Origin of Nepal: Nepal as a Sovereign Country

BBA 6th Semester

Origin of Nepal: Nepal as a Sovereign Country

SOC 202: Nepalese Society and

Politics


How Nepal Has been named? Naming concept of Nepal.

• There are several myth describing the naming of Nepal.There are myriad of legends illustrating the namingconcept of Nepal.

• Some of the widely conceived myths are:•Bhuktaman, the first king of Gopal Dynasty, was

made by a sage ‘Ne’.•Nepal was famous for wool. In Tibetan language, wool

is called ‘Ne’. Kautilya has also described aboutNepal’s woolen products in ‘Arthasastra’.•Newars people used to live in Kathmandu valley, which

was primitively called NepalMandal. Previouly, Nepalwas called Nipal.


Periods Dynasty

Ancient Period Gopal, Mahispal, Kirat, Lichchhavi

Medieval PeriodThree powers: Malla, Khas, and

Doya

Modern Period

Shah rulers and unification of

nation , Rana period, Rise of

Democracy, Panchayat, demolition

of monarchy, Nepal as a republic

state.


1. Gopal Dynasty

• The first dynasty to settle in Kathmandu valley.

• They are said to be the descendent of Shree Krishna.

• The economy was based on animal husbandry basicallyof cows.

• Eight Gopal Kings ruled Kathmandu Valley for about500 years. Bhuktaman ruled for 88 years.

• The society was open and no stratification. There wasegalitarian society.

• The last king was Yakshyagupta.


2. Mahispal Dynasty

• The second dynasty to settle in Kathmandu valley.

• They ruled for short time period for 161 years.

• The economy was based on animal husbandry basicallyof Buffalo.

• Three Mahispal Kings ruled Kathmandu Valley.

• The society was open and no stratification. There wasegalitarian society.

• The three kings were Barasingh, Jayasingh, andBhuwansingh.


3. Kirat Dynasty• The first formally recognized dynasty who ruled a large

portion of land spanning from Shikkim in the east toGandak in the west.•Yalambar was the first king and he also took part in

Mahabharat war.• The business activities flourished in this period.

Business expended up to China in North, and SouthIndia in south.• 32 Kirat Kings ruled for about 800 years.• The society was open and no stratification. Kirat

followed hereditary monarchical system. Commercetax, agriculture tax were collected.• The last king was Gasti.


4. Lichchhavi Dynasty

• Lichchhavis entered to Nepal from Vaisaili of NorthIndia. They left India because Ajatashatru invadedthem.

• They followed Nepali culture, and invaded Nepal bydefeating weaker Soma Dynasty.

•Many famous rulers emerged in this dynasty. Thewritten history is dated from king Mandeva ofLichchhavi Dynasty.

• The society was diversified. The society was multi-cultural, multi-linguistic, multi-caste and multi-regionalgroup.


Some famous rulers of Lichchhavi Dynasty are:

1. Mandeva

2. Amshuverma

3. Jaya Dev II

The written history started from Mandeva. The ancientinscription at Changu Narayan is the oldest writtenhistory of Nepal.


5. Malla Dynasty

•Malla entered to Kathmandu Valley and invaded theregion when Lichchhavis became weak.

•Malla period is known as ‘The Golden Period’.

•Newari and Sanskrit language flourished, and there areextreme flourish of culture, art, architecture,monuments and business.

• Jayasthiti Malla (1438-1452) is known as reformerking. He divided society in Bhramin, Chhetri, Baisya,and Sudra on the basis of occupation, which is stillexisted in Newars.


Some of the famous Malla Kings:

1. Jayasthiti Malla (Reformer king)

2. Yaksha Malla

3. Pratap Malla (Build Rani Pokhari, Hanuman DhokaPalace, Commencement of Gai Jatra)

4. Bhupatendra Malla (Natpol Temple, 55 window palace)

5. Shiddi Narasingh Malla (Krishna Mandir at Patan)


6. Shah Dynasty

•Rise of Gorkha state gave opportunity to Shah dynasty

•Drabya Shah was ambition person, so wanted to be kingof Gorkha.

•He became king on 1616 B.S. on Bhadra.

•Drabya Shah succeeded by Purna Shah, Chhatra Shahand Ram Shah.

•Ram Shah succeeded by Narabhupal Shah, and PrithiviNarayan Shah.

•Unification Campaign Started and was initially led byPrithivi Narayan Shah and latter expanded by BahadurShah and Bhisen Thapa.


• Bhimsen Thapa, War with East India Company, and preeditationby Pandey’s against Bhimsen Thapa.

• Nepal lost two third of its land in war with East India Company.

• Amar Singh Thapa, Bhakti Thapa, Balbhadra Kunwar wereunparalleled warriors.

• Rana Reign• Jung Bahadur Rana

• Ranodip Singh Rana

• Bir Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana

• Dev Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana

• Chandra Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana

• Bhim Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana

• Juddha Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana

• Padhma Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana

• Mohan Shemsher Jung Bahadur Rana


• First National Movement Led by Nepali Congress.

• Four Great Martyrs Shukra raj Sastri, Dharma BhaktaMathema, Dashrath Chand, and Janga lal Shrestha.

•Rise of democracy in 2007 followed by political uphevealsof ten years till 2017.

• Introduction of Panchayat system which lasted for threedecades.

•Mass Movement second in 2036.

•Restoration of democracy in 2048 followed by Maoistinsurgency in 2052 and 10 years of civil war.

•Abdication of Monarchy and rise of republic Nepal in2063.

Reference Books (Tribhuvan University)

• Gyanwali, Ram Prasad, 2012. Know Nepal. Kathmandu: Bhundipuran Prakashan.

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

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

• Hassold Davies. 1943. Nepal Land of Mystery. Londong: Scarcrow Publications.

• Joshi, Bhuvan Lal and Leo E. Rose. 1966. Democratic Innovation in Nepal. Burkeley:University of California Press.

• Regmi, D.R. 1975. Modern Nepal Vol., 1, Calcutta: K.L. Mukhopadhayay.

• Regmi, Dilli Raman. 1975. Medieval Nepal Part II. Calcutta: K.L. Mukhopadhyay.

• Shah, Rishikesh. 1990. Modern Nepal: A Political History 1769-1955. Vol I 1769-1885.New Delhi: Manohar Publications.

• Sharan, P. Government and Politics of Nepal, New Delhi: Metropolitan Publications,1983.

• Sharma, Bal Chandra. 2022BS. Nepal ko Aitihasi Ruprekha. Varanasi: Krishna KumariDevi. Sharma, Devi Prasad. 2047BS. Adhunik Nepalko Itihas. Kathmandu, Ratna Pustak

SOC 202: Nepalese Society and Politics

Education

Origin of Nepal: Nepal as a Sovereign Country