Role Played by Brave Warriors in the Anglo – Nepal War

Balabhadra Kunwar

Six miles from Deharadun of India in the north- east on the way to Mussoorie there is a place, called Nalapani. It had been the territory of Nepal since long before the 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 the 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 the fort from all sides. One night before the attack of the 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 litter at night, I will meet with Gillespie shortly.'' In the next morning, the English side attacked the fort will guns other arms. The men and women responded from inside the fort with guns, arrows and bricks. Mr. Allis, lieutenant, who was advancing to the battlefield to encourage the English force, was killed in the gun firing of the Nepalese soldiers.

At this, Gillespie, the Major General went straight to the fort with his cap in one hand and sword in the other. He was killed in the same way as Allis at the hands of Nepalese soldiers. The number of the wounded and killed on the English battalion, unable to resist the Nepalese army, made an escape to Deharadun. At the escape of the English force at the defeat, Balbhadra Kunwar sent a letter to Kathmandu with a request for more army help, but no help could be made available form Kathmandu. The route of Nahan, through which the Nepalese soldiers were advancing to Khalanga for its security, was blocked by the English force.

The well-equipped force led by, Colonel Mauvi made the second attack on the Khalanga fort. The Nepalese army force was responding with bricks and stones, thrown at their enemies. The Nepalese women were highly apprieciated for their bravery shown in the battlefield, by the fighting English Captions, Mensitart and Princep. After the war, many of the wounded women and the dead bodies of the women were taken out from the ruined walls of the fort. The furious English soldiers had blocked the source of water to the fort, came out, opening the doors, by themselves to get rid of their thirst for water and of the foul smell of the dead bodies.

The bereave Nepalese women quenched their thirst with the water of the nearby river even amidst the dreadful situations of the gunfiring. They made their way to another fort of Jitgadh for its security.

Turning to the English before leaving the palace, Balbhadra said to them in a loud voice, "it was impossible for you to have victory over the fort, but I leave it on my own accord."

The Englishmen had, in honour of the bravery of the Nepalese people, written in a memorial stone the words like "As a tribute of respect for our gallant adversary BULBUDDER, commander of the fort and HIS BRAVE GOORKAS."

Amarsingh Thapa

Badakaji Amarsingh Thapa was a son of Bhimsingh Thapa. After the honourable death of Bhimsingh in the battle of Palanchowk, Amarsingh Thapa got this title. A son of a father who was killed in a battle was entitled to get his father's title at that time. The name of Premier Bhimsen Thapa's father was also Amarsingh Thapa but Badakaji Amarsingh Thapa was a different person. He had played an important role at the time of conquest of Baise and Chaubise states. He had expanded the western boundary of Nepal up top the Sutlaj River. The responsibility of the operation of the war in the whole west including Kumaun and Godhawal was entrusted with Amarsingh Thapa. On the side of the English, it was the responsibility of Sir David Octorlony to take care of the operation of the war. At the start of the war, Amarsingh thapa had built a fort at Ramgadh. He fought bravely for the defence of this fort.With the Anglo-Nepal War. Going against Nepal, Nepal was forced to accept the Sugauli Treaty. Frustrated with this, Amarsingh Thapa went to Gosainkunda and breathed his last there.

Bhakti Thapa

            Sardar Bhakti Thapa, as a Godar Thapa of Lamjung fought against the Gorkhalese in the bettle on behalf of the army of Kehari Narayan Shah, the king of Lamjung. In course of time, he joined the Gorkhalese force. During the period of the Anglo-Nepal war, Sardar Amarsingh Thapa was controlling the operation of the war of the whole western Nepal from the fort of Malaun. To the south of this for, was the fort of Surajgadh. As the English army had the control over the fort of Deuthali, 1000 yards to Malaun fort, the security of the whole western region was at stake. This made Bakti Thapa. leave on 4 Baishakh 1872 BS (April 16, 1815) for the battle field with various kinds of knives and swords in his hand together with 2000 Nepalese soldiers amidst the fierce gun firing of the English army all around. There was a fierce gun fience fighting between the two sides. He was hit by the bullet at his heart and killed. He died a death of honour. 700 soldiers were killed on the side of the Nepalese force, while on the side of the English Army; all the officers except only one at the arsenal were killed. Octorlony, the major handed over very respectfully to the Nepalese army, the body of Bhakti thapa worn over by a costly woollen wrapper. Next morning, his body was cremated with due guard of honour. At the end of the war, it took a different turn for the Anglo-Nepal War, because the soldiers in the Nepalese force lost their hope for the better, while the English force soldiers got ever more encouraged.

