Unit 1

Introduction
Origin of Nepal: Nepal as a
sovereign country
Origin of naming of Nepal
Religious books or legendary tale shown that it had
various name in different period.
According to Hindu Veda name of Nepal was “Satyawati”
in Satya yuga
“Tapobana” in Tetra yuga
“Muktisopan” in Dwapar yuga
And, “Nepal” in Kali yuga
Some researchers and historians have claimed that the
origin of the word “Nepal” may be derived from Tibetan,
Newari, Kirat, Sanskrit, Lepcha language.
On the basis of language
 Tibetan language- Ne(house) + Pala(Wool)
Newari language- Ne(middle) + Pa(country)
Lepcha language- Ne(holy)+ Pala(cave/ settlement area)
Sanskrit language- Nipa(slope) + Ala (land/place)
Kirat language- Neyatha(cattle)+Pa(people)
Limbu language- Nepal (plain land)
Definition of Sovereign
“Sovereignty is the supreme power of the state over
citizen and subjects unrestrained by law” - Bodin
“Sovereignty is the supreme will of the state”
-Willoughby
Sovereignty is the right of a government to have complete
control over its area. Sovereignty is legally supreme over
an individual or group. It is coercive power.
Characteristics/Attributes of Sovereignty
Absoluteness
Originality
Permanence
Exclusiveness
Comprehensiveness
Unity
Indivisibility
Geography- location
 the term geography has been derived from Latin
language in which ‘geo’ means earth and ‘graphy’ means
study or science. Thus geography is the scientific study of
earth.
Sub-division of geography
Physical geography, structure of earth
Economic geography, resources
Human geography, distribution of population
Political geography, political boundaries and
administrative units of country
Geographical structure and location of Nepal
Area- 147,181 sq.km
147,516 including Kalapani, Lipulek & Limpiyadhura
Landlocked country,
 nearest sea is Bay of Bangal which is 1127 km from
eastern border
Nepal consist of :

