Ragmi Rese1arch (Private) Ltd ., Kathmandu: January 1, 1971.
Regmi Research Series
Year 3, No. l,
Edited By: Maoosh c. Regmi.
Contents
1. Sexual Relations Witb Widowed Sist&rs-In-Law •• • l
2. King Girban 1 3 Letter To Kaji Ranjor Tha.pa ... 3 • Reign And Abdication Of King Rana·Bahadur Shah ••• 6 4. The Fall Of Bhimsen Tbapa And The Rise Of Jung Bahacbl.r Rana ... 13
Regini Rasoarch (Private) Lt d., Lazimpat, Ka\hmandu, Ntipal.
Compiled by Regmi R.osearch (Private) Ltd for private studynd a research. Not '1113ant for public salo or display. 1•.
Sexual Relations With Widowed Sisters-In-Lau
Sexual relations with the widowed wives of elder b:rothers seem to hav(: been a-common practice among many communities in the hill regions of N8pal. It is interesting that even high-caste Upadhyaya Brahmans and Chhetria followed this practice. In an earlier issue (Yea,r, 2, No. 12, Docembur l,lrt(i, PP. 277-284) we have discussed this .custom among members ·or the Jaisi Br,,br.i:c,n community. In Dullu-Dailekh according to an official order issued on Aswin Sudi L, 1879 (September 1821) in the name of "people belongirg to tr.a fout' castes 11 and thirty-six sub-castes (Char Varna Chhattes Jat ) . stated that sexual relationsth 'wi the widowad wives of elder brothers did not traditionally constitute a punishable offense in that region,l
Regulations promulgated for Doti distr�t on Asha.db Sudi, 1886 (July 11<":) recognized this custom among the Khasiya community subject. to the c.."<.mdit Lin that the younger brother should take his widowed sister-in-law as his wif'e only with the oonse.{lt of the latter's paternal relatives and on pu;yment ot' Ra 12 to them. If such relatives did not give their consent anc'l prefurn:id to take tho woman-back, they were requarad to pe.y the same amount to tbo your.gar brother2 .'
'.i'his custom was p:reyalant among the Majhi community also3 .' The following regulations ewer promulgated by'tha governrront of l'k,p[ll for country-wide enforcement on Ashadh Sudi 7, .1893 (July 1836). 4 'l'hey shat bow widely prevalent this custan -was in Nepal at that ti.me; From King Rajendra,
To people of too four castes and thirty-six sub-castes throughout our kingdom.
1.. Regmi Research Collections, Vol. L3, P. 359. 2. �, P. 635.
). 'ftogini Raeearch Collections, Vol. 38, P. 551. 4. Chittaranjan Nepali, General Bhimsen Thapa Ra Ta.tkalin Nepal (Ounoral Bhirnsen T hapa and Contemporary Nepal), P. 203; Regmi Resuarch Collectiona, Vol.. 43, PP. 583-585•.
Contd••• 2.
It apPears that sexual intercourse with the married wife of onec1 s own elder brother -is a great sin. What has bean dona in tbe. past has been dorn Since this is a ·-hmglycountry, it is necess�ry to. make arrangements rela' '. to caste matters. Henceforth;c no person, except among the Kiratis, Limbus; Lapches and Jumlis for the time being, shall kn9wingly commit sexual inte1 course with the married wife ·of his own older "brotner. Any pc_rson who ct8! not comply with this restriction shall be punished as follarn according b his caste:-
Casta · Punistu11l:lr:.t
· UpadhyaJa Brahman, Jaisi ·Brahman • Deprivation of caste, shav: and Sanyasi ... .of the hand in patcho s and exile. . . Kshatriya cates related to ·the . royal family ... I;epri-yation of caste and exile.
Other Kshatriya, castes Rajputs, Khas, Vais hya, 11.igar, Gurung and Gb.ale ... Cutting of gunital " • Newar and Shudra c:,stes ... Confiscation of propRrty Danai, Sunar, Kami, Sarki, �ine, Burke, Kadara and other castes water touched by whom cannot b� taken, and Balami, Majhi, Danuwar, Sunuwar Murtni, Bhota, Chopang, Pabari, Inrai, Kumhal, Barwnu, etc ••• Enslavement
These regulations ware repealed on Chaitra Sudi 6, 1901 (I-nrqh lfi45), h0\,18 Ver'". 3.
King Girban I s Letter To Kaj i r� njor Thapax
Introduc t iG>n .I
King Girban was 17 years of age in the be�inning of' 1871 Vikrmna (1814 A .D.)n. 'l'he Kingdom of' Nepal at that time exte nded from the Sutlc j to the Tista in the Himalayas . The !"-affairs of the administrat ion "e re in the hands of General Bhimsan Thapa. Kaji Amar Simha Thapa hnd bJ on J.ep 1.i.t ed to de fend the district of Simla in the we stern part of the kirn:d,,111. He was sta�,ring .at Bf\gal (A::rl:i), while his son, Kaji Ranjor Thapa, lJas �taying at Nahan , capital of Sirmur. At that time , the Briti sh in India uer� making efforts to annex the hill areas of the Kingdom of Ne pal . They were therefore creating border disputes with a view to inciting a w-ar . �.a jar Bradshaw, who had been deput ed to demarcate the boundarie s , \,ehaved rudoly with the Ne pali representatives, Rajguru Ranganath Pane.lit Wld Kaji Dalabhajan Panden. War appeared imminentn. . ' . The .following letter was sent by King Girban to Kaji Ranjor 'l'hapa in reply to a letter rep"rting th� death of Capt . Chandra Bir Kunwar , who vi :1:, the husband ..r Kaji Ranjor Thapa 1 s sister.
from King Girban Yuddha Bikrrun
(licyal Titles)
Blessings t� Kaji Ranjor Thapa . All is we ll hero.We wnnt tha snrna the·,·n·. Tho news he re is good . Your letter dated Baisakh Sudi 7 roache d 1.2!1 on Jl�i:t in Sudi 3. We have noted tho contents thereofn.
You have reportedth at Capt � Chandra !ir Kunwar is dead , and th<'l t one of' his two sonsn· wi-:1.1 ba doputed to build the fort of Nalapani, while th� other will stay at the capital. One is bom in this world in order to undergo the i'ruits of actions performed in past life. Afte r the fruits ef such actions are undcTgono , the soul is separated from the body. It then departs to another world to undorgo the fruits of actions p1::rforrood by it during it s 1·osidence in th0 body . This is the way of the world.
xBabu Ram Acharya, Ait ihasik Patra ( Sankhya 5), (Historical Letter, No . 5), Purusartha, (Nepali , uonthly,n_ published from Kathmandu), Ye ar 1: No . 3, Falgun 2006 (February-March, 1950) , 113-115 PP. Contd ••• Capt . Chandra Bir---KUl).war was our serv ant . Along with you, he was attending wholeheartedly to our affairs :, giving up food and drink . He was lucky eno1.1g h to ranounco'. hisbody on the banks of the Ganga .
We have still his �sons in our midst . 'l' hey will be able to lec1rn enough to fulfill our orde'rs. It is r,o od thcJ t Bal&bhadra Kunwur is buildfoJ a fort at · Nalapani,
The: doon (valley) c.1.1· oa attracts ev€ryr.:1dy. It appaa:i:·;; to bl:) the heart of.,the kingdom. If a stronr; fort is built at Nalapani , everything can bi.:< properly attend�d too . When this was rep�rte d to us,we is suod orders di l'f;; cting that a fort shoul
Tt.e fo rt should not bo built in an ordinary manner. P�rhaps Dalabh:.,dr-:i Kunwar dces not lmow 6Vurything ab out a fort . Whene ve r you havt:l ti111� , r;o thtlre and diruct how it should bu built . Go therb fr equontly to find out I cJ! much has beun cou,pleted· an.d how muc h is st ill l�ft , and thus expedite tt1c work . The fo rt can bo built in a propdr manner if yo u do ..so' .
