Anglo-Nepal War (Our Past)

Answer the following questions and submit before the end of the coming week.

1. Analyze the causes and consequences of Anglo-Nepal war.

Since the 17th century, there has been British rule in India. It was known as British East India
Company. The colony had been ever expanding. Since their rule established in India, the British
wanted to capture Nepal and expand their colonial territory. They always favored the rulers in
Nepal who wanted to please them and didn't seem to cause any resistance to their plan of
colonization. As per their long-cherished plan, they fought against Nepal from 1814-16 AD.

Its Causes are:

Political causes
While the English were still expanding their colonies in India, Nepal was being united. The
unification was naturally against their interest. Immediately after victory won over Kathmandu
and Patan, king Prithvi Narayan Shah had driven out all the Capuchin risk for themselves. The
defeated baise and chaubisi kings, taking shelter in India, spared no pains to instigate the English
to go in a war with Nepal and defeat it so that they could regain their lost territories.
Economic causes
The forests of Nepal were abundant in various wood species. The East India Company wanted to
establish shipping industries in India through the use of wood brought from this forest. The East
India Company wanted to expand its trade from India to Tibet through Nepal. But the
government of Nepal was not favoring the entry of foreign traders into Nepal for various
reasons.
Natural causes
Since the English people were from the cold country it was difficult for them to run the
administration from their station in India, which is a tropical country. So they were in search of
cold places like Nepal. Besides, the crossroad position of Nepal between India and Tibet also
tempted them to go in war with Nepal.
The immediate cause
The dispute over the issue of Butwal and Syuraj was the immediate cause of the Anglo-Nepal
war. Since early days, the king of Palpa had been occupying those territories in the terai region.
On the condition of paying revenue to Nawab Bajir of Abadh. The Nepalese force had taken over
Butwal and Syuraj along with Palpa at the time of unification operations. In the mean time the
English Governor, Marquis of Hastings gave a threatening letter to the government of Nepal for
the immediate return of Butwal and Syuraj to them. But Bhimsen Thapa, stubborn in nature was
not coward. Administrator to yield to the threat of the government General. The English
battalion enters the territory of Nepal 8 days earlier than the formal declaration of the war was
made.
Consequesnces:
Nepal was obliged to surrender 1/3rd of the total land to the company.
 Nepal lost the cold areas like kumaon, Gadhwal, Nainital, and Darjeeling.
The Indian ambassadors to Nepal interfered in the internal affairs of Nepal in the face of
opposition made from time to time by the Governor Generals.
Politics of conspiracy in the palace played their roles.
Nepalese entry into the British army was on the rise.

The treaty, however, had some advantages for Nepal. It marked the end of the Anglo-Nepal
conflict. The two sides became friendly and mutual cooperation started in the subsequent years.
Nepal could prevent further loss of its territory and life and property by agreeing to the treaty.

2. What was the issue of Butwal Syuraj between Nepal and East-India Company? Why was this
issues considered as the immediate cause of Anglo-Nepal war? Explain.

The immediate cause was the dispute over Butwal and Syuraj. The King of Palpa obtained
Butwal and Syuraj by paying land revenue to Nawab Bajir of Awadh. During the Unification
Campaign when Palpa was brought under Nepal's control, Butwal and Syuraj automatically came
under Nepal's territory. However, the British East India Company claimed its right over these
two places. The problem could been solved peacefully. But the British East India Company
needed some pretext to declare a war on Nepal. Lord Marquis of Hastings sent a threatening
letter to Nepalese government demanding that they vacate the two places within 25 days or
face war. However, Prime Minister Bhimsen Thapa of Nepal, a patriot as well, was not afraid of
the British threat. Lord Hastings declared the war on Nepal on November 1, 1814 A.D. The army
of the East India Company had already entered Nepal eight days prior to the formal declaration
date of the war.

The Anglo-Nepal War lasted for two years. Nepalese soldiers fought the war bravely but nothing
could work against the well-equipped and large army of the mighty British. Bhimsen Thapa
appealed to the Indian princely states of Punjab, Gwalior, and Maratha to jointly fight against
the British. However, these states did not support Nepal.

Eventually in February 1816 A.D. Nepal was forced to sign a treaty at Sugauli known as "the
Treaty of Sugauli." If Nepal was unwilling to accept the defeat, Major General Ochterloni with
20,000 soldiers was prepared to attack Kathmandu.

Therefore, The dispute over the issue of Butwal and Syuraj was the immediate cause of the
Anglo-Nepal war. Since early days, the king of Palpa had been occupying those territories in the
terai region. On the condition of paying revenue to Nawab Bajir of Abadh. The Nepalese force
had taken over Butwal and Syuraj along with Palpa at the time of unification operations. In the
mean time the English Governor, Marquis of Hastings gave a threatening letter to the
government of Nepal for the immediate return of Butwal and Syuraj to them. But Bhimsen
Thapa, stubborn in nature was not coward. Administrator to yield to the threat of the
 government General. The English battalion enters the territory of Nepal 8 days earlier than the
formal declaration of the war was made.