Mountain 15%-
 Mountains, lakes, always covered by snow
Top of the world 8848km
Wildlife
Hilly region 68%
Cultivations
Cultural heritage
Historical places
Evergreen forests and herbs
Diverse human habitation
Terai region- 17%
Fertile land
Forest and wildlife
Possibility of industries
Granary of Nepal
Mechi in east and Mahakali in west
China in the north and India with open boarder in south,
east & west
Boarder issues is always disputable from the very
beginning
Sugauli treaty- 1816 determined the boarder of east, west
& south
Political History: Ancient, Medieval, Shaha
and Rana period
History of ruler and ruling system
Pre- history( unwritten, arts, buildings, weapons & tools)
Proto- history(with written documents)
Written documents from Mandev(521- 563)
Sources of evidence about political history
Inscription
1. stone inscription (shilalekha)
2. copper inscription (tamrapatra)
Manuscript ( handwritten documents)
Traveller’s dairy
Coins ( Manank by Manadev)
Chronicles( vamshawali, details of social status)
Oral history( proverb, songs, tale etc)
Foreign visitors( scholar’s books- Kirk Patrick, Hamilton,
Hudson )
Government documents( letters, verdicts, treaties )
Foreign libraries
Ancient history of Nepal
Gopal dynasty- eight kings ruled over in Kathmandu
valley
For about 500 year
With cow hoards from Mathura India
Beginning of human civilisation
Mahispal dynasty- last king of Gopal was issueless and
took over the ruling power
Life with buffalo
Ruled over Nepal only for 111 years
Some says 161 years
Only three kings ruled
Kirat period- entered from north- east side
Defeated to Mahispal and took over power
32 kirati kings ruled in Nepal
Yalamber was the first king
Ruled in Nepal for about 800 years
Some settlements and systems were established
Lichchhavi period-
Entered in Nepal from Vaisali of north India
They were very advance and replaced kirati
Jayadev II was the first lichchhavi king
Ruled in Nepal from 100 AD.
Mandev ( first historical king )
He ruled Nepal from 521- 562 Bs
Brave, courageous, skilled and bold
His kingdom was extended to koshi in east Gandaki in
west Himalaya in north and up to Terai in south
Social harmony and religious tolerance were maintained
Amshuvarma-
Famous king
Son- in- law of Shivadev I
Hold the power of feudal lord and decleared
Mahasamanta/ maharajdhiraj
Relationship with India and Tibet
Gave importance to agriculture and cottage indusrty
Kailahkut Bhawan
Some judicial post-pratihara , mahapratihara
Wrote a book- ‘ shabdavidhya’
Built a Buddhist monastery- ‘ Rajvihar’
Narendradeva ( up to 735)
Wise and capable ruler ascended to the throne
Established judicial unit- ‘ grampanchali ‘
Maintained religious harmony
Highly respect to intellectual
Videha of Janakpur
Mithila was one of the powerful state in ancient Nepal
Religious and historical place of Janakpur
King Janak was wise scholar, brotherhood, nonviolence,
coexistence, benevolence, equality and integrity were the
essence of his rule
Many scholars were kept in his palace
Shakyas of kapilvastu
Tilaurakot was the capital city of ancient Kapilvastu
It was fully developed till of 6th century BC
Suddhodhan was the most famous king
Siddhartha Gautam was his son born in 563 BC
Social, economic and politically strong state
Shakyas entered in kathmandu
Tharu people are the generation of shakya
The medieval period
Tirahoot or Doya state ( Simroungad)( 1154- 1381 BS)
Nanya Deva was the founder of that state
Came from south India
Doya state was strong and rich in education, art and
culture
Attacked Kathmandu valley several times
Delhi Sultan attacked to Doya state
The khas kingdom( 1207- 1433), Jumla
Nagraj from tibet was the founder
Come into existence in 1207 Bs
Divided into 22 / 24 states
Jitari Malla attacked kathmandu many times
Collected valuable goods and money
Malla kingdom of Kathmandu valley
1. divided into many small states
2. sultan shams-ud-din attacked in 1416 BS
3. destroyed many temples and monasteries
Ari Malla was the first king
Jayasthiti Malla (1438- 1452 )
 came from terai
Ascended the throne of Nepal with the status of husband of princess Rajalla Devi
Brave, perfect, strong and powerful king
Did many works for political stability
Caste system and division of labour
Land reform, legal system
Yakshaya Malla and three states in Kathmandu valley
The three Malla states of Kathmandu
Kantipur (Kathmandu)- Ratna Malla was the first king
of Kantipur
Established a new state in 1541
Mahendra Malla was another famous king
Pratap Malla( many buildings and temples,
hanumandhoka, Ranipokhari, characterless king but
developmental works
Jayaprakash Malla was the last king of Kantipur
Patan ( Lalitpur)- Siddhi Narasingha Malla
Krishna mandir, virtuous king, sainlty king
Lying in cold stone in winter and keeping near panchagni
in summer
Wise, learned, religious and kindhearted man
Poet, dramatist and lover of art
Bhadgaun ( Bhaktapur)
Bhupatindra Malla made Bhaktapur a beautiful state
Palace with 55 windows
Artistic excellence
Many temples like ‘ Nyatapola’
Literary person, could speak and write Maithili language
Sen state of eastern Nepal
Makabanpur ( wallo kirat )
Chaudandi ( majha kirat )
Vijayapur ( pallo kirat )
Civilization of Medieval Period
Dark age but glorious part in art, architecture, literature
economic growth and social condition
Political condition of Malla period remain up and down
Social condition of Malla state was good
Caste division and many perfession
Newari Society was also divided into 64 caste
Different gods and goddess were established
Economic condition was good and religious condition
was good
Rise of Shaha period
Kulamandan khan was the king of Nuwakot
He got shah title from the emperor of Delhi
Yasho Brahma shah became the king of Lamjung
Narahari shaha and Drabya shaha
Drabya shaha participate in Liglig and became king of
Liglig in 1615 BS
Attacked Gorkha and killed Khadka king in 1616 BS
Ram Shaha
Ruled in Gorkha from 1663- 1693 BS
Made many reforms and treary with Patan about trade
Introduced mana, pathi, dharni, bisauli to measure grain
Introduced pancha bhaladmi to solve local disputes
Made regulation about irrigation, well and tap
Fixed interest 10% in cash and 25% on goods
Made several temples , gumbas and pitha
If you are deprived of justice go to Gorkha
Famous for impartial and able justice
Prithvi Narayan Shaha
Was born on 27th paush 1779 BS
He ascended to the throne of Gorkha in 1799 BS
Attacked Nuwakot in 1800 BS and conquered in 1801 BS
Attacked Kirtipur in 1814 and in 1821 BS
Attacked Kantipur in 1825 BS when people were
enjoying in festival indrajatra
Victory over Patan when the six pradhan surrendered
Victory over Bhaktapur in 1826 BS
Campaign to conquer the western and
eastern side
Tanahu and Lamjung surrendered to Gorkha
Got victory over Kaski
Makawanpur was already annexed to Nepal in 1819 BS
Conquered chaudandi and vijayapur in 1830 BS
Brave warrior and well organizer, farsighted, clever and
skilled ruler
Pratap singh shaha and his son Rana Bahadur
Rajendra Laxmi , mother of Rana Bahadur
Bahadur shaha played vital role in unification
Bhiem Sen Thapa and Anglo-Nepal war in 1814 AD
War of Nalapani and Balbhardra Kunwar
Bhakti Thapa and war of Deuthal (Malaun)
Amar Sing Thapa and war in Western side (Kumaun)
Sugauli Treaty- 1816
Nepal has to leave places behind mechi and mahakali
including plain area of Terai
Nepal would not recruit Nepali youth other than British
and India with out the consent of East- India Company
Rana Period
Autocratic and oligarchy government
Spend time and wealth of nation for personal affairs
No human rights, security, laws
Started the hereditary system of prime minister ship
Many conspiracies and murder cases
Conservative society, child marriage, polygamy, caste and
untouchability, discrimination
Done few reforms by international situations
Political system was wrong
Social reforms
 Civil court/ Muluki Ain in 1910 BS
Chandra Shamsher abolished sati system in 1977 BS
Junga Bahadur established Durbar High School in 1910 BS
Slavery System was abolished by Chandra Shamser- 1981 BS
Bir Shamsher build Bir Hospital, Bir library, Ghantaghar
Chandra Shamsher- Tri-Chandra College in 1975 BS
Chandra Shamsher- Pharping Hydroelectricity Center
Dev Shamser was promoter of education
- Opened 50 Schools in valley and 100 out of valley
- Published Gorkhapatra in 1958 BS
- Fixed the office time 10 - 5
Juddha Shamsher established SLC board
Padma Shamsher introduced written constitution in 2004
- Kanya School and college
Economic Reforms
J.B.Rana started tea plantation in Illam
-Returned Bake, Bardiya, Kailali Kanchanpur
 Chandra Shamsher started telephone, electricity rope
ways, rail way, chandra nahar(in Saptari)
Juddha nahar by Juddha Shamsher in Rauthat
-Sundarijal hydroelectricity center
- Nepal Bank Limited 1994
- introduced paper note in 2002
- Biratnagar Jute Mills
Administrative Reforms
Junga Bahadur became commander-in-chief after Kot
parva
-later he became Prime Minister
-Got the title of “Shree 3 Maharaj”
-took all the power and make Rana Government
-tour to Europe to reform administration of Nepal
- Muluki Ain, Muluki Adda, Jangi Adda for administration
of army

