Political History

But when it comes to history, Nepal is home to more than just the Monarchs. It has a remarkable past to brag about and a promising future.

Ancient History of Nepal

Nepal's history dates back 11,000 years. With recent excavations, Neolithic tools from the Kathmandu Valley have been discovered. The beginning of this era saw the use of Neolithic implements, many of which date back to 9000 B.C. This reveals information about pre-Aryan habitation in ancient Nepal. The population includes those with Bhutanese-Mongoloid ancestry. The classic Hindu poem known as the Ramayana makes reference of Nepal. According to legend, Sita, Rama's wife, was born in Janakpur in the Terai region of Nepal. In the epic Mahabharata, which was written around 1000 B.C., Nepal is referred to as Kirat Pradesh. Throughout history, this location has been mentioned numerous times. According to legend, the king sided with the Kauravas in the battle rather than the Pandavas. Around 500 B.C., Nepal was home to a number of petty kingdoms, with Shakyas of Kapilvastu being its most formidable warrior. This is also the region where Gautam Siddhartha was born. After gaining the wisdom and becoming enlightened, he received the name Buddha. The king of Maurya controlled Nepal in the later era. Most of the rock edicts contained Ashoka findings. Licchhavis ruled over Nepal in the post-Christ era. There are numerous historical facts that describe Licchhavis' rule.

The Medieval History of Nepal

In the Middle Ages, there were no disturbances in Nepal. The Mallas controlled Nepal and had separate borders and lands. The attempted invasion of Nepal was not more common during the sultanate era, and such attempts were only occasionally successful. The military generals of Nepal were aided by the country's climate. In the latter half of the fourteenth century, King Jaisthiti Malla attempted to unify Nepal. After a brief period of unification, Nepal was divided into the kingdoms of Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhadgaon. Aside from this, Nepal experienced calm and fewer battles during the medieval era. Such calm could have been the precursor to a powerful storm later on.

• Shah Period
  • In the 18th century, there were roughly 50 states in Nepal and over 450 petty states in India. The people were squabbling with one another in an effort to increase their territory or boundaries. Then, some 100 km west of Kathmandu, the king Prithvi Narayan Shah engages in battle at Kathmandu alongside a renowned soldier. He was of the opinion that British India will seize control of Nepal. He began by bringing together the little states. After 10 years of planning, he assaulted Kathmandu in 1768, and on the day of the festival of Indra and the Virgin Goddess, Gorkha took control of the city. King Prithvi Narayan Shah passed away in 1775, and his son Bahadur Shah succeeded him. After conquering Kathmandu, the new shah monarch moved their capital there and attempted to consolidate and expand their realm. The majority of the seats in the new parliament were won by the Nepali Congress. As a result, King announced on December 15, 1960, that he was not affected by foreign politics and that the Nepali Congress was being detained. This was done because of a fear that he may be confined to a ceremonial function. The panchayat system was introduced by the king two years later.

When "Panchayat Democracy" was in place

• No political parties were permitted.
• No human rights existed.
• State funds weren't handled correctly.
• Lack of economic development
• Nationalist slogans were used, but people's lives did not improve.

The populace attempted to overthrow the King's regime, but they were unsuccessful. Birendra succeeded King Mahendra after his death in 1972. Due to increased unrest among the populace in 1980, the King was forced to call for a referendum that offered the option of choosing between the multi-party democracy and the panchayat system. People are aware that the Panchayat win was influenced by vote-rigging. After that, there was no way to handle the matter. India obstructed trade in 1989 by blockading 17 of the 19 entry sites. This caused a great deal of unhappiness, which the opposing parties seized upon. Mass protests against the Panchayat system were started by the Communist party and the Nepali Congress. There were two firsts for this movement. One time, the Communists and the Nepali Congress were allies. The second was that the movement had the backing of a foreign power. Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, the leader of the Nepali Congress, led the new government after the election. The government's duties included drafting the constitution and holding a general election for the House of Representatives. The Nepali Congress, United Marxists/Leninists, and other parties participate in the formation of the government today.

• Rana Period
  • Up to the start of 1950, the Rana king maintained a feudal grip over Nepal, which instilled dread in the populace. Additionally dreaded was the prime minister Chandra Shamsher Rana, who founded Tri-Chandra College in 1918. Chandra Shamsher stated that the college's launch was the final toll of Rana reign during its inauguration. His statements served as a prophecy for the demise of Rana political authority in 1950–1951. He felt remorseful and believed that he was to blame for the end of Rana rule. A defining characteristic of society for millennia has been the access to education for those in upper castes and wealthy social strata. The Ranas maintained education for themselves and other wealthy, affluent members of society; the remainder of the populace continued to be largely ignorant. The Rana was opposed to any kind of public education for the populace, but they disallowed it and prioritized formal education solely for their own kids in order to get them ready for positions in the administration. The founder of the Rana monarchy, Jang Bahadur Kunwar, commonly known as Jang Bahadur Rana, gave his children an English education rather than the customary upbringing that was focused on religion. Jang Bahadur hired an English tutor in 1854 to teach his children in the palace. Due to this action, English education gained the upper hand over the more conventional Sanskrit-based educational system. Comparing English education to conventional schooling in 1991, English education enjoyed a superior rank and reputation.

References

Flippo, Edwin B. Personnel Management. London: Oxford Press, 1980.

Gynwal, Ram Prasad. Know Nepal. Kathmandu: Bhundipuran Prakashan, 2012.

Hamilton, Francis B. An Account of the Kingdom of Nepal. New Delhi: Manjushri Publishing House, 1971.

Heywood, Andrew. Politics. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2002.

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