, culminating with the destruction of the capital Rabdentse by the Nepalese. Sikkim ( Nepali:, also Sikhim) is a Landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayas It is the least populous state in India Rabdentse was the second capital of Sikkim. It was shifted from Yuksom in 1670 by Tensung Namgyal, The Sikkim king fled to Tibet. Definitions of Tibet See also Definitions of Tibet Name In English The English word Tibet, like the word for Tibet in most European
Modern period: Gorkha rule
After decades of rivalry between the medieval kingdoms, modern Nepal was created in the latter half of the 18th century, when Prithvi Narayan Shah, the ruler of the small principality of Gorkha, formed a unified country from a number of independent hill states. Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. Prithvi Narayan Shah King of Nepal (1723 - 1775 AD Nepali पृथ्वी नारायण शाह was a Nepali nobleman A principality (or princedom) is a monarchical feudatory or Sovereign state, ruled or reigned over by a monarch with the title of Prince Prithvi Narayan Shah dedicated himself at an early age to the conquest of the Kathmandu valley and the creation of a single state, which he achieved in 1768. Prithvi Narayan Shah King of Nepal (1723 - 1775 AD Nepali पृथ्वी नारायण शाह was a Nepali nobleman
The country was frequently called the Gorkha Kingdom. Prithvi Naraya Shahdev and Sri Teen Maharaja Jung Bahadur The Way of Sacrifice The Rajputs Pages 28-30 Graduate Thesis South Asian Studies Department Dr It is a misconception that the Gurkhas took their name from the Gorkha region of Nepal. The region was given its name after the Gurkhas had established their control of these areas. Gurkha, also spelt as Gorkha, are people from Nepal who take their name from the legendary eighth century Hindu warrior-saint Guru Gorakhnath. Gurkhas claim descent from the Hindu Rajputs and Brahmins of Northern India, who entered modern Nepal from the west.
After Shah's death, the Shah dynasty began to expand their kingdom into what is present day North India. Between 1788 and 1791, Nepal invaded Tibet and robbed Tashilhunpo Monastery of Shigatse. Tashilhunpo Monastery ( founded in 1447 by Gendun Drup, the First Dalai Lama, is a historic and culturally important Monastery next to Alarmed, the Chinese emperor Qianlong dispatched a sizeable army that forced the Nepalese to retreat and pay heavy reparations. Emperor Qianlong (Chinese 乾隆 Qiánlóng, Wade-Giles' Ch'ien-Lung', Mongolian Tengeriig Tetgesen Khaan, born Hongli (弘历 September
After 1800, the heirs of Prithvi Narayan Shah proved unable to maintain firm political control over Nepal. A period of internal turmoil followed.
Rivalry between Nepal and the British East India Company, over the annexation of minor states bordering Nepal, eventually led to the Anglo-Nepalese War (1814–16), in which Nepal suffered a complete rout. The Honourable East India Company ( HEIC) referred to most commonly as the East India Company, also historically and colloquially as John Company, or The Gurkha War ( 1814 – 1816) sometimes called the Gorkha War or the Anglo-Nepalese War, was fought between Nepal and the British Year 1814 ( MDCCCXIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Year 1816 ( MDCCCXVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year The Treaty of Sugauli was signed in 1816, ceding parts of the Nepali territories of Terrai and Sikkim to the British, in exchange for Nepalese autonomy; these territories remain annexed by India as on today. The Sugauli Treaty (also spelled Segowlee and Segqulee) was signed on December 2, 1815 and ratified by March 4, 1816 Sikkim ( Nepali:, also Sikhim) is a Landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayas It is the least populous state in India An autonomous area is an area of a Country that has a degree of Autonomy, or freedom from an external authority
Rana Administration
Factionalism among the royal family led to a period of instability after the war. A royal family is the extended family of a monarch. Generally the head of a royal family is a king or queen regnant In 1846, Queen Rajendralakshmi plotted to overthrow Jang Bahadur, a fast-rising military leader of Indian Rajput ancestry, who was presenting a threat to her power. Jung Bahadur (or Jang Bahadur) GCB, GCSI, ( June 18, 1816, Kathmandu, Nepal - February 25, 1877 Rajput constitute one of the major Hindu Kshatriya groups from India The plot was uncovered and the queen had several hundred princes and chieftains executed after an armed clash between military personnel and administrators loyal to the queen. A military is an Organization authorized by its Nation to use force usually including use of Weapons in defending its Country (or by attacking This came to be known as the Kot Massacre. The Kot massacre was a bloodbath in 1846 september 14 when the nobles clashed with the seven unsuspecting Rana brothers with weapons However, Bahadur emerged victorious eventually and founded the Rana dynasty; the monarch was made a titular figure, and the post of Prime Minister was made powerful and hereditary, held by a Rana. The Rana dynasty ruled the Kingdom of Nepal from 1846 until 1953 reducing the Shah monarch to a figurehead and making Prime Minister and other
The Rana regime, a tightly centralized autocracy, pursued a policy of isolating Nepal from external influences. An autocracy is a Form of government in which the Political power is held by a single self-appointed ruler This policy helped Nepal maintain its national independence during the British colonial era, but it also impeded the country's economic development and modernisation. The Ranas were staunchly pro-British and assisted the British during the Indian Rebellion of 1857, and later in both World Wars. The Indian Rebellion of 1857 began as a mutiny of Sepoys of British East India Company 's army on the 10th of May 1857 in the town of Meerut, A world war is a War affecting the majority of the world's most powerful and populous nations
20th century
In 1923 Britain and Nepal formally signed an agreement of friendship, in which Nepal's independence was recognized by the British.
