Federation of Himalayan Kingdoms

242 Pages·2022·2.362 MB·English

by  Awadhesh C. Sinha

FEDERATION OF HIMALAYAN
KINGDOMS
This book traces the history and politics of the Greater Nepal
movement. It looks at major events in modern South Asia, in and
around the Eastern Himalaya region in particular  – colonialism,
independence and partition, the Chinese aggression in Tibet, formation
of Bangladesh, and the merger of Sikkim with India, among others –
which deeply affected the nature of democratic movements in Nepal.
The volume also studies the role of the monarchy, the demand for
Gorkhaland, and the rise of Maoist movements. Further, it sheds light
on political participation encompassing Nepalese functionaries, the
many political parties, intellectuals and responsible public figures,
and the differential influence that these variegated groups had on the
movement. Finally, it reassesses the idea of Greater Nepal and offers a
critical commentary on its future.
The volume will be of great interest to scholars and researchers
of international relations, modern history, sociology and social
anthropology, politics, South Asian studies, and area studies – especially
Nepal and Himalayan studies – as well as policy makers and government
think tanks.
Awadhesh C. Sinha started his teaching and research career at Gujarat
Vidyapeeth, Ahmedabad, from where he moved on to the Indian
Institutes of Technology, Kanpur and Delhi, before finally going to
North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, where he taught sociology
for over three decades and handled various responsibilities, including
that of the Dean of the School of Social Sciences. He is one of the
pioneers in Eastern Himalayan research and has published several
highly acclaimed books and numerous articles on this region. The
present book is the outcome of his tenure as a National Fellow of the
Indian Council of Social Science Research tenable at Nehru Memorial
Museum and Library, Teen Murti House, New Delhi.
NEPAL AND HIMALAYAN STUDIES
This series brings the larger Nepal and the Himalayan region to the
centre stage of academic analysis and explores critical questions that
confront the region, ranging from society, culture and politics to
economy and ecology. The books in this series examine key themes
concerning religion, ethnicity, language, identity, history, tradition,
community, polity and democracy, as well as emerging issues regarding
environment and development of this unique region.
GODDESSES OF KATHMANDU VALLEY
Grace, Rage, Knowledge
Second Edition
Arun Gupto
DAWN OF DEMOCRACY IN THE EASTERN
HIMALAYAN KINGDOMS
The 20th Century
Awadhesh C. Sinha
FEDERATION OF HIMALAYAN KINGDOMS
Looking for Greater Nepal
Awadhesh C. Sinha
MULTILINGUALISM IN EDUCATION IN NEPAL
Ideology and Identity
Laxman Ghimire
For more information about this series, please visit www.routledge.
com/Nepal-and-Himalayan-Studies/book-series/NHS
FEDERATION OF
HIMALAYAN KINGDOMS
Looking for Greater Nepal
Awadhesh C. Sinha
First published 2023
by Routledge
4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an
informa business
© 2023 Awadhesh C. Sinha
The right of Awadhesh C. Sinha to be identified as author of
this work has been asserted in accordance with sections 77
and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted
or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic,
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invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any
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Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be
trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for
identification and explanation without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British
Library
ISBN: 978-1-138-09056-9 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-032-35974-8 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-0-429-40018-6 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/9780429400186
Typeset in Sabon
by Apex CoVantage, LLC
To
AHAN SINHA

CONTENTS
List of Figures and Tables viii
Preface ix
Introduction 1
1 State formation and issues of Greater Nepal in
the Eastern Himalayas 9
2 State formation among the Eastern Himalayan
Kingdoms 27
3 Expansion of Gorkharajya and consolidation of
Gorkha ethnic identity 53
4 Ethnic expansion and cultural complexion in the
post-1817 period 80
5 Social, cultural, and literary contexts of
Greater Nepal 119
6 Federation of the Himalayan Kingdoms
and thereafter 149
7 Looking for Greater Nepal 192
8 Prospect of Greater Nepal 217
Index 228
vii
FIGURES AND TABLES
Figures
6.1 Notional sketch no. 1: a Buddhist Federation of
Tibet, Sikkim and Bhutan 155
6.2 Notional sketch no. 2: George Patterson’s proposal
for the creation of a Himalayan Federation: Tibet,
Ladakh, Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, Arunachal, and
Nagaland 169
6.3 Notional sketch no. 3: King Mahendra’s move for
the Federation of the Himalayan Kingdoms: Nepal,
Sikkim, Darjeeling, and Bhutan 181
7.1 A sticker provided to the author by Manoj Pandit in
March 2014 on behalf of their forum, United Nepal
National Front 201
Tables
4.1 The Separatation of Assam Police, 1878 92
4.2 Gorkhas Recruited into Police, 1886–1887 95
4.3 Gorkha Enlistment in Army 95
viii
PREFACE
It all started some five decades back, when I was researching on Sik-
kim for my doctoral degree in 1969. I realized within no time that
the Nepalese underdogs in Sikkim needed to be properly understood.
Subsequently, my study on Sikkim was completed and I moved on to
similar theme of study on Bhutan. Meanwhile, Northeast India was in
turmoil and many Nepalese were forcefully evicted from their homes
and hearths, and many of them were forced to move elsewhere in most
trying circumstances. This human misery inspired me to undertake a
study of Nepalis in Northesast India. Once it was completed, I took
up the challenge of uncovering various aspects of lives of the Nepalis
in Northeast India in particular and Nepali diaspora in general. I was
busy teaching and publishing my research works from 1975–2008.
All these years, a theme was frequently bandied; and it was an alleged
conspiracy to create a Greater Nepal on the southern Himalayan
landscape. Side by side, I also learned of another move to create a
Federation of the Himalayan Kingdoms as a buffer state between the
Indian Union and the Peoples’ Republic of China – and it was at that
the time when the Indian Council of Social Science Research, New
Delhi in its wisdom decided to award a National Fellowship to me in
2012. I seized upon the opportunity to accept the offer and uncover
the scheme for creation of the Federation of Himalayan Kingdoms and
a Greater Nepal on the southern Himalayan landscape.
A large number of individuals and institutions came forward to help
me in my study in a variety of ways, who are impossible to individu-
ally mention, and I record my sense of appreciation to all of them.
However, it will be unbecoming of me not to mention some of my
main benefactors, to whom I am beholden. First of all, I value ICSSR,
New Delhi for the sponsorship of the National Fellowship for the
study. Second, Nehru Memorial Museum & Library, New Delhi, its
then-director, and his staff were gracious enough to provide me most
ix