Bir Shamsher introduced the system of “Daudaha” to
check corruption and leakage of revenue
- divided Nepal into 35 district
Chandra Shamsher introduced khadga nishan office,
office of water, Shrestha School
Bhim Shamsher started holiday system
Padma Shamsher started municipal election
Anti-Rana Moment
Chandra Shamsher the Rana family into 3 categories A B C
Juddha Shamsher exiled the C class Ranas from Valley
Polarization of Rana Families
Rana rose against Rana government
Nepali people rose Rana government
Subba Krishna Lal Adhikari wrote Makai Kheti in 1972 and
dead in jail in 1980
Prachanda Gorkha- A secret association in 1988
Library Episode- 46 educated person including Laxmi
Prashad Devkota in 1988
Praja Parishad- B and C class Ranas
- A group of active youth 1993
- Tanka Prashad Acharya, chairperson
Nepali Congress- formed in India to fight against Rana
government in 2003
Influencing Factors of 2007
Economic Factor

Social Factor

Political Factor

International Factors
Political Instability
Ended the autocratic Rana Regime by Delhi Agreement
A joint government was formed
Could not work properly because of disputes
From 2007 to 2017 and election of 2015
Many government formed and dissolved
The constitution was introduced and election was fixed in
2015
Nepali Congress won by majority
BP Koirala became first elected Prime Minister
Three Decades of Panchayat System
King Mahendra banned Parties and imposed party less
system
Nepal was divided into 14 zones and 75 districts
New constitution was introduces in 2019
Gaun Phark Abhiyan (Retreat the Village) 2024
New Muluki Ain 2020 and land reform 2021
Decalred Nepal as Zone of Peace in 2031
The Referendum 2036
Students Movement
To retain Panchayat System with correction according to
time and situation
To establish multi-party system
Panchayat System won in referendum
First Panchayat election held in 2038
People’s Movement 2046
Panchayat System always supressed the leaders of
political parties
Fundamental rights were not entertained
Transit Treaty did not renew on 10th Chaitra 2045
A conference declared war against autocratic government
7th Falgun 2046, war started
King Birendra relized democracy and multi party system
26th Chaitra 2046 provision of party less system was
deleted
People’s Movement – II 2062
House of representative 2056 was dissolved in 18th Asoj
2059 by king
Communist party Maoist started armed cconflict from
2052
Royal Massacre 2058
Maoist committed themselves to multi party democracy
and freedom of speech
Accepted the Maoist demand for constituent assembly
7 party alliance and Maoist
12 point Consensus with Maoist
Accepted the restoration of the house of representatives
Putting Nepalese Army in the hands of parliament
Placing a tax on the royal family and its assets
Eliminating royal references from army and government
titles
Declaring Nepal a secular country
Interim Constitution 2063 with 601 members in
parliament
Constitution Assembly
First Constitutional Assembly 2064
Second Constituent Assembly 2070
New constitution “The constitution of Nepal 2072” and
new parliament election 2074