Slavery was abolished in Nepal in 1924. [10]
Democratic Reform
Popular dissatisfaction against the family rule of the Ranas had started emerging from among the few educated people, who had studied in various Indian schools and colleges, and also from within the Ranas, many of whom were marginalised within the Ruling Rana hierarchy. The Democracy movement in Nepal has been active for many years but usually applies to one of two movements Many of these Nepalese in exile had actively taken part in the Indian Independence struggle and wanted to liberate Nepal as well from the internal autocratic Rana occupation. The political parties like The Prajaparishad and The Nepali Rastriya Congress were already formed in exile by the patriotic minded Nepalis, who wanted to stage both the military and popular political movement in Nepal, to overthrow the autocratic Rana Regime. Among the prominent martyrs to die for the cause, executed at the hands of the Ranas, were Dharma Bhakta Mathema, Shukraraj Shastri, Gangalal Shrestha and Dasharath Chand. This turmoil culminated in King Tribhuvan, a direct descendant of Prithvi Narayan Shah, fleeing from his "palace prison" in 1950,to newly independent India, touching off an armed revolt against the Rana administration. King Tribhuhvan Bir Bikram Shah (त्रिभुवन वीर विक्रम शाह King of Nepal ( June 30, 1906 &ndash March 13, India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Under Indian intervention, this eventually ended in the return of the Shah family to power and the appointment of a non-Rana as prime minister. A period of quasi-constitutional rule followed, during which the monarch, assisted by the leaders of fledgling political parties, governed the country. During the 1950s, efforts were made to frame a constitution for Nepal that would establish a representative form of government, based on a British model.
With the annexation of Tibet by the Chinese in 1950, India faced the prospect of an expansive military power operating under a radically different political philosophy on its long northern borders, and was thus keen to address its security concerns. With the stated aim of avoiding instability in Nepal, India sponsored both King Tribhuvan as Nepal's new ruler in 1951, and a new government, mostly comprising the Nepali Congress Party. King Tribhuhvan Bir Bikram Shah (त्रिभुवन वीर विक्रम शाह King of Nepal ( June 30, 1906 &ndash March 13, The Nepali Congress is a Nepalese Political party. It is led by Girija Prasad Koirala.
In early 1959, Tribhuvan's son King Mahendra issued a new constitution, and the first democratic elections for a national assembly were held. Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah (महेन्द्र वीर विक्रम शाह King of Nepal ( June 11, 1920 - January 31, 1972 The Nepali Congress Party, a moderate socialist group, gained a substantial victory in the election. The Nepali Congress is a Nepalese Political party. It is led by Girija Prasad Koirala. Its leader, Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala, formed a government and served as prime minister. Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala (1914 &ndash 1982 was the Prime Minister of Nepal from 1959 to 1960 After years of power wrangling between the Kings (Tribhuvan and Mahendra) and the government, Mahendra dissolved the democratic experiment in 1960
Royal Coup by King Mahendra
Declaring parliamentary democracy a failure, King Mahendra carried out a royal coup 18 months later, in 1962. He dismissed the elected Koirala government, declared that a "partyless" panchayat system would govern Nepal and promulgated another new constitution on December 16, 1962. The Panchayat is a South Asian Political system. ‘Panchayat’ literally means assembly ( yat) of five ( panch) wise and respected elders chosen Events 755 - An Lushan revolts against Chancellor Yang Guozhong at Fanyang, initiating the An Shi Rebellion Year 1962 ( MCMLXII) was a Common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
Subsequently, the elected Prime Minister, Members of Parliament and hundreds of democratic activists were arrested. (In fact, this trend of arrest of political activists and democratic supporters continued for the entire 30 year period of partyless Panchayati System under King Mahendra and then his son, King Birendra).