3. Write short notes.

a. Balabhadra Kunwar and war of Nalapani

Six miles from Dehradun of India in the northeast on the way to Mussoorie, there is a place,
called Nalapani. It had been the territory of Nepal long before Anglo-Nepal War. Balabhadra
Kunwar had built a fort on a height of 500 feet at Nalapani, which was known by the name
of Khalanga fort. At the time of Anglo-Nepal War, Gillespie, the general and Maubi, the
Colonel had gone to the khalanga fort with 3500 soldiers and 15 guns in their arms. They
were divided into four groups for the attack on khalanga fort, Sir Robert Rolls Gillespie wrote
a letter to Balbhadra, asking him to surrender. But Balbhadra tore the letter without going
through it and said, "We don't read a letter at night, I will meet with Gillespie shortly." In the
next morning, the English side attacked the fort with guns, arrows and bricks. Mr. Allis,
lieutenant, was advancing to the battlefield to encourage the English force, was killed in the
gun firing of Nepalese soldiers.

b. Amar Singh Thapa

Amar Singh Thapa was the General of the Nepalese forces of western front in the Anglo-
Nepalese War. He is regarded as one of the National heroes of Nepal. Amar Singh Thapa
served as the Nepalese care taker of the western principalities and protectorates west of
the Mahakali River. He carried out small wars, especially with King of Punjab, Ranjit Singh
engaged in defending the western fronts of Nahan, Chamba, Almora, Kangra, Saharanpur,
Dehradun against his British counterpart General David Ochterrlony. He was not in favour of
the Sugauli Treaty but of a temporary armistice so that after some time it would have been
possible to claim on the Nepalese possessions ceded to the British. Amar Singh Thapa also
Built a temple of the goddess Ganga in the early 18th century. The town of Gangotri in
Uttarakhand, India is centred around this temple. To this day, it is one of the four sites in the
Char Dham pilgrimage circuit, the most important Hindu pilgrimage circuit in the Indian
Himalayas. Amar Singh Thapa voluntarily retired and died on his pilgrimage to Gosaikunda

c. Bhakti Thapa

Sardar Bhakti Thapa, as a Godar Thapa of Lamjung, fought against the Gorkhali in the battle
on the behalf of the army of Kehari Narayan Shah, the king of Lamjung. In the course of
time, he joined the Gorkhali force. During the period of Anglo-Nepal War Amarsingh Thapa
was controlling the operation of the war of the whole western Nepal from the fort of
Malaun. As the English army had the control over the fort Deuthali, thousands of yards to
Malaun fort, the security of the whole western region was at stake. This made Bhakti Thapa
 leave on 4 Baishakh 1872 B.S. (April 16, 1815) for the Battle for the various kinds of knives
and swords in his hand together for 2000 Nepalese soldiers amidst the fierce gun firing of
the English army all around. There was a fierce fighting between the two sides. He was hit
by the bullet in his heart and killed. He died a death of honor. 700 soldiers were killed on the
side of the Nepalese force, while in the side the English armies, all officers except only one
at the arsenal were killed. Octorlony, the Major handed over respectfully to the Nepalese
army, the body of Bhakti Thapa wore over by a costly woolen wrapper. The next morning,
his body was cremated with a due guard of honour. At the end of the war, it took a different
turn for Anglo-Nepal War, because the soldiers in the Nepalese force lost their hope for the
better while the English force soldiers got even more encouraged.

d. Ranjor Singh Thapa

Ranjor Singh Thapa was son of Gurkha/Gorkha Commander Amar Singh Thapa and was
Deputy to Amar Singh Thapa or was Governor assisting Gurkha/Gorkha Commander Amar
Singh Thapa. According to Fraser, Gurkha /Gorkha Governor for Kumaon and Garhwal
Ranjor Singh was a well deposed Governor, mild Governor and inclined to justice to the
subject. Ranajor Singh Thapa anglicised as Ranjore Thapa was governor of Kumaun and
Garhwal and commander of Jaithak Fort during Anglo-Nepalese war at Battle of Jaithak. He
was born to General Bada Kaji Amar Singh Thapa. His brother Ranadhoj Thapa served as
deputy to Prime Minister Bhimsen Thapa.

e. Ujir Singh Thapa

The premier, Bhimsen Thapa's father General Amar Sing Thapa was a governor of Palpa.
After the death of Amarsingh Thapa, his grandson, Nayansingh Thapa's son, Ujir Singh Thapa
became the governor of Palpa. In the battle of the Anglo-Nepal War, the English force led by
the General Mr. Wood was badly defeated and driven away by Ujir Singh Thapa. The
memory of his bravery is in good record of the modern history of Nepal.

f. Ranbir Singh Thapa

Bhimsen Thapa's youngest brother, Ranvir Sigh Thapa was on deputation to Makawanpur
during the Anglo-Nepal War of 1861 BS. The army under him defeated very badly the English
force. Subsequently, after the war, he was appointed the administrator of Palpa and also the
junior general of Kalibox and Sabuj battalion. After some time, he became a saint, known by
the name of Swami Avayananda.