Greater Nepal: In Quest of Boundary

Niraj Aryal

The unification process initiated by King Prithivi Narayan Shah in 1799 B.S., which was also carried on by his son Bahadur Shah after his demise saw the Nepali territory extended to Tista in the east and Sutluj in the west. Then, the East India Company began to eye Nepal, mainly for climatic and strategic reasons. It laid claims on Butwal and Suwraj, which was originally a Magadh state but was ruled by Nepal. Nepal did not submit to the company claims and eventually the British troops attacked Nepal from five different points: Morang, Parsa, Butwal, Deharadun and Sutluj in 1814 A.D.

Nepal defeated the British in three places (Morang, Parsa and Butwal) but lost in two in the far west. Because of the defeat in two major places in the far west, Nepal had no option other than to sign the humiliating Sugauli Treaty in 1816 A.D. As a result, Nepal had to give up more than one third of its territory to the East India Company. After the treaty, Nepal’s territory was limited to Mechi in the east and Mahakali in the west (i.e. to the present state). But what is significant is that when the British left India after 1947 A. D., it did not specify as to who should own those territories. So, those territories were relegated to India by default.

In the year 1950, Nepal and India signed a controversial treaty in which it has been categorically mentioned that all treaties signed hitherto between the two countries have been annulled by this treaty. Thus, by this provision, the Sugauli treaty stands invalid in terms of its legality.

Manoj Pandit, a staunch nationalist and also a director of a documentary entitled "Greater Nepal: In Quest of Boundary", in a 100 minutes long cinematic exploration argues that the territories seized by the East India Company lawfully belongs to Nepal and should be rightfully returned back.

The film also documents and raises the issue of deliberate border encroachment by India in several parts of Nepal , particularly in Kalapani, Susta, Pyaratal, Bhadrapur (Pashupatinagar) and Kakarbhitta.

The setting of the film is the Anglo-Nepal war that occurred in 1814-15 A. D. that resulted in the humiliating Treaty of Sugauli. As a result, Nepal had to lose more than one-third of its territory to the East India Company, who was ruling India during that time.

The main actors, who have enlivened this documentary, have not forgotten this bitter history, and has a deep urge to explore the great Nepal that once was and have provided the message to the entire Nepalese to rethink of their past glories. Moreover, inspired by the glorious stories of bravery and valor exhibited by our ancestors in the war against the British, the director sets out on a journey to the places where they had actually taken place, (though they are no longer within Nepal's command) and to those territories that had been inalienable part of this country.