The new constitution had established a "partyless" system of panchayats (councils) which King Mahendra considered to be a democratic form of government, closer to Nepalese traditions. As a pyramidal structure, progressing from village assemblies to a Rastriya Panchayat (National Parliament), the panchayat system constitutionalised the absolute power of the monarchy and kept the King as head of state with sole authority over all governmental institutions, including the Cabinet (Council of Ministers) and the Parliament. One-state-one-language became the national policy and all other languages suffered at the cost of the official language, "Nepali", which was the king's language.
King Mahendra was succeeded by his 27 year-old son, King Birendra, in 1972. Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev (वीरेन्द्र वीर विक्रम शाह ( December 28, 1945 &ndash June 1, 2001) was Amid student demonstrations and anti-regime activities in 1979, King Birendra called for a national referendum to decide on the nature of Nepal's government--either the continuation of the panchayat system with democratic reforms or the establishment of a multiparty system. The referendum was held in May 1980, and the panchayat system won a narrow victory. The king carried out the promised reforms, including selection of the prime minister by the Rastriya Panchayat.
People in rural areas had expected that their interests would be better represented after the adoption of parliamentary democracy in 1990. They started an agitational movement, Jana Andolan, which forced the monarchy to accept constitutional reforms and to establish a multiparty parliament. The 1990 People's Movement (Jana Andolan was a multiparty movement in Nepal that brought an end to Absolute monarchy and the beginning of Constitutional democracy In May 1991, Nepal held its first parliamentary elections in nearly 50 years. The Nepali Congress won 110 of the 205 seats and formed the first elected government in 32 years.
Civil Strife
In 1992, in a situation of economic crisis and chaos, with spiralling prices as a result of implementation of changes in policy of the new Congress government, the radical left stepped up their political agitation. The Nepali Congress is a Nepalese Political party. It is led by Girija Prasad Koirala. A Joint People's Agitation Committee was set up by the various groups. [11] A general strike was called for April 6. Hartal (also hartaal is a term in many Indian languages for Strike action, used often during the Indian Independence Movement. Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar defeats Caecilius Metellus Scipio and Marcus Porcius Cato in the Battle of Thapsus
Violent incidents began to occur on the evening ahead of the strike. The Joint People's Agitation Committee had called for a 30-minute 'lights out' in the capital, and violence erupted outside Bir Hospital when activists tried to enforce the 'lights out'. Bir Hospital is the oldest and one of the busiest hospitals in Nepal. At dawn on April 6, clashes between strike activists and police, outside a police station in Pulchok (Patan), left two activists dead. Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar defeats Caecilius Metellus Scipio and Marcus Porcius Cato in the Battle of Thapsus Patan may refer to places in Afghanistan, India and Nepal: Afghanistan Patan Afghanistan
Later in the day, a mass rally of the Agitation Committee at Tundikhel in the capital Kathmandu was attacked by police forces. Kathmandu (काठमांडौ येँ is the Capital and the largest city of Nepal. As a result, riots broke out and the Nepal Telecommunications building was set on fire; police opened fire at the crowd, killing several persons. Nepal Telecom (NT/NTC is the leading and the largest telecommunication company of Nepal. The Human Rights Organisation of Nepal estimated that 14 persons, including several on-lookers, had been killed in police firing. [12]
When promised land reforms failed to appear, people in some districts started to organize to enact their own land reform, and to gain some power over their lives in the face of usurious landlords. However, this movement was repressed by the Nepali government, in "Operation Romeo" and "Operation Kilo Sera II" which took the lives of many of the leading activists of the struggle. As a result, many witnesses to this repression became radicalized.