Bam Shah

            Bam Shah was the administrator of Kumaun, deputed there by the premier, Bhimsen Thapa. The Englishmen were taken aback at the activities taken up by him as the administrator. He was working well efficiently with the army force during the period of the Anglo-Nepal war. However, with the propaganda made by the English side about the defeat of the Nepalese force elsewhere, he could not resist the disappointment that swayed upon him. Edward Garner, aware of Bam Shah, getting dissatisfied with Bhimsen Thapa attempted to win him ho his side under the allurement of big offers to him. However, the English side failed in attempt to win Bam Shah, a true patriot of the country.

Ranabir Singh Thapa

            Bhimsen Thapa's youngest brother, Ranabir Singh Thapa was on deputation to Makawanpur during the Anglo-Nepal war of 1871 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 .

Ujirsingh Thapa

            The premier, Bhimsen Thapa's father General Amarsingh Thapa was a governing Palpa. After the death of Amarsingh Thapa , his grandson, Nayansingh Thapa's Son, Ujirsingh 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 Ujirsingh Thapa. The memory of his bravery is in good record of the modern history of Nepal.

Anglo –Nepal War: Causes and Effects

Introduction

Since 17th century, there had been British rule in India.  It was known as the 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 favoured the rules of 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. This known as the Anglo- Nepal War

Political causes

While the English were still expanding their colonies in India, Nepal was being unified. The unification was naturally against their interest. Immediately after victory won over Kathmandu and Patan, King Prithiv Narayan Shah had driven out all the Capuchin clergymen. Nepal's growing army strength and activity were looked upon by the English as a risk for themselves and they tried to do away with it. The defeated Baise and Chaubise kings, asking shelter in India, spared no pains to instigate the English to go in war with Nepal and to defeat it so that they could regain their lost territories.

The English authorities sent their trade delegates to Nepal time to time to solve their political and commercial interests. The teams of delegates, headed by James Logan, Fox Craft, Kirkpatrick, Mauilavi, Abdul Kadar Khan, W.O. Knox, etc. had come to Nepal for the purpose, but in vain.

Bhimsen Thapa was deadly against the English. he had a bitter experience for the activities of the English people in India, when he had been to India to give company to Rana Bahadur Shah. Bhimsen Thapa wanted to drive the English people away not only from India, but as much as from Asia so during the days of his term of office, he was trying to from a union of Asian states, including Maratha and Punjab with due understanding established with them. He had also tried to during Tibet and Burma in his side. He also gave much attention to military strengthening of Nepal. So Bhimsen Thapa's activities were highly opposed to the interest of the English.

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 these forests. Other resources such as herbs, minerals, fertile land had also fascinated the English. The East India Company wanted to expand its trade from India to Tibet through Nepal. But the government of Nepal was not favouring the entry of foreign in to Nepal for various reasons

Natural causes

Since the English people were cold country, it was difficult for them to run the administration from their station in India, which is mostly 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 to go in war with Nepal.

Immediate cause

The dispute over the issue of Butawal 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 Tarai 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. The talk was being held on this issue between Nepal and English authorities. In the main time, the English governor, Marquis Hastings gave a threatening letter on the government of Nepal for the immediate return of Butwal and Syuraj to them. But Bhimsen Thapa, stubborn in nature was not a coward administrator to yield to the threat of the Governor General. Nepal was firm not to part with Butwal and Syuraj. As the result, the governor general, Lord hasting on 16th Kartik 1871 BS (1st Nov 1814 AD) declared war with Nepal. But the English battalion had entered the territory of Nepal 8 days earlier than the formal declaration of the war was made.

Consequences

The war went on for nearly two years. Nepali warriors fought bravely and resisted English attack in many places. Still overall events of the war went against Nepal. Bhimsen Thapa had expected help from Panjab, Gwaliyar and Maratha but in vain. So Nepal was compelled to sigh a surrender treaty i.e the Sugauli Treaty under humiliating circumstances on 2nd Dec 1815 AD. The treaty was handed over the East India Company with King's approval only on 4th March 1816 AD. The Anglo-war or the treaty in particular had the following consequences:

·    Nepal was obliged to surrender one-third of the total land to the East India Company.

·    Nepal lost the cold areas like Kumaon, Gadhwal, Nainital and Darjiling.

·    The Indian ambassadors to Nepal interfered in the internal affairs of Nepal in spite of opposition made from time to time by the Governor Generals.

·    Politics of conspiracy in the place played their roles.

·    Nepalese people's 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 the further loss of its territory and life and property agreeing upon the treaty.