You know the po:sitio n o'f the Sikhs and the Ka bils. Matters ru bti1.. t to the houndary in that arua hav1;i be :;>n writto n to your fatbor and you t ... u will co11c to know of th�m acc ordinely . If do spiw your bu st poi.; dbl 11 efforts tha disµuto grows and stiff conflict take s pL,ce;wt: do not b1c.1J that may happun there . If th1;1 boundi:lry dispute is n•t soltlod, K:1ji Anil, · t r Simha Thapa, who is staying at Bagal, will attend to th:i matter . You art· ::;taying at Nahan, and there is nothing to worry about in tbat area. If any dispute arises; fight:i,ng will ce rta inly take plac0 in the doon a:cea . We ·had diroctcd previously also that· in view of this pos'sibi lity a r,�fiw'· nt of troops should al\,j/1ys be stationu d the:re. You may hav e sent rt!Inimlic:r:;; to insure that .this directiv;;,; was · implt:mentE:d. In ca.so soldiesrs from thi:J rc.gimi; nt· ha ve bo .m �nt u.ny-\k10r0 for any purpose , make arranguuents to i:nsurei th<.1t tho regimant sto.tiqned in th e doon area r�mains intact . Fi.11d out inf,.rma tion about that�area and send it to us.
Sunday, Jostha Sudi 4, 1871 Bikrama (May 1814') .
Comm::nt This letter has beGn written on behalf of KinS! Girban. But it is clo-ar that it contains tho ideas of Bhimsen Thap� . ·:Th..: spoculiition that · tho first attack of the British would be'· in the doon area, that is, Tu::hr a du: later proved to be corre ct.··
Contd ••• 5.
Chandra Dir Kunwar had boen appo intlld as Su�ba of Pyuthan in 1Db4 or 1845 Vikrama. He lived continuously in the hi ll region since then . Balabhadra Kunwar thus appears to have be13n 1'orn in the w� stern hill region. When he wns firs"t appointed in government service, 116 was vive:1 the. ,ria>sponsiri ility ,.,f constructing forts . On the auspicious clay of Vijaya fushmi in 1871 Vikrama (Octobor 1814 ), Bhimsen Thapa had e ent Kaji Rcwant Rana Kunwar from Kathmandu to defe-nd thi s fort. But British troc.ps be;;;ieeGd · it during the previous night . The skill with which Balabhadra Kunwar ro sis·�. ul the onamy on this occasion has been highly praised oven by the enemy . 6.
Reign Andr,Abdication Of King RanaBa hadur Shah1
By Chitta�anjnn Nepali.
On Baisakh 1851 Vikrruna (April 17 94) Rana Bahadur Shah di::.miss-:.d , Regent Bahadur Shah and assumed dirci ct control of tho rains of administr.,1- tion. Ranodyot Shah and S her Bahadur Shah wore then appointed Chir-f Ch·iul...:. riya and Chuutariya rosp,:1 ctively'. 'I'he Chief Chautariyn. occupi0d a le adin:, position in the administration at that time . He was usually apPointed fro 111 a1oong tho close rolatives of tho king . He dischagcd tho samo functions a:·; a Primo Minister does m1l.io r a cabinet system. Subordin at o to the Cbiuf Chautariya was a Council of 4 Kajis, which a:;is istod him in running tht; ad1Hinistration .,. f th e State. Apart from the me mburs of the Council of K-1jis, thuro wcro other Ka.jis , who ranked be�w them in ordo r of procudt: nc-•c: . 'l' tlti junior Kajis wore in charge of one de partment e ach .
Alth ough the main duty of these 4 Kajis was to assist Chautariyn i:-, tho disc harge of his state function, they wielde d consia:irable inflUt�nce on the administration. Most well-known and influential among t he lour mombers of the Council at tha.t titrkj was Damodar Panda. But accordin15 to tho �rd.er of' pre codence, Kirtiman Basnet occupiedtho topmost position. Till th en the convention of entrusting all powe rs to a singl0 pe: rsou anVaranasi to res wn� his ro ign .::i.ftor living as a Swami . It was late r conv Lii· L: d into the Prim:1 Ministe rs hip. The view expressed by so me historians that the post of Prime Minister and tho modern system of adminfo tration origi nate d in Nepal with tho omurgonce of Damodar Panda doo� not a:-1pe :1r to h� correct'.2·
1. Chittaranjan Nepali, Shri 5 Rana Baha dur Shah (King R.:.i.na Bahadur Shah), Kathmandu: Mary Rajbhandnri, 2020 (196'3), Chapter II: 11Shasan Snnchal:m 11 Evam Rajyatyag (Samvat 1851-1855) , (Reign and Abdication; 1794-1798), 22-3.3 PP.
2. Balachandra Sharna, N�pal Ko Ait ihasik Ruprekha'.
Contd ••• 1.
·•Hana Bahadur Shah, even after assuming con.tr•l of the administ:.ration, ,, could n•t rule the ,country peacei'ully . fctr. l•ng . After only a few years, a :itruggle began between him and his nflbles'. The swift and bold steps ini tiated 'ty Rana Baha.dur Shah after ·assuming power to break ortr..od.i.x· nod supei-stitieus practices faced stiff opposi;ion from the then conse rvativ e society•' .The noble s •egan to e:xploit this social opposition to the'king f9r__' _a���ining their ewn political ems. This led to a strugg le between the kini and the n obi lity. It'.'assuned such serious proportions that ult i- 1nately ·the king had to ab dicate and re_n,.unco .w ..rldly lifo.
Tlif;j main cause .:,f the conserva�ives I re�c,lt aeainst the youthful king was his marriage to Kantiwati, the daughter of a Br ahman . Rana B�ha.dur S hah was fitst married to Rajeshwari :tl:lvi in 18 46 Vikram (17 81 A.D.}'. Tho first aueen ha.cl no offspring, Rana Baha.durShah's sacond' uae'n "! was �tood Suvarnaprabha, who ga ve birt h to a sori n amed Ranodyot Shah. Ranodyot Shah, how6 11er, was not declared the heir to the thron0'. Dut hu was ap po inted as Chief Chaut ariya when Girv anyuddha Bikram Shah as cendad the t hr•ne'. He remained in this post thr... ug hout his life. Historians ar1J not unanimous about Queen Suva.rnaprabha . Som e say that she was th1:: tnn.rri'" ll queen of Ram Bahadur , but that he r son was not declar0d the hoir to th0 throne be cause s ha came o:f Kshetriya f amily, Ac cording to another historbn, H.anodyot Shah was not declared the heir to the throne becauso his mothdr was only a concubine . 3 'Ho�ver, these conflicting op inions h::ve 'huen sot at rest by the inscription on a b ig bell ins talled by Rana. Bahadur Shah at tho Ham.uuan-Dhoka palace in Kat hn1aniu, which refers to Suvarnap1•abha 1 11 as 1 Bhogya Rani • (Concubine ) •
. K antiwati wqs the thirdwo man whom Rana Daha.dur Shah had rn,n·r iod, She was the daughte r of a Brahman belonging to the Mishra caste. Hana Bahadur' s marriage to Kantiwati was the re sult of a romanco. It wn.:; frou1 this Brahman wo1nan that a son was born t o Rana. Bahadur Shah on Sunda;'r, Ashwin 12, 1854 (October 27, 17 94}'. The child was named Girvanyuddha D:Lr Bikram Shah. Ha was proclaimed the heir'· to the \hrone .
Soma historians have concocted the st l"'ry that Gir vanyuddha Dikram Shah was Illit the son or Kantiw ati, but was act lly son of .:i Chaut:1d ·:1. ua too _, Acc 1 1·: ording _to them, the son of. a Chauta.:riyt. had been s ec1·etl� lif-tud by a 'J, and substituted for that of Kantiwati.4 However the historllin who hav(� !flade t his claim ha ve not produced any evidence sup�rt it. Instead thuy a• • .=: 0 • to ' -•, •
J. Hamilton, An Account Of The Kingdom Of Nepal, P� 20� ·
4. (l} Kashi' Prasad Shrivasti Nepal Ki Kahani, P. 38.7_ . _ ., _ (2 ) Ramji Upadhyaya , Nopal Ko Aitihasik Digdarshan, P. 181 .
