Assignment 1

Brief explanation about the Heroes of Nepal in Anglo Nepal War:

1. Bir Balbhadra Kunwar

BirBal bhadra kunwar(30 jan 1789- 13 march 1823) was a Nepalese military
commander and administrator in the kingdom of Nepal. He is one of the National
heroes of Nepal. He was highly praised for his military skill for the defence of the
Nalapani fort in the Anglo-Nepal War(1814-1816).

During the Anglo-Nepal War, Balbhadra Kunwar was in charge of Khalanga fort.
It was called Nalapani. He had about 600 troops including women, children and
aged people whereas the british had 3500 strong troops. A night before the
declaration of war, the British General Gillespie had sent a letter to Balbhadra
asking him to surrender. In reply he tore the letter and said,” I shall meet your
General in the battlefield”.

The very next day many British troops including commanders Ellis and Gillespie
were killed in the battlefield. The British troops could not face the Nepali attack
and they returned to Dehradun.

The British troop then attacked the fort for the second time with full preparation.
They stopped the water supply to the fort and kept it surrounded. Due to lack of
food and water, women and children died one after another. Balbhadra kunwar
had no alternatives then he came out with the remaining troops and moved to
jeetgarh. But he did not surrender.By this even the British were very impressed
by his bravery and in his memory they erected a stone monument in the
battlefield of Nalapani with an inscription as follows: “ This is inscribed as a
tribute and respect for our adversary, Bulbudder, Commander of the Fort and his
brave Gurkhas”

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2. Amar Singh Thapa

Amar singh Thapa who was born in 1751 is one of the great heroes of the
country. He spent all his active life fighting for his country neither having a desire
for money nor comfort but fought solely for extending the territory of Nepal.

During Anglo-Nepal War, Amar Singh Thapa was in charge of all the battles on
the western front. He defeated the British troops. The british General Octorlony
tried to take Amar singh thapa on his side by offering him a large amount of
money and land, and promised to make him king of some states. But He refused
it and fought bravely. As an honour to his bravery, he was given the title of
Badakaji. Despite the efforts made by the Nepalese troops to defend their
territory, the war went in favour of the well-equipped british. At that time there
were no comparisons between Nepal and British ad british had more troops and
modern weapons. So At last, Nepal was defeated and compelled to sign a treaty.
According to the treaty Nepal had to leave a big part of western region. It
shocked Amar singh Thapa very much. He then went to live in gosaikunda where
he died.

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3. Bhakti Thapa

Bhakti Thapa who was born in 1741 A.D. in Lamjung, Nepal was a Nepalese
military commander and administrator in the kingdom of Nepal. Initially, He
served for the kingdom of lamjung. He is considered as one of the national
heroes of Nepal.

During the Anglo-Nepal War, Bhakti thapa was controlling the operation of war of
the whole western region of Nepal from the fort of malaun whereas the fort of
surajgadh was in the south of this fort. As the british force had control over the
fort of deuthal, 1000 yards away from malaun fort, the whole of the western
region was at stake which made Sardar Bhakti Thapa to go to the battlefield,
taking naked khukuri and sword on his hand along with 2000 Nepalese soldiers.
A fierce battle was fought. Bhakti thapa killed many British soldiers with his
khukuri. He fought fearlessly. While he tried to capture a british cannon, a bullet
hit him and he died. The Nepalese troops suffered a heavy loss. The British
General Octorlony was so impressed with his bravery that he returned his dead
body to Amar singh Thapa covered with a shawl. Bhakti thapa attained
martyrdom at the age of seventy.

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4. Bom Shah

Bom shah is also one of the heroes of Nepal.

During Anglo-Nepal War, Bom Shah was the administrator of Kumaon, appointed
by Prime Minister Bhimsen Thapa. He was stationed at Almora in Kumaon
(Western front) and had strongly fortified the fort surrounding. The British Army
under the commander of Edward Gardener attacked Almora. For four days, the
Nepalese troops, under the command of Bom Shah, fought bravely. Hastidal
Shahi who had arrived at Kumaon with additional force from Kathmandu was
surrounded near Almora by British forces. Compelled by the adverse situation
and rumors spread by British that Nepal lost the battle everywhere, the Nepalese
troops including the commander, Bom Shah, surrendered on April 28, 1815 A.D.
They then evacuated the entire territory of Nepal in Kumaon. Further, the
proposal of awards did not tempt Bom Shah and honors offered to him by the
British if he had agreed to join the British forces. Bom Shah’s loyalty,
commitment and sacrifice to defend the sovereignty of Nepal and Nepalese is an
inspiring example in the history of Nepal.

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5. Ranabir Singh Thapa

He is one of the heroes who had shown bravery in the great Anglo-Nepal War.
Ranabir Singh Thapa, the youngest brother of Prime Minister Bhimsen Thapa
who was posted in Makwanpur to command the Nepalese troops in the
Anglo-Nepal War. His troops were badly defeated by the advanced troops of the
British. After the war, he was appointed as the administrator of Palpa and the
General of the Kalibaksh and the Sabuj battalions. After some years of his
service, he retired and then adopted an ascetic life with the famous name of
'Swami Avayananda' after the downfall of Bhimsen Thapa.

6. Ujjir singh Thapa

Prime Minister Bhimsen Thapa’s father, General Amar Singh Thapa was the
governor of Palpa. Ujjir Singh Thapa the son of Nayan Singh Thapa and
Grandson of Amar Singh Thapa became the governor of Palpa (after death of
Amar Singh Thapa).
During Anglo-Nepal War, He obtained a famous victory against the British forces
at the Battle of Jitgadh. He was the military commander at the Mid-Western
(Palpa-Butwal) axis during the Anglo-Nepalese War. He had deployed 1200
troops in the defenses of Jit Gadhi, Nuwakot Gadhi, and Kathe Gadhi.
On the other side, Major General Wood was the British Commander of this
sector. About 4000 soldiers of British troops were advancing to Palpa via Butwal.
The British troops were confronted on a jungle route by Nepalese troops led by
Ujjir Singh Thapa. British Army was forced to adopt a defensive policy. Nepalese
troops drove the invading forces. Ujjir Singh Thapa’s contribution to defend the
sovereignty of Nepal remains immortal in Nepal’s history.