Nepalese Civil War
In February 1996, one of the Maoist parties started a bid to replace the parliamentary monarchy with a so-called people's new democratic republic, through a Maoist revolutionary strategy known as the people's war, which led to the Nepalese Civil War. The Nepalese Civil War (labelled People's War by the Maoists was a conflict between Government forces and Maoist rebels in Nepal Maoism, variably and officially known as Mao Zedong Thought ( is a variant of Marxism derived from the teachings of the late Chinese leader A parliamentary system, also known as parliamentarianism (and parliamentarism in American English) is a System of government in which People's War ( Chinese language: 人民战争 also called protracted people's war, is a military-political strategy invented by Mao Zedong. The Nepalese Civil War (labelled People's War by the Maoists was a conflict between Government forces and Maoist rebels in Nepal Led by Dr. Baburam Bhattarai and Pushpa Kamal Dahal (also known as "Prachanda"), the insurgency began in five districts in Nepal: Rolpa, Rukum, Jajarkot, Gorkha, and Sindhuli. Dr Baburam Bhattarai (born 26 May 1954) is a Communist politician and Minister of Finance of the government Prachanda (प्रचण्ड pɾəʦəɳɖə born Pushpa Kumal Dahal on 11 December 1954 is the Post Officer of Nepal. Rolpa District, a part of Rapti Zone, is one of the seventy-five districts of Nepal. Rukum District, a part of Rapti Zone, is one of the seventy-five districts of Nepal, a Landlocked country of South Asia. Jajarkot is the capital city of Jajarkot District in Bheri Zone, Nepal. The Maoists declared the existence of a provisional "people's government" at the district level in several locations.
Meanwhile, on June 1, 2001, Crown Prince Dipendra went on a shooting-spree, assassinating 11 members of the royal family, including King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya, before shooting himself. Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah ( June 27 1971 &ndash June 4 2001) was King of Nepal from June 1 to June 4 The Nepalese royal massacre occurred on Friday June 1, 2001, at the Narayanhity Royal Palace, the former residence of the Nepalese monarchy, Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev (वीरेन्द्र वीर विक्रम शाह ( December 28, 1945 &ndash June 1, 2001) was Aishwarya ( November 7, 1949 &ndash June 1, 2001) was the Queen of Nepal from 1972 to 2001 Due to his survival he temporarily became king before dying of his wounds, after which Prince Gyanendra (Birendra's brother) inherited the throne as per tradition. Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev ( Nepali: ज्ञानेन्द्र वीर बिक्रम शाह Jñānendra Vīra Vikrama Śāhadeva (born 7 July Meanwhile, the Maoist rebellion escalated, and in October 2001 the king temporarily deposed the government and took complete control of it. A week later he reappointed another government, but the country was still very unstable: because of the civil war with the Maoists; the various clamouring political factions; the king's attempts to take more control of the government; and worries about the competence of Gyanendra's son and heir, Prince Paras. Early life Paras is the only son of the last king and queen of Nepal Gyanendra and Komal.
In the face of unstable governments and a Maoist siege on the Kathmandu Valley in August 2004, popular support for the monarchy began to wane. On February 1, 2005, Gyanendra dismissed the entire government and assumed full executive powers, declaring a "state of emergency" to quash the Maoist movement. Events 1327 - Teenaged Edward III is crowned King of England, but the country is ruled by his mother Queen Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. A state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend certain normal functions of government alert citizens to alter their normal behaviors or order government agencies Politicians were placed under house arrest, phone and internet lines were cut, and freedom of the press was severely curtailed. In Justice and Law, house arrest (also called home confinement, home detention, or electronic monitoring) is a measure by which
The king's new regime made little progress in his stated aim to suppress the insurgents. Municipal elections in February 2006 were described by the European Union as "a backward step for democracy", as the major parties boycotted the election and some candidates were forced to run for office by the army. An election boycott is the Boycotting of an Election by a group of voters each of whom abstains from voting [13] In April 2006 strikes and street protests in Kathmandu forced the king to reinstate the parliament. The 2006 Democracy Movement ( Nepali: लोकतन्त्र आन्दोलन Loktantra Āndolan) is a name given to the ongoing political agitations against A seven-party coalition resumed control of the government and stripped the king of most of his powers. As of 15 January 2007 Nepal was governed by an unicameral legislature under an interim constitution. Events 588 BC - Nebuchadrezzar II of Babylon lays siege to Jerusalem under Zedekiah 's reign Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Unicameralism is the practice of having only one legislative or Parliamentary chamber On December 24, 2007, seven parties, including the former Maoist rebels and the government party, agreed to abolish monarchy and as was agreed, declared Nepal a Federal Republic on December 28, 2007[14]. In the elections held on April 10, 2008, the Maoists have won a victory, with the prospects of forming a government to rule the 'Republic of Nepal'.