Contd.,u.. ,_._, ..•. 8.
�e ,··�tted t�t it ,��' b-�t.ed �n hearsay� It 'appears that.those who . cou1d rot appreciat� the revolutionary and ·prrigressive 1de 9-5 of ·the Yi'µthful King Rapa Dahadur,'. Shah have c·,ncocted this stox-y•' .ln a copper ins9i;-ipti"'n he ias·uad-,whila · abdicating th e throne'· in fav�r of Girvanyuddh!'l Bikra.n1 Shah,. Rana, Bahadur Shah himself described the ·latter .as the son of W.s. youngest queen, l·>. ntiwa.ti . Ivbreover, in•his book Sat k.:1rma Ratn°1W=1li',r:: King Girvanyuddha Bikram Shah has- da sc::-ibed himself as the :5on of ibntfii"�L This shews that thei �•�tory :h, cotnphitoly b:1 :;e;1lwss�
Hana Barodur Slnh' s · mar'1··i.ag o · to the daughter of · n Bra.hrna:n was regaru8 d as iqtolera•; le by the.' or t.h::>dox-mindad · scciety at the time bl3cause it was a violation of the . prevalent social as we ll as cf religious cus:toms . Too W1ion bet.1een a Kshetriya arld ·a ,Brahman girl was 1.n it self an . immoral thing in the eyes of'. the society at that time .\ •When the' : child born from the. same Drahmin girl wus proclaimed os the hair to the t hroro , · it W'ls
.but. natural that the conservatives should have felt all the � JTJOre ini'uri.:lred. However, nobody h ad dare d -v.oice their opposition to th e k ing. 'l' hey morely circulate d rumors that the king had gone mada . They startad the prop::iga ndn depicting the anti -t�aditional steps of the king as the re sult of his madness and of his,•blind lowidne .;;s. The propa ganda had gained currency t0 such an extent that for a h undre d yoars Rana Bahadur Shah continued to h0 lal:ielled as in sane and his measures were .ciepicted ·siniply as un outcom1:: or hi� mndn�ss.
But a careful study of everymove of Rana Bahadur Shah -would cle;,irly reveal that it . did not even have the trace of madness or blind prurionce. This is also proved by tho fact that i11 thi;, area arourid tlie templo of • Jagp.nnath which ho constructed in Falgun 1853 (March .1797 ) in so uthe rn Kathmanqu along with the . Bhairavi-C hakra, he .sought to abolish all caste barrif.:rs as at the t0mplo of Jl.l�nnn.:'\th Puri in India. 'l' h� words inscribed ·on the bhairavi-Chokra installod. '.l,t tho temple· are as follows : "People belonging to all, castes are 111,e B1· The an t-iJ-t!'aditional steps ir::s·'�ia'·,ed by· King Rana Baha 5. Itihas Prakash , Part I, P .. 6) . .,.c; King Rana Bahadur ·.Shah was confronted with a . serious crisis wh en 9ppopi_¢e� .to him mounted· on all stdes •.He had no special adv·isfYl' to ·rails� am car.fort him.'· Bhimsen· Thap� 'liad not yet_. started his p11litical 'bat-eer·; �r was he pre ae,nt in Ka:tl'µna.001:1uring d this crisis.· He was then rstqing in the e astern hills. Ranganath, the Chief Royal ·Priist, who , +at.er eioorged. as Rana Bahaq.ur Shah 1 s supporter, was· -also not in Kathmandu at�that time'. Ha had gcihe t9 Varanasi to meet his :tathe�, who had ·�een expe1.led by Bahadur �hah. It ·w� · rea�y dit�ic'ul t f(?r Rana. Ba\1adur Shah to · face the 'crisis. ui&ie r these circumstances·. Natur�lly., Rana Bahad\lr Shah · eye� begari to __ d�uht whether Crown .Prince Girva,nyud:iha Bikram would be abl0 "to �cend. the throne after his death in case .the' · crisis prolo1'lged, Hence �·too.�ht· .�t p�per t,o entllrone his son while _h� was still aliv'e. The i't:iw •support�i-s he _had 3il�.o adv;�cl him to abdicate_ , 7 . . · - . . ·. · _-·· .. ••.. ·Accordingly, .Ra� Bahadµr Shah decide d ·to abdicate 1� favor of Girva.nyuddha Bir Bikram, · w� ·was the hardly 18 m,nt� old . He·the n asked -£he r·uler of Palpa, Prithvipo al Sen, who was the llX)�t powerful am:mg the rulers of principa]4t ies , t put the Rajatilak {auspicious lJ¥ll'k to be · affixed on the forehead of the king o n his coronation) . Rana Bahadur . Sbitb tiid s o in orde-r that his ad.ver sari('S might . mt be in a r, osi ti..,n tr.i dispute �he legality of t°lie �nthromnent of h:i,s son, and no +principality too :mi�ht obj ect to it. �eri he �etired fr�m the scene� Palpa wa's the principality with which Bahad:µr Shah had establishqq mat�_i11Pnial relaticrns. Thus Rana Bahadur··Shah 's, S\:lcqess in having :Girvanyuddha crowned by the• ot . . d ruler Palpa represenwcl.a ip' lomatic tactic. • . . ,. • . ,- ' · · ·'' ., }3y persuading the ruler of Paipa to put the Rajatilak , Rana Bahadur �·'Shah·Jll)r ally obliged him to recognize Gir-.myuddha Bikram Shah as king . : Rana Ba.hadur Shah also sueceedad in c�pelling other nobles in �athmandu · to sign a document on Magh Sudi 151 -18$5 (January 1799) ple dging the1nse'lvE• .:; to r81Daill, loyal to King Girvan1lJddba'· Bikram Sha.h•' .. · Cha.�ariya Sher Bahadu:r. Shah�· Kaji Damodar Panda ani all other Cha y�, ,Kajis ,nd Sa.,rdars, as w1="J+ a::J milita,ry otficm:s'., signed tbis � J B p�•.. • · _ . J.�..· '·. . the noble• ,.s,_ only •Raj·. guru Gajaraji Mis ra did not sign it .' . h . i' .,. 7. Hamilton, op . ·cit., P. 251. 8. 'Itihas Prakash, Part I, P. 21. 10 •. ·.· .:': .After securing this pledge of l.nyalty to .King Girvanyudtlha Bikram Shah� . Rana Bahadur Sbap ,abdicated 'oy means _cir :a 'proclamatq.on issued'· on Falgun 2, 1855 · (B-.3 . ) (Fabruary 13 ., 1798 ) and re.nounced worldly life. 1 'l'-"8 pro clamatiop indicated who should- f'W'lction as Regent and also explain� the f'unct.ions of t�e administration and the duties of empl•yees at the roll palace'. It authorized. the ·junior queen to· act �s �gent .until Gir-vanyuddha' · ' · Bikram ..Shah at. t.a.ine'd mat. bri. -,ty . . n_,, .. f Some historians bave claimed that all nohies had agreed to recognize Oirvanyuddha Bikranr as the ir ki.Dg even though he w_a s born of Kant iw ati, so1 with tha desire .of getting themselves rid of.an ·1i1.sana (?)'k:1.ng .9 Some othe� hist(>rians �ve put . f�rwa.rd t.his. claim in an exaggerated form., describing 11 the abdication of �na B�hadur Shah as the 11vtct,,ry of the people • 10 It would even be no exaggeration to say that »y distorting historical facts in this manner these histor-ians . have tried to undermine; the.bo nds tradi- tionally exi sting 'be�ween the king and the people in Nepal . . The skillful arrangEments made by King Rana Bahadur Shah before abdicating in favQr of Girvanyud,dha Bikram Shah andth e methodical and systematic steps initiatetl by. him against sociai traditionalism sh�w •tnat he can by no stretch of �ha itr.agination_l:!e regarded as half-mad. That ha could persuade the entire no\les to sign · a document pledging themselves ti, -remain loyal to 1'ipg Girvanyuddha �ikram and issue wida ranging instructions in regard to the administration through a pr•clamationj fully re_veals his statesmanshi� . For some historians to interpret this event as the'. 