Remembering the Nation's Unifier

Remembereing the Nation's Unifier

Buddhi Narayan Shrestha

When we look at the historical background of the boundary of Nepal, Prithvi Narayan Shah had initiated to unify various petty kings, small kingdoms and principalities of the Himalayan region in 1744 AD. After the expansion of Kathmandu Valley, he unified other smaller kingships south of the valley to keep out of the influence and control of the British rule. After his kingdom spread out from north to south, he made Kantipur the capital of expanded country, and called it 'NEPAL' instead of GORKHA. As a result, Prithvi Narayan Shah formally established Nepal as a Himalayan State and thus, Nepal was born on 16 November 1769.

If Shah had not started to unify various petty kingdoms of the Himalayan region, it would have been fallen into the British domination. So, we have to remember Shah's contribution that formed a single nation Nepal. Before his death, he had expressed his sayings (Upadesh) or thoughts that are still relevant in the context of economic activities, security, diplomacy and protection of the boundaries.

Relevancy of Shah's thought

Last year, President Bidya Devi Bhandari's greeting message given on the occasion of Prithvi Jayanti and National Unity Day on January 11 stated- 'The thought given by Prithvi Narayan Shah at that time is equally relevant in the current context.' On the occasion, she placed flowers and garlands on the statue in front of the main gate of Singha Darbar.?

?

As a remembrance of the unification work of Prithvi Narayan, the government had given a public holiday on January11 last year across Nepal and to Nepalese embassies and diplomatic missions abroad. It has been decided to give a holiday this year as well.

Diplomatic vision

If we talk about Prithvi Narayan's vision, his diplomatic essence was that Nepal should be protected from the interference of both the north and south neighbours. He said 'Nepal is like a yam between two boulders. Keep friendship with the Emperor of China. At the same time, it is necessary to make a strong friendship also with the Emperor of the South. But he is very clever. He is occupying Hindustan and he is eyeing the plain area of Nepal also.' ?

?

It is a vital diplomacy- if Nepal inclines to one neighbour, there is a possibility that even if it is not adversity, it may harm Nepal. Nepal has to walk on a razor's edge. If Nepal slips from the razor edge to the south, ?he will trap Nepal under his umbrella. ?If it is slipped to the north, Nepal will be influenced by their ideology.

Four years ago, our southern neighbor published the 'Political Map of India' and included 372 square kilometer area of Limpiyadhura-Kalapani-Lipulek region within? their territory, which is the sovereign land of Nepal. Nepal responded and called for talks. But India was not ready. Therefore, Nepal published the beaked map (Chuchhe Naksa) three years ago.

The northern neighbour also is no less on some issues. China published a new map ?on August 11, 2023. But they did not depict the Chuche Naksa of Lipulek-Kalapani-Limpiyadhura region of Nepal. It is due to the fact that Nepal did not send the Chuche Naksa to China, nor India and the United Nations. Had it been executed the vision of Prithvi Narayan, China would incorporate Nepal's Chuche Naksa to its new map.

Boundaries

Shah had expressed his vision that 'Prepare forts on the boundaries on both north and south sides. Construct seven strong forts around Chaar Bhanjyang (Kathmandu Valley) in Shivapuri, Phulchoki, Chandragiri, Mahadevpokhari, Palung, Dapcha, and Kahule Bhanjyang.'

?

'Install cannons in a ready position in a row in all forts. Build iron gates in all crossings and keep a cannon in each gate in a ready condition and depute five soldiers each over there. If we could do so, any person involved in watching our activities, talking against us, feeling upon committing crime, causing damage to anyone, sneaking/looking people upon waiting along with the road side, criminal and murderer will also be unable to do anything wrong. And even all the Four Emperors do attack on us, they would be defeated.' If we make such strategies, they will easily be defeated at the crossings of the Chure Hills. If we could do so, we will be able to extend our boundaries up to the Sriganga River.'

?

Finally

Prithvi Narayan Shah's thoughts, sayings, or ideas and views are the foundation of Nepali nationalism and the soul of the nation. Even at the present time when political leaders make controversy each other and lacks a balance of power, they must remember Prithvi Narayan's act of unification of petty kingdoms, If the scattered ideas of the current political leaders are unified, the ?graph of overall prosperity of Nepal would go up.

?

The main crux is that whatever vision Prithvi Narayan Shah had at that time, those topics are equally relevant even today, after three centuries. The manner in which he described Nepal as a 'yam between two boulders' and the relationship between the neighbors is still admirable today.Therefore, in the current situation, it is appropriate to look at Prithvi Narayan from a historical point of view. It has to honor him as he unified the petty kingdoms into a strong nation. On the basis of his contribution to the nation, it is relevant to remember him in order to develop Nepal further and preserve nationality, sovereignty and territorial integrity.