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Comments

  • Posted on - 2012-08-07    by     amankora gurkhali
  • me the son of gurkha promise i will return my land back anyhow it is not only my promise it is my family promise. but i need yours love jai gurakhnath jai gurkha
  • Posted on - 2012-01-19    by     rebal
  • Garhwalise are simialr to their brothers nepalise...
  • Posted on - 2010-03-01    by     Boris Monk
  • Let me make a number of comments in here. 1. First, the film of which you talk is not a documentary film. It is a wrong interpretation of the word documentary film. What it can be called is film based on historical facts or documentation of history is probably the right world to use. 2. Second, those who think it impossible to get Darjeeling and Sikkim back from Imperial India are to be condemned. Having said that let me make it more clear: You who is ageist unifying Darjeeling and Sikkim are fools and not those who are for. 3. Those who show their disgust here must be either Indian nationals of the sort Yadhav and Jha or those on the pay list of the Indian Establishment and we must be careful against thse elements. Be careful this is the reason why they call us fool and idiots here. So, I suggest you patriotic folk to ignore them. Our cause or to be more precise our feelings for Darjeeling and Sikkim is just and patriotic. Their annoyance can not change our feeling. We love our Darjeeling and Sikkim as we love Kathmandu or Jumla or any other part of Nepal and we want the Indian occupation of Darjeeling and Sikkim to be over and done. This is what the ethnic Nepalese people of Darjeeling and Sikkim, who also make majority there, want and this is what we from motherland want. So please be courteous and kind to us by respecting our feelings and by doing so please show your commitment to democracy and to the public opinion. Your hatred can not change our minds and feelings. 4. Now, the question of Darjeeling and Sikkim needs to be phrased some how in another way. I think that it should reflect the aspiration of the majority of people who live there, rather than historical conquests. In other words, the right of the people of Darjeeling and Sikkim must be honoured and respected by all parties concerned. Let the people of Darjeeling and Sikkim decide what they want and let them use their right for self-determination. My family will be the first to cast the vote against Indian occupation and I know this what the majority of ethnic Nepali in Darjeeling and Sikkim do. Do you have problem with it my dear dhoti bhai who call us here fools? 5. The aspiration and long cherished hope of the majority of people of Darjeeling and Sikkim need to be respected by those in New Delhi who rule Imperial India. The Imperial establishment of New Delhi must be forced to leave Darjeeling and Sikkim through referendum. For the people of Darjeeling and Sikkim regard the rule of New Delhi as the rule of occupying foreign power and the New Delhi knows very well about it. So, let New Delhi show its commitments to democracy by letting the people decide what they want and thereby show its respect for democracy. 6. Preaching democracy is not enough my dear dhoti bhais--you need to practice it. In this case it comes down to holding a referendum in Darjeeling and Sikkim. 7. So, my dear Dhotti bhais please do not threat us here in the world of internet and by doing so do not be so mean. Also, how long do you think you can hold us against our will. We Nepali people do not like to be ruled by Indians in Darjeeling and Sikkim. Is that clar? Are you going to massacre us all to have Darjeeling and Sikkim? Are you Indian people so mean, so unkind, so sadistic, so blood thirsty, so greedy and so vengeful? What is wrong with you people? Where is your commitment for democracy? Where is your love for Hinduism and your love for peace and your neighbours? Why is it so difficult for you to leave alone. We do not want to be ruled by you. Is that clear to you? Do you listen me? We do not want to be ruled by Indians. We Nepali people want to be unified as the Germans did not long ago.
  • Posted on - 2009-10-05    by     vicky
  • it wont make any difference u keep on writing.Ani comment matra deyera hamro land firta aundaina . u want to make diff then u have to be there and do or stop writing those crap.Fool`s
  • Posted on - 2009-07-01    by     bharat lamichhane
  • i would like to watch that documentry, but how can it be possible to watch by net? by net
  • Posted on - 2009-06-12    by     suman
  • i want to thanks for this unit for making a wonderful document and can u give me information when and where it is shown plz send me offline message ok"
  • Posted on - 2009-06-06    by     suman
  • i want to thanks for making it.please send offline message to me that on which date and day this documentary is shown
  • Posted on - 2009-05-31    by     kris
  • WE NEPALESE WANT OUR LAND BACK......
  • Posted on - 2008-12-02    by     sanjay
  • i would like to watch that documentry, but how can it be possible to watch by net? by net
  • Posted on - 2008-11-10    by     Ashok
  • will you please tell me where i get this documenatry in Kathmandu
  • Posted on - 2008-10-18    by     subas shrestha
  • i want to download those videos, please suggest me, where i can find.. thanks subas55@hotmail.com
  • Posted on - 2008-08-27    by    
  • I really like this documentary and i want nepalese to raise their voice to get our land back.
  • Posted on - 2008-06-01    by     deepak thapa
  • i am very happy to read the above document.the land which has gone is gone.if india agrees to return the land,which it will not,then it will be great.if it does not return then we can fight for it in the international court.again it should be reminded by us that we can make nepal a great country.
  • Posted on - 2008-05-02    by     manoj koirala
  • I am very happy to see this document.The lost land during Anglo-Nepal war should be returned by India as soon as possible because the land is in fact of Nepal only.So every Nepalese should raise their voice to get their land's back.We,Nepalese should have patriotic feelings like our ancestors.
  • Posted on - 2008-04-06    by     deep
  • wonderful job!!!!but in my view the proposal of bringing back of nepali land is not a good idea insted this document should be more focuse on how to save curent Nepal and the soverignty of nepali people.....thats allllllllll.lets unite to save Nepal with peace in mind not war and voilence.....
  • Posted on - 2008-03-15    by     sudesh
  • yes document le hamra etihas lai charlang ra spasta pareko cha. hsmi saara nepali harule affno adhikar greater nepal ko lagi ake jut bhayara lagno parcha . jaya greater nepal.
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