11triumpb of the I people s power over the govarrunent"'., is nl)t only a �oss exaggeration, but alsc- ridiculous.'· In the first place ., tb3 significance of this. event should he assessed'·th the light of the prevailing cir<:!umstarices'., not frotn the· viewpn int of modern political thinking , More�ver., it is diffic ult t o imagine that there ;existed any organized popular force during those days'. If,e ven the 11nutiny11 that occurred 50 ye ars lata r against foreign domina tion in India wa s not · an organized one'., the popular force in N!=Pal could hardly be organized at that time � Th:l claim· that there existed any popular force in Nepal originated maµi].y from British s '>urces . Hencetoor e is amplu �m to oouht the truth of the claim made by British sources who have never ahown the-elv•• 1.Jnpv-t,ial in their aaeeoement ot Rana Bahadur Shah and his measures� 9. (1) Balachandra Sharma ., Nopal Ko Aitihasik.Ruprekha, P. 244. (2) Surya Bikram Cn;:iwali, �_!.ngh Thapa, P. 19 . , 10 . Kashi Prasad Shrivastav , Nepal Ki Ka.bani'., P. 38. 11 . On July 24, l8)7, in accordance wit h the instructions of �rian H. Hodgs_11n·, Dr A. Ca111Pesl.l, . Acting Assistant at the iritish. Residency in Kath111andu� ·sent a·'detailed rep0;t' ·on the death ..r- Bhimsen Thapa to the British go�ernmmt . 1he rep,trt, cast SAtne aspersions on Rana Bahadur Shah, who · ha4 'he'en ·assassinated 37 year� earlier. According(to it,· 11 hav ing •qen tormeQted by the death of the queen (i.e' . Kantiwati) �nd undar the press urn itf -the,publ ic oppositit)ri, Rana Bahadur Shah aNiicauidin favor •f his son 11 in 1802 •' 11 Slightly altet1.ng this statement the author of Nepal Ki'· Kahaui i2 · · · • has sai� -that thi s ev�nt took place in lOOo ; f.' ·· As a matter Af fact Rana .Bahadur Shah : abdicated in favor of his ., son in 18.55 Vikrama (1798 A.D.) and Queen Kantiwati died a year late r, in 17 99. Hence there is no shred of truth in the claim that King Rana Bahadur Shah. abdicated b'ecause his heart swa brpken by the death •f his f!.UElen and·yi elding tff ;the pres sure or crgam.1Qd;·�t;r«:1ngth·o f the f18•!'le ·· · -- ·, · · · • who were i,ppos. ed to his "lunatic acts. " , , · · I .' On t'he contrary, Swam }iirvananda', as Rana Bahadu. Shah calle d hims elf after his abdication · enjoyed considerable puqlic support . This is evi U. H. Hunter, Life of Hodgson, P. �l. I 12 .·Kashi Prasad Shrivastav . op. cit. , P. 38 . 12,•. · . -The author of ·�epa.l'-Ki Kahani has {ll�o claimed that ·.Rana Bahadur Shah . had �ered Ranoddip Shah (Banodyet Shah)' �On; of h:i,s _el�r queen, •ut of anger o�er the de�th ·of his queen. This claim too � false. It is another attempt to c;letaJne ·Rana Bahadur Shah .J.n keeping wi�h the pattern set,-up '!ty the Britistrfor hundreds of yeai;-s.·. The truth is triat Ranody.. t ·' shah was alive during aryireven ai'ter the as sass. ination of Rana �ahadur Shah.' . :� . . ·. . . r, . . After al4dicating in favor of Girvany,.lddha Dikram · Shah, Rana Baha.dur Shah renounced worldly -life and accompanied by his two quee n,,s'., mov ed to · Devapatan. He changed his name to Nirva.nananda and·· adopted the followi�g W.tles :- �- · · ...... "': ... ,..� � · ' · Swastishri Samasta Yogakalakovid Yogindragana Chint�iya Sachchit!.a nanda Swarup Paripuraa Parabrahmanuchitanatadekatadhigamaikalasa Samsarika Sakalavishayavinimukta Manasetyadi vividhalokottara G�ramabhirama Shri ��vananda Swamittam Sada.satkarmashalinam. . .., -."l .• He was addressed as 11Swami11 or Swami Maharaj•' 11 13. The Fall Ot Bhiinsen Thapa. And Th� . Rise Of Jung Baha.dur Rana Bab u.ram Acbarya writ�s : ..X i , Ge�eral Bhimsen Thapa, Who had beco�, all powerful in Nepal, foll frouf power because of the amb itions of his ;Prother, Gcnoral Rana'!,ir Sin� h Thapl,l, the autocratic attitudu. of his nephew , General Mlthbar Singh Thapa, a.nd the intrigues of the British envoy, Brian H. Hodgson. HowevE:r , Ki.ne Rajendra Bikram Shah provod himself incapable of running the: administration . As a result , his two'' queens' . Samrajyalaxmi Devi and Rajy�aJOPi Devi, start0d ,. ·1nterferring in the administration •. • The Senior Queen, Samra.jyala:xmi Devi, has been bring to beeri about the downfall of Bhimsen Thapa since 1837. Bhims en Thapa was accused of having poisoned her infant son, Devendra Bikram_ Shah . Ue was therefore . ari-ested'- and put in irons. The phys'ician who had treated th-: infant Prin�o , Bhaj'Ulnan Baidya, was also arrested. Soon afterwarcb, Bhims.en Thapa' 1 s r-.:i la . tivQs we:r� also arre sted,'along with th� royal pbr-Jicians , �ardar Eka�v i Upadhyaya and Ekasurya. l.!Padeyaya . Their property was conf:i_.scato d. Bhaj um"n Baid,ya co.ntessedunde r· torture that ·he had treatad the in!ant Priooe 'With medicine giv1:1n by Ekadev Baiey:a.,But. Ekade'v Baidya did not plrad guilty ove:n wren his che eks wero burnt with red-hot iron, his .eyes taken out , hfa . sld.n flayed and salt and poppor applied thereon. Bhaj�•� �idya was impal, ,ct . Bot.h Ekadev Upadhyaya an:i Ekasurya Upadhyaya were then s�ntcnced to rigorow: . imprisonment.• · . r. King Raj ndra wanted. appoint Kaji I'alabhanja as Mukhtiyar on th� e to n �a:oo... a!Y that Bhimsen Thapa had boen arrested. Howev�r', Rajajung Pando becall8 Mukhtiyar through too influence or Quaen Samrajyalaxmi 03vi� · He began .to be called Di�. � he was the gr:mdson of· Kalupande , hi� family · · was called Kala Pandes.· , . . ·. · / . However Raaajung Pandc did mt coumand the suppOl:'t of the majoritv. ., . Ha was therefore unable to eontrol the Bhardars who suppo�d the King . � was .therefore compelled to,re sign after only 3 months'. ·- : . Ki� Rajendra then appo intod Rajguru Ranganath Pandit as Mukhtiya r and e made him'_ conna,nder of a· reg:lm&nt . Dalabhanjan Pard · too was giv.. E:n "the coJJmnn,J of a regl.mf.:nt. The co'DIQand of the rest ot th€ army was given· to Jlanajung Pand xBaburam Acharya , IIBhiinsen Thapa. Ko Patande khi Jung Bahadur Rana Ko utthan 11 Nabhayesamma Nau Varsha Ko Ha.lchal· . · (Developments Duri� Tho. Nim -Ye ar. Per�d Between The Fall Ot Bhimsen Thapa and· The Euergenci' of Jung Dahadur Rana) ,. Ruprekha (�pall, monthly) : Year 3, No . S, Aswin 2019 (�ptemb'1r- _9?tober 1962), '9•1� fP,: . · 14. . . During the previous year , Ranganath Pandit had been entrusted with the task of curtailing Jagir 4nd a ssignme nt s. Th.: new schedulo s of Jagir aa signJTl('nts had already 't!cen finalized, By reducing the emolum:mt s of . mi),i:tary officers by 50%� _Ranganath Pandit increased the re venue . But tho "pr oposal to reduc9 the· omolwnent s of ordinary soldiers also wis abnn doncd because of the pr1issurc of Ranajung Panda . The· largo Jag· ir ooldilrt s assigned to ·members of th.e Thapa family were x-� surned. · In M3.rch 18 38, the charges against 'Bhimsen Thapa were withdrawn. He was permitted to stay :it Borlang in Gorkha. Ekade'v Upadhyaya and Ekasurya Upadhyaya alsp were released • . . . .After the appointment of Ranganath Pandit as Mukhtiyar, Queen Samrajy·i- laxmi Dc:vi appointed Kulachandra. Shah and Pushkar Shah as C mutariyas, Dala Bahadur Panda (who bclongc-d to he t otoor branch of thePa nde family known as Gora Pande ) was appointo'd · as Ka ji. In the na an time, Guru Kri shna ram Mishra too went ove: r to the party of Queen Samrajyala)OJ}i !