Declaration of Republic
On May 28, 2008 the newly elected Constituent Assembly declared Nepal a Federal Democratic Republic, abolishing the 240 years old monarchy. The motion for the declaration of monarchy saw a huge majority, out of 564 members present in the assembly 560 voted for the motion while 4 members voted against it. [15] And finally on June 11, 2008 ex-king Gyanendra leave the palace. [16]
Footnotes
- ^ Shaha, Rishikesh. Rishikesh Shaha (b 1925 d November 13, 2002) was a Nepalese writer politician and Human rights activist Ancient and Medieval Nepal (1992), pp. 6-7. Manohar Publications, New Delhi. ISBN 81-85425-69-8.
- ^ Shaha, Rishikesh. Rishikesh Shaha (b 1925 d November 13, 2002) was a Nepalese writer politician and Human rights activist Ancient and Medieval Nepal (1992), p. 7. Manohar Publications, New Delhi. ISBN 81-85425-69-8.
- ^ Amatya, Shaphalya. (1993). "Archaeology Shrouded in Mystery. " The Rising Nepal, Sunday, Oct. , 31, 1993
- ^ "A Kushan-period Sculpture from the reign of Jaya Varman, A. D. 185. " Kathmandu, Nepal. Kashinath Tamot and Ian Alsop. [1]
- ^ Shaha, Rishikesh. Rishikesh Shaha (b 1925 d November 13, 2002) was a Nepalese writer politician and Human rights activist Ancient and Medieval Nepal (1992), p. 11. Manohar Publications, New Delhi. ISBN 81-85425-69-8.
- ^ "A Kushan-period Sculpture from the reign of Jaya Varman, A. D. 185. " Kathmandu, Nepal. Kashinath Tamot and Ian Alsop. [2]
- ^ Shaha, Rishikesh. Rishikesh Shaha (b 1925 d November 13, 2002) was a Nepalese writer politician and Human rights activist Ancient and Medieval Nepal (1992), p. 11. Manohar Publications, New Delhi. ISBN 81-85425-69-8.
- ^ Li, Rongxi (translator). 1995. The Great Tang Dynasty Record of the Western Regions, pp. 219-220. Numata Center for Buddhist Translation and Research. Berkeley, California. ISBN 1-886439-02-8
- ^ Watters, Thomas. 1904-5. On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India (A. D. 629-645), pp. 83-85. Reprint: Mushiram Manoharlal Publishers, New Delhi. 1973.
- ^ Tucci, Giuseppe. (1952). Journey to Mustang, 1952. Trans. by Diana Fussell. 1st Italian edition, 1953; 1st English edition, 1977. 2nd edition revised, 2003, p. 22. Bibliotheca Himalayica. ISBN 99933-0-378-X (South Asia); 974-524-024-9 (Outside of South Asia).
- ^ The organisers of the Committee were the Samyukta Janamorcha Nepal, the Communist Party of Nepal (Unity Centre), Communist Party of Nepal (Masal), the Nepal Communist League and the Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist-Leninist-Maoist). The United People's Front of Nepal, (संयुक्त जनमोर्चा नेपाल Sanyukta Janamorcha Nepal or SJM Communist Party of Nepal (Unity Centre, was a Communist party in Nepal. Communist Party of Nepal (Masal (नेपाल कम्युनिष्ट पार्टी (मसाल initially known as Communist Party of Nepal (Unity Centre-Masal Nepal Communist League ( Nepal Samyabadi Sangh) was a communist organisation in Nepal. Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist-Leninist-Maoist, was a minor communist party in Nepal.
- ^ Hoftun, Martin, William Raeper and John Whelpton. People, politics and ideology: Democracy and Social Change in Nepal. Kathmandu: Mandala Book Point, 1999. p. 189
- ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1699935,00.html
- ^ Nepal votes to abolish monarchy
- ^ http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2008/may/may28/news18.php
- ^ http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2008/jun/jun11/news16.php
References
- Tiwari, Sudarshan Raj (2002). The Brick and the Bull: An account of Handigaun, the Ancient Capital of Nepal. Himal Books. ISBN 99933-43-52-8.
External links
See also
- Sugauli Treaty
- Anglo-Nepalese War
- History of Nepal
- History of Sikkim
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