History of Modern Nepal_compressed

HISTORY OF MODERN NEPAL

• Authors: Poornika Silwal, Prakriti Aryal

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Prithwi Narayan Shah’s Rise and Victory over Kathmandu Valley

• Nepal’s Expansion After Prithwi Narayan Shah

• Anglo-Nepal War

• Rana Regime’s Rise and Fall

RISE OF PRITHVI NARAYAN SHAH AND VICTORY OVER KATHMANDU VALLEY

Early Years

• Born: January 7, 1723 AD / September 27, 1779 BS in Gorkha Palace.

• First child of Nara Bhupal Shah and Kaushalyavati Devi.

• Educated by stepmother, Queen Chandraprabhavati, and renowned pandits (Aryal, Joshi, Pant).

• Religious education in scriptures like Ramayana, Mahabharata, Sukraneeti, and Chanakya Neeti, which instilled visionary leadership.

Background of Early Leadership

• Father Narbhupal's campaign against Nuwakot organized by Jayant Rana Magar.

• Shah's dedication to recovering lost territories, influenced by his father's defeat in 1736.

• Married Indra Kumari Devi at 14 and Narendra Rajya Lakshmi Devi at 18.

• Ascended as King of Gorkha at age 20 after his father's death on Chaitra 25, 1799 BS.

START OF UNIFICATION: NUWAKOT

The Political Landscape

• 54 states in Nepal, including 3 Sen states and others like Makwanpur, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur.

• Early failed attempts to conquer Nuwakot; critical for controlling trade routes.

• Achieved first victory against Nuwakot on Ashwin 15, 1801 BS after strategic maneuvers.

CAPTURE OF KATHMANDU VALLEY

The Attack Strategy

• Aimed to conquer Kathmandu Valley by targeting surrounding principalities.

• First attack on Kritipur on Bhadra 9, 1814 BS failed; however, Makwanpur was annexed the following year.

• Third attempt to capture Kirtipur succeeded on Chaitra 3, 1822 BS after previous failures.

• King Jaya Prakash Malla sought assistance from the British East India Company.

The Final Assault on Kathmandu

• Gorkhali forces captured the royal palace on Ashwin 13, 1825 BS, leading to the surrender of Kathmandu.

• King Tejnarsingh Malla and Jayaprakash Malla fled to Bhaktapur, marking the symbolic victory of Prithvi Narayan Shah.

NEPAL AFTER PRITHVI NARAYAN SHAH

Succession and Challenges

• Pratap Singh Shah became the rightful heir but Bahadur Shah was favored for his strategic skills.

• Power struggles followed his ascension, including the imprisonment of Bahadur Shah.

• Conflicts with Sikkim resulted in the Gorkha-Sikkim Treaty in 1833 BS.

Political Control Changes

• After King Pratap Singh Shah's death, power shifted towards women in governance with queens taking on regency roles.

• Administration faced internal strife and revolts.

THE RISE AND FALL OF RANA DYNASTY

Kot Parva and Establishment of Autocratic Rule

• Jung Bahadur Rana initiated control after Kot Parva incident on September 14, 1846.

• Massacre of rivals led to Jung consolidating power as Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief.

• Establishment of hereditary rule in the Rana dynasty initiated.

The Autocratic Era

• Ranas centralized power, marginalized the Shah monarchy, and established strict control over politics.

• Significant modernization efforts featured infrastructure development while suppressing democratic movements.

Key Leadership Figures and Their Contributions

• Notable Prime Ministers: Jung Bahadur Rana, Bir Shumsher, Chandra Shumsher, and Juddha Shumsher Jang Bahadur Rana.

• Advances included abolition of slavery, infrastructure projects, and military reforms.

• Political suppression persisted, leading to resistance developments.

THE 1950 REVOLUTION

Outbreak and Political Change

• Nepali Congress led a rebellion against the Rana regime with support from King Tribhuvan.

• The 1951 Delhi Agreement symbolized the end of Rana rule and reinstatements of King Tribhuvan.

Conclusion

• End of technical Rana rule transitioned Nepal towards a democratic system, although challenges persisted.

• Critique of the Ranas includes both modernization contributions and their autocratic reign, leaving a complex legacy for Nepal.