£vi. Ranajunf{ Pando ci3veloped contacts with military officers . Since the party had \.<::como . poworful in th is m. .m. oo;r, Quoon Smrajyalaxmi Devi made Ranajung Pandc Hukh- · tiyar again in October 1838, Aftor 'ht:coming Mukhtiyar, Ranajung Pande sont emissarie s to Burma, China, Laoore and Gwaliorwit h letters from Kfug Raj endra. Ho repaired forts in tho 1-bhabharat rogion, recruited an additional 1,000 troops and accumulatEi d stocks of food supplie s and arms and ammunition, 8,000 troops were �ept ready in Kathmandu, rea dy to march dow n to tho Ta.rai whereev1:?r no cossary. This led th:: British Rcsid3nt, Brian H. Hodgson, to report to hisgov ornmrnt that Ranajung Pruidc was ant i-British. Qovernor-Gcreral Lord Auckland then mado a display of strejigttiby sending tr<;>ops to the Nepal- India border. . In an effort to pacify the Gov erno r-Gene ral, King Raj cndra recalli d Bhimson. Thapa . Bhimsen Thapa accordingly came to Kathmandu in April 18)?. L:>rd Auckland then recallod his troops' · fr om the Nepal -India border. On the pretext of deceiv,ing th e English, Bhimscn 'f hapa aci.vis�d King Rajendra that Chautariya Fatto Jung Shah and Kaji Prasad SiI1 gh nns net should each be given tho commandof th e ragim.: nt . 2 other regi�nt s had alrE:oady beon placijd undtir other persons. As a result , the strength of the army under the command · of Ranaj ung Pan de declined . This of course was ti1e main objective of Bhimsen Thapa ..' . At this,'· Queen S�mrajyala:xmi revived the charge against Bhimsen Thap.:1 that he had poisoned the infant Prince Deven�a Biler� Shah. 2 roor0 charges w.:i,-., Ad.dad'. A fo:rgea document was produced as evidence to substanti att:) -· l':'I.A -·-- rff\11fih v.qva wt:.ro one e moro. , ...., 15 . Earlie r, after his release , Ranabir Singh Thapa has become a Sanyasi, while Mathha! Singh Thapa had gone to India . However, Sha r Jung and others . were imprisoned . T � ir property was confiscated. ·� : . ' . . .. .- ...... � Meanwhile.,- it was reported to Queen Sqmr:a jyala:xmi I:8vi that the yourig'est= · ·ni'Ef:-or ·nhimsen Thapa had abused he r . S he was -accordingly arre'ste d. ·an Juiy 20;· 183?; Bhimsen Thapa heard the rumor that his 'Wife was going to be disgraced�'· He therefore' · cut his throat with a Khukuri . There upon King Bajendra and Queen Samrajyalaxmi Devi o rdered that he should t.e tak en · to the banks of ·t11e Bis hnumati river and left there. BhiJnsen 'I' hapa'· �ied there after 9 cl.ay s . His dead body was given to dogs and jaokale . His wives e to wer.e tak n the hills bare-_'fo oted �nd imprisoned there • .p.. period of int ran(luillity, lawlessnes s and corrupt'ionfo llowe d the suici03 of Dhimsen Thapa . Unable to control the situat ion, Rana jut1g Pantle a became insane in March 1840. In e rly April,· · l.84q,, Queen Samrajyalaxmi· · .. appoin�ed PU;5hkar 'Shah as Mukht iya_r. Neithe r Ranajung Panda nor Pushkar Shah was anti-Brit ish. Even tho n, .they made·�ce ssary preparations to offer resistance·in the event of aggression."' ·' But ·Brian H. Hodgson desc1"i.bed them as anti-Briti..sh in his· . reports to his government'. . . . . '. At this time , there was a dispute et b ween the British and Nepal on i;,he question pf the ownership of 18 villages in the Sahodara area of Pa rsa district . In April 1840, Subba Bh akhatwar Khadka sent offic ials to collect truces at a fair being held in the disputed are. This confinned the reports of Brian H. Hodgson and Lord Auckland sent Colonel Oliver with troops to that area. Pushkar Shah then transmitted the revenue collected ttm·e to Brian H. Hodgson and suggested that the border should be surv �yed . Meanwhile , the army had not been given. _Jagir emol'Ulllerts for 2 ye ars . King Rajendra had decided to roplace Ja ffir land assignments wit h cash salaries. On June 21, 1840, the soldiers raided the houses of 7 Bhardars ,. including Pushkar Shah and Ranganath Pam. it , who. had supported the idoa of abolishing their Jagir land assignments, and de stroyed off icial documents. Apprehending an unpleasant situation, King Rajondra and Quoen Samrajyz' laxmi invited Brian H. Hodgson to too royal palace and kept him there throur,·> the night . The mxt. morning, they went to the Tundikhel am amounced that Jagir land assignments would continue to be made as. before...... - I \ Brian H. Hodgson, rowever, reported to his govemm fnt that King Rajendra had made an anti-British spee ch .b efore the soldier s .. Lord Auc kl and then wrote a letter to KingRa jendra suggesting t hat he remove his m iniste'rs . King Bajendra.. accordingly di sini.ssed Pushkar Shah and appointed Fatte Jung Shah as Mukhtiyar on Nov'ember, 1 , 1840 . T is was what Brian H� Ho�son wanted. . h . \. ·' 16. The dismissal or ·Pus·hk� Shah from the or···�e · or Mukht iyar did not pleas e, Queen $amrajyalaxm;i. Devi. She tt\oreifore expres'sed hor de'sire to �gss ; the re st of her life in Banaras . In the. beginning ·- o:f l842, she left for Banaras . King Rajendra followed har in an attempt .to'· persuade· her to return. The East India .Company Govermoont. did not pe rmit tier to enter Indian terri-•• tory� Queen Samrajyal�xmi ·03v::l,.th en ca� hack to ·Kathmandu· and sugge sted that King-Ra je�dra become should ah dicate so that she might carry on the administration as fcgent with Pr1?c e Surendra Bik;rcµu· S�ah on .the throno'. But . King fta j�ndra Bikram did-not agrao to this propo sal. Srunrajyalaxmi Devi then again- left for tho Tarai . This time King Rajendra didnot follow �.l) r. Samrajyalaxrrd. Devi later returned to Kathmand� h3cause :she ·was suffering from malaria . No physician :was r6ady t:o trti a1;, her at tho· risk of hi::. l:i.±' e. The · result was that �a ·died in Octol�er 1842'...... ;"' . ' . . . King Rajendra then be�an to dance to the tune of the Junior Qut'l3n, Rajyalaxmi Dev i. Prev iously, Rajyalaxmi Den i had felt afrai d that the ey us of her. infant sons , Ra_nendra Bikrarn and Birendra Bikr.:un , would be taken out in c_ase King· ·Rajendra abd.ic4t ed �n fav o� (?f Surendra .Bikram and handed over the -reins of administ.ration to Qu?Jen Samrajyalaxmi Dovi . Queen Hajya lruani· Devi•no w tried�to depose Rajandra, place Pr ince Ranendra. Bi.kram on the· throne, take out the eye s of Surendra Bikram and his brothe r, Upundra Bikram, and take ove r the reins of administration herself� She _decidad to implement her plan witn the help of Ha.thbar Singh Thapa. She'. manipulritod things in such a manner th3.t King Hajendra and Fatt1;3 Jung Shah began to act according to her advice . In .July 1842 , Soo r Jung Thapa and otha r Th,;.pas we r(! roloasod. 'Iha funeral rir!h.ts of :Onlmsen Thapa..im:ra pe.rfc.,rn1e·d on H gI'3nd scalt Aug 14>-t l84i, with a.""L of'··;-r--y made of Y.u;:,ha grass. The Bharda.rs incl udini, Fn t· Jung· Shah, ·extende d· cooporation in t,h is ·nova. ) Two'· brothers of P.a. najung Panda , Karabir Pande and Kapar dar Kular::i.j Panqe , remaim d safe for tw9 yoqrs be cause they had boen employe d as body guards of Crown Prince'. Sur-e.ndra . -l � the da signs of the English Resident, Sher J tmg Thapa for u p lan t<.i destroy his enemies, th e Kala Pandas. An anonymous letter was s en'.,· to King Rajendra informing him thnt Fatta Jung Shah , Rang anath Pandit and Pra1'hu Shah, acting in collaboration wit'h Ii rian H. Ibdgson had decided ., to share the kingdom anong themselv' es. Prabhu Sh:1.hwa s the father of Queen Rajyalaxmi. King Hajen:ira, acting upon this ano nymous lett er , arrest·ed Karabir Panda and Kala aj Pando a put them rons' The pro perty of th0se r nd in i ., two per.sons , as well as of Ranajung Pan1a , who had gone mad was confiscated . However, Kaji Rruladal Pn.ndo , another 1:-rothe r of Ranajung Pnnde , was allowt::: d to ::r. emain in office in Palpa for a few months more • .At the time when Futt e Jw-ig Shah was Mukhtiyar, King Rajcn�a tried to win over Crown Pr ince Surendra Bikram hy confe rring on him the t itle of Hnh.arajadri raj . Howeve r, Prince Sure nd ra began to imulgo in de spotic and tyrannical activitie's . After the Kala Panne s had reen arrested, Fatto Jung Shah d rafted a p etition and led a delegation of nobles and c,fficers to Ki� fujendr-a demanding that t he administrative authority should }e bande d·o ver to Q\l.8en Rajyala:xi·,1i . Finding no w ay out , King Rcl.jendra co n�Tod With this demand in t hei bo ainning of Ja nuary 1843 . Quoon Ra.jyalaxmi th en invited Mathbar Singh T ha.p: to come hack to Nopal . Mathbar Singh Thapa left Simla on his way to Nepal. H owever, ho stopped at Gorakhpur to s tudy the situation . ny that time his sister''s son, Jung Ba.hadur Kuriwar, h ad already \Je�ome a K aji. Quec� R ajyalaxmi sent Jung Bahadur KW1W'ar to Oorakhpur to persuade Mathbar Singh T hapa to· return. Mathbar S ingh Th�pa accordinely c ame to Kathmandu in t ha middlo of April 1843 . t . A.fter arriving in Kattrnandu, llithbar Singh Thapa stayo d at a public rest-house , deolaring that he w ould not ente r into his res:l.donce ,mtil his frunily was cleare d of'fthe charges that had buen framed against it. In J1:1-y 1843, thorufo:ro , thepo ison case was discussed again at the Council �1 Bhardars in tho pre sence of King Ra.:ierrlra and Quoen Rajyalaxmi'. The 'Ihapus were do clared innocent a nd their confiscat'3d proper'ty was restore'd. The case was proved to have boen conco cted by the K�la Pandas . A l t hour h tho sons of Drunodar Pando wero opp0s ed to violence and ha,d not put any bo�y to de ath, Math½ar Singh Thapa treated. themwit h great crue lty. He po isonod the insane Ranajmig Pan.de aft er di gracing M.Jll publicly. On the sa :;:: me day, Ranaj ung Panda's two brot h er s , a long with fo ur oth e r �rsons, wqre exe cute d. De vi Bahadur Kmwar was also executed along with tham. Kul::1.Chamra Shah W.'.:1.5 banishe d to the hills whi le Krishnararn Mishra was exile<). The property of the se persons, as �ell as of 40 othurs who ned, was confiscated. In Nove mbe r 1843, Mithbar Si ,. nrh Thapa be came Mukhtiyar as well as :hinister and Comnander-In-Chiof. In �comber 1843 Major Lawrence replaced Brian H. Hodgs on as British Resident in Nepal. · ' · · ·' Contd ••• 18 . Queen Rajyalaxmi �v-1 had appointefllMa. thhar ;Singh Thapa as Mukhtiy�r with the hope that he would'- help her to carry out, }wr plans. However , . Mathbar Singh Thapa sp&ht one whole ye ar in organising the a�lll¥• He took over the command of the ragiment.s· under Fatte Jung Shah and qth3rs. He also added 5 other regirr.e nts to his coumand. Ther�after; �ure of. his strength, he instigated Su.rendra Bi�am Shah against Kin� RaJen:lra and Queen Rajy,1- laxmi Devi' to demand administrative powers . Conflict natur.ally ensued. Surendra Bikram, on :theadvi ce· of Mathbar Singh Thapa, proceeded towards the Tarai in De cember 1844. Mathbar Stngh Thapa then told King Rajendra that the t reaty with t_he British would be abro,gated if Surendra Bikram crosse d the Chura hi·lls . King Rajendra, Quoen Rajyala:iani and 1-bthbar Singh Tbapa then followe d. Surendra ' Bikram and ovi:r'- . took him in Hitaura � At .Hitaura, Mathhar Singh Thapa persuaded King •Rajendra · to si. gn . a document deleg. ating all his powers to ·Sure ndra Dikrom . • 16 persons who had triad to ,revent King Rajendra from ralinl\uishing "'his authority in thi:s man!l6r were exe'cut ed. Surendra Bikram then oamo •'lck to_ K'athmandu along with Kiag Rajendra and Queein Hajyal��'- Mathbar Sil€h Thapa then became all-powerful , sin:e. Surondra Bikram was not capable of running the administration. He dismisseq.to p-ranking Bhardars such as Fatte Jung Stiah, Rangana.th Pandit and Ka ji- Abhiman Rana who had been the advisei;-s of King Rajendra. However, Kaji Ga.gin Singh Bhandari, who was the advis or of QueenRajy alaxmi as w 11 as th e personal attendant of Prince Nare ndra Bi.kram Shah, was restai.ped, although he was removed from the position of Kaji. Fatte Jung Shah then left Nepal for · :India, and there,fore his property was confiscate'd. Notwit hstanding· the se dava_lopments , Quet:1n Rajyal:a.xmi did oot lose ho Contd ••'• 19 .. On Ms.y 28, 1845, King Raj endra and rrince Sure nira Bikram delegated all administrative powers to Queen Rajyalaxmi at a meeting which was attended by the Rajgurus , Chautariyas, Kajis , Sardars am other Bhardars. Quee n Rajyalaxmi thereupon reinstated Gagan Singh Bhandari as Kaji .' Jung Bahadur was given charge of too Kumarichok (Audit Deparilnent), as well as the Basantapur and Bhandarkhal treas uries. In addition, he was giv en the command ·o f 3 military regimentss. Gagan Singh Bhandari functionud as actin? minis ter for 4 months .. Since King Raj endra had delegated. all actmfnistrative powers to Quee n Rajyalaxmi, the Lal Mohar (Royal Seal) was also hande d over � har. However, all royal order s w3re issued in the name of King Rajendra. As such , th e country was governed under a dual s ystem of administm ti.on. In September 1845 , Chautariya Fatte Jung Shah, Gemral Abhiman R.1n -1 and Kaji Dalabhanjan Panda were taken into the gov er nment from King :Rajendra 1 :, group. Chautariya Fatte Jung Shah became Prime Minister, while the otl'lldr two persons 1'eoame minissters. Queen Rajyalaxmi appo inted Goneral Gagan · Singh Bhandari also as minister. The 3 ministers belonging to King Rajcndrr1 1 :, eroup were given commmd of 2 regiments e ach, while 7 re giments were pb ccd under Ga. gan Singh Bhandari.� This arrangerrent continued for a year • Jung Bahadur be came 8f3neral in tho beginning of 1846. Meanwhile, Que e!1 Rajyal.axmi was planning to remove the supporters of King Rajen:ira who had been included in the governma nt, and·a ccomplish ed her plans wit h the heslp of Gagan S ingh Bhandari . However, it was not a simple matter to arrt: st 3 mi.rd.stars who wero commanding 6 reginents . In the m antime, Gagan Singh Bhandari was assassinated in the night of Septeml)er 14, 1846. Jung ·na hadur then organized a horrible massacre and finally took ov er the reins- of administra tio.n from the hands of King Ra jendra and Queen Rajyalaxmi . Ho thus establis hed the Rana regime which lasted more th an a contury . Balchandra Sharma . ' writ. as :X . On .tlovember 1, 1840; Ranaj ung Pand':l ��!la d!c:anissed from the :rrime M!.niat�rchip . A new Cabinet consisting of B:mganath Poudyal1 Rajguru Krishna ram, Guru Prasad Shah, Dalabhanjan Pande �nd Abhiman Rana, wit11 Chautariya Fatte Jung Shah a s Prima Minister, was then forned. King Rajendr.i was compensd to take this step because of Briti3h opposition to the govorruren t , of Ranajung Panda . However, the dismissal of Rana_jung Panda anbered the Senior Queen, Samrajyalaxmi Devi. �he left Kathnandu for Bararas,and King xB alachandra Sharma, Nepal Ko tAi i hasik Ruprekha (Historial Outline Of N0p al ), Banaras : Krishnakumari, 2008 (1951), PP 2i S-288 . Contd••• 20. Rajendra folJ.owe d hor. However, t he East India Company Governm:: nt did 1,ot pennit tham to cross. the bordor, on the advise of the British Rtis:i. ddt:t in Kathmandu, Brian• H. Hodgs on. 'I'he king and the queen Ntur ue d to Knthrn:1)i,lU The warm welcome which they'· roceive d in Kat hmandu encouraged Sam:rajyaluxm i !£:vi to make frosh efforts to consolidate her authority . She trh: d to persuade King Ra jendra to ab dicnte in fav or of her minor �on, Sut"i;JnJr·:\ Bikra.11 Sh::..h. Since. tl.;;;se efi.';,,_.·\,s provEid unsucco:J�i'ul , Qi:.c::f;;!n E'-: 11o.:,.·:-, jy ,J.:� :, ::1i. aca.in lo1't l<'..a thlilandu fo r Dan.:�ras , and ag:.1in King R.:,j•Jnd:c·c. fc llowuct ,.i:::r-. But the qu.:ic.n die d'. ut .Hitauro. on the wa.y on October 6, ltL,O'. Maanwhil� , the Crown Princo , Sure ndra Bikram Shah, had dcv;.;'lo� d a peculiar character . Ho started ihdulging in cruel and insane d.:icds . Ev.:?n t hen , King RajtHrlro. ma.de · no efforts to control him. Ai'ti3r the death of Queen Samr.:ijyala:xmi, the Pan da fact.ion tc, (;J: t.ht: si de of Su?'f, ndra Bikram Shah and encouraged his tyrannfoal eta'a . King fujond ra, Crown Prince Sur,"ndra Dikram and tho Jm1ior Quu0n, Rajyalaxrni fuvi, all trfod to e.xercioe adininistrativ e authority . Bcr; ,'•i l:.S,, of the contr:.:.dict,ory orders issuod by the:m, the Bhnrdn.rs as ,·.rcll n.;; tiH:: comrron people hnd to suffer much. On lli cernher 6, 1842, a 1T¥Jot ing was held under the joint ch:drunn:,; ltil' of Cbaut:.riya. Fattc Jung Shar1 and Guru Prasad Shah. 6? porsons, incl ndi w · tor, rank ing Bha:rdars , ·. nd. litc.:.ry off'icerf.. a:i.ct repoctable ci ti ?,Gns :1t L.: n,k-.i ·• ra meoting. 'fb1;, meeting oxprE:: :,sed regret ovc 1· the tyrunnic,11 nc.:t. :.; cl' Crown'· Princti Suror.dra Bikram as well as the manno;1 r in which th \;: ac.11.;i.n i. ..,t:t";' tion - had di:, wrioratud. It than formud a commit.tuc to d:L"aw up e. petiti.ein t, • be submitted to King RajL·ndra . Tht:? pE;Jtition describ0d thG h�1rdship�, (_;' Bhardars and thtJ comnon people:, .::.nd demanded that inr.uadi&.te action sho11l.J be taktJn to remove th.::m• . ,.. On DEac131d.,o r 7, 181.i.2 , n. maseive procession r�achud tho Hanurnm,dbcL:1 palace with thu petition ins cribed on a gold plat.:-: . High-r n.r.king c:i.11il e.n d military officiaL: , as we 11 as tho common ruopl.) , took part in tk: procossion. King R..1. jundra recu ived th e petit ion . H6 uanted to share th,J administrativu authority be tween him and Crown Prince Surondrn. Bih.T1m �� h:ir:, But influent ial p0opla vantodthat all powo.::rs should bo vc;sted in Qu6cn R:1.,i.1' laxmi . Kine Rajun.dra . Bikram Shah was evGi:rt:.u.:i.lly compelled to ac copt tb� don-and of tho majority. Contd ••• On January 5, 1843 , h� issued the following proclamation:-x 11:Hencoforth, th& µ:opl tJ shall comply with t hE"; or (1) To issue orders for imprisorrnent, mutilation, exile , capital · punisranont and dismissal of any person othor than numbers of the· royal family, p.po int' ;and dismiss ovcrnmont empl.oy (2) :To a _ � . oe s, and to effect clang1:. s · in thclir titles. and p osts, . . (3 ) To 1Tl3intain diploID.'.ltic relations with China, Tibot nnd Britain , ari.d (4) To wage war and nugo tiate treatie s a s necossary with the so furc L·n powers, · I soleimly vow that I to o. s hall do nothing without tho consent of QU1Jen fujyalaJ011i De vi. The common, people are horery di.recti;;d ,not tu con1r, l,, with tho orders of the Crown Prince, In case anybody does so; he shall be punished by the Queon . 11 • • Documents l. Confennont of Acbninistrativt,; Authority ·�n Crown Princu Sure; ndra. W<.l hereby bostow the ti tlo of M-3.h arajadhira.j on our son S nndra , ur Bir Bikram Shah . While rotaining my throne and the roy 1 al authori ty, I �1i : 1·L ,;'i vc: commands to Maharajadhiraj Surendra B ir Bikram Shah, w ho in turn sha ll issuo commands to tha Mukhtiynr and Bhardars and co nduct tho aff:.dr s uf tha administration •.I shall retain the' dignity and prtlstigo of th o thro1 i,0 and the royal authority that h av e: com_e down fro m o ur ancestors . Mahar:.ija dhiraj Surendra Bir Bikr1m 'Sh,:>.h shall' t:ixercise the a dministrative a uthorH y and all such authority as has be-en exercised so far by m13. Hu sha 11 also axorcisa my royal authority after duly subiiiitting a r opresu t:!:tion· t n o Inu, while exe rcising his own authority over the Mukhtiyar and Bhardars . He �, r:all conduct the affairs of the administra.tion in this mannor. Marga Sudi 1, 1901 (Noveni>ar 1844) Xa�gmi Research Collbctions , Vol. l, PP. 808-809 • ...... Contd••• ,22 . From Minister And Ccrmrander-:-In-Chie f Genr.-ral Mathbar · Singh Tha� Batedur, � . : . 1 B. To Captain Yuddhadal Shah and Officers of tha Shri Chandra Nath Company Greetings• . We have re'ceived your previous le tter'. All is well hJ ·1·(l'. H0 want .the. S�JllO th1;1ru'. Thi'.: Il(ii/S be N i::. eood. Shri 5 Huharajadh irn.j '-3·,.zundra Bil· � Bikrarn Shah s:i.id that Bt:kh Dirtu lands granted by His Maju nty to nll other had bec,n confirme d, but'· thG lands grante d to: him had no t bee n confirmo d. Ha thoref or e said hu would go to Kashi• . Accordingly, he proceeded to Dhup\ wabas ·. j His Majo sty thon said that Su1'-.ndra Bir Bikrrun Shah did not r,o m-1:..:r in this way. Ho pointe'd out that previously al so he had bestouod on :..iuL·t:nc Bir Bikram Shah the authority of Maharajadhiraj, and that now also hi:.' woul b1.;stow his aut hority on Surendrn Bir Bikram Shah so as to bu. exorci w:: d i11 consul.tatiqn with him , while exorc ising his own autho rity ovo r· tho Mul:ht i) and Bharda.rs . His l•laje sty then issued a royal ardor to this eri't:ct in t,r, o nn.mo of Shri- 5 Maharaj:.1dhiraj Surcndr3 Dir Bikra:m Shah.'· According to this royal ordC;r, all the 5,200,000 poop1.c of the l:ir1(Sd( along with Bhard.:.u-s , signed a pledge of loyalty and submitted it to Sh:ci � Maharajadhiraj Surondr¥ Bir· Bikram Shah. I am sending herewith a copy of this royal order, as wl?ll as the pledge s!gm: d by us'. ,. ' A salute of 51 guns wcrl:l fired here to cele brate this co1iferu ..:mt oi' authority on Shri 5 M:-ihara.jdhiraj Surundra Bir Bikram Shah De v, wt;o k:w ordured that a salute of 21 guns should be fired there'. Havu ull Jagirdurs, ccmnon people and govemment'_'omploy��s, us \Je.: ll .officers up to the rar.k of Hudda, in tho company, and Duar0s, 'l'haris and respoctal-tle poorlo be longing to different arens , writo down thoir 11'.'.i llld S and o.ffix their seal or signature on ·a do cument pre pared according to tho. copy Marga Sudi l5, 1901 · (Docember 18'-4) X:ioid, PP. 806-807 . Contd• • � 23 . C. From His Majesty King Surendri To Gurus , Purohits, Chautariyas, Kajis, Bhardars, Military officials and the 5,200,000. people . On Kartik Sudi 8; 1899 (November 1842 ), when Chautariya Fatt e Jung Shah was Mukhtiyar , our father granted. a royal order bestowing on us th e title of_ �hri S Maharajadhira;j , a s well as· authorlty to i ssue coins, weights · . ' and measures in ourn ame . ·' Later, . on, Marga BaC,.i 1, 1901 ·(November 1844),when 'Gemral Mathbar Singh Thap a was Mukhtiyar, we beheade d 16 persons and issua4 notice s to all that our authority had been established. nn this day, our fathar had granted too title of Shri 5 Maharajdhiraj in _- our name through a royal order, and thus our a�bority had been established. In 1903 (1846) , wtan our father left for Kashi, he granted a royal order to the effect that the entire administration should oo conductt1d under our authority. Now our father's name shall be r etained in let·turs sent to China an,l the Br itish, in the throne, in · coins , _ weights a nd measures,' . and in admi nistrative aff airs conducted according to the orde rs of Prime Minister and Comnander-In-Chief General Jung Bah adur Kunwar unde r our aut hority . In caso any Qrder is issued by our father or ourselves on unjustii'ied grounds aentencing the Prime Minister andVazir and any Ill3mber of the · Kunwar .family to death, disgrace, or confiscation of property, it shall not be complied with unless they have acted against our person , our thro na , or our treas . . ury If we is?ue an order sentencing them to death; disgrace or confhca tion of property on 'Wljusti.fied. ground's , and if' any person harms their interests out ·or epmity, ,we shall sentence him to capital punishment , or deprive him of his caste, according to his caste status . Baisakh Su.di 1' 19� . ., (Mly 1847 ) x Na ya Raj Pant , "Pritpvi Narayan Shah Ko Saµiik Prabandha. Ra U nko Rajni ti. 11 (Military Organization and Politics or Prithvi Narayan Shah) . Simhanad, Year 1: No'. S, Asadb-Sh:ra.wan 2020 (June-July, 1963 ) 17-2 ., 3 PP. Contd••. 2. ApPointment Of ��hbar Singh 'I'hapa as Prime Ministe�· From King Rajendra, To Mathbar Singh T ha.pa· Bahad'l.!or, son of Nain Singh Thupn�grandson o f Amtar Singh Thapa, resident o.f Gorlcha. . We hereby appoint you as Mukhtiyar of all . civil and ad.tn.i.ni� trativ .-., affairs throughout our co untry as well as Prime Minist..:r, Comcaandu r-Ih Chief· and Goneral wit-h Jagir e 1no., lUJT1oots amounting to lls 12,401 . Re nn in in atteridance durintt war and other occasions as commanded by us, be faithful to our'sa lt and utilizo "'tho following lands and .revenuas as your'· Jag ir with due loyalty. (Part iculars of lands and revenues follow ). Aswin Badi 7, 190l (September 1844 ) xx 3 • Appointment C,f Jtmg Bahadur aa Kaji · From King Rajendra, 'f 9 Jung Bal1r�dur Kunwar son Balanarsingh' and grandson of Ramal.::rislin'l ., of ., ✓ Kunwar,xxx re sident of Kathmandu.· Wa hereby gr ant you the office of Ka ji, with 1,160 muris of Khet lands and Rs 3,500 .00. as your J.:i.gir emoluments'. Rerro.in in uttend.:.illC,J du:ri'r. war and on othe r occasions a.s commande d by us and oo t'aithful t,o o ur s"lt. Utilize tliu fo llowing l.m (Particul.ars of l:mds and revenue s follow ). Poush Sud.i 4,. 1902 . (January 1846} ::Ra i Rasea1·ch Collections , Vol . 26 P . 2). gm ., XX.Ifugmi Resoarch Collc1ctions, Vol. 2 6, PP.,_41 ...42. Jm g Bahadur .had bean Kaji previo usly also, but bad . been replaced by K.:irn<1bir P.1.n.lu on Ch:iit ra 1900 Vikrarra . (Regmi Res earch Colle ctions , Vol . PP. 33 ., 544-57a . xxx._rhis is a 1qistake , for Jung Be.hadur Wd S the grandson o f lbnajit Kunw.:-�t- , •'.\ son of Ranakrishna Kummr. Cont d •• • 4. Appointment of Jung Bahadur as Prime Ministerx Rajandra From King ., To Shrixx Jung Bahadur Kunwar son of Balanarsirtgh and grand on of Imnajit . ., s Kunwar · re sident of Kathmandu. ., We hereby appoint you as Mukhtiyar of all civil and administrative affairs throughout our country, as well as Prime Ministe r, Commander-In Chief am General with Jagir emoluments amounting to Rs 12,401. Rennin in attendance during war and otheroc casions as commanded by us, be faithful to our salt and ut ilize the following lands and revenuas as yo ur Ja.gir with due loyalty. (Particulars of lands and :rt· vepues follow ). Marga Badi 10 , 1903 (Nov ember 1846) xRegmi Research Colle ct ions , Vol . 26, PP . 142-16). :xxThe honorific t�rm "Shri11 was ndt used in the letter conforming Jung Bahadur1 s appointment as Kaji'. (s.B .M. )