Greater Nepal

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Greater Nepal is a concept referring to the state of Nepal extending beyond present boundaries to include territories ceded to the British East India Company under the Sugauli Treaty that ended the Anglo-Nepalese War in 1816.[1] The idea of a modern Nepali state covering the same territories motivates some Nepali nationalist groups.[2]


Contents

[edit] Historic boundaries

Under the Sugauli treaty, Nepalese kingdom had ceded conquered territories that spanned from the Tista River in the east, which are constituted in the modern Indian states of Punjab[citation needed], Himachal Pradesh[citation needed] and Uttarakhand and including places such as Almora, Pathankot, Kumaon, Dehradun, Garhwal, Sirmur and Shimla and Kangra, located to the west of the Sutlej River in the modern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Nepal also ceded control over kingdom of Sikkim, whose local ruler, the Chogyal had supported the British in the war. The re-acquisition of these territories is a goal held by several Nepali political groups.[3] Modern Nepal has an encircled boundary line of 367,575 sq. km kilometres covering an area of 147,181 square kilometres.

[edit] Nationalist cause

The ideal of "Greater Nepal" motivates some Nepali nationalists, who seek to extend the boundaries of present-day Nepal to include the territories ceded under the Sugauli Treaty. Some Nepali politicians and activists accuse India of usurping Nepali territory and using the present border and territorial situation to dominate Nepal, which in the opinion of Nepali nationalists can be overcome by a "Greater Nepal."[4] Some claim that the Sugauli Treaty became null and void on August 15, 1947 when India obtained its independence from British rule.[5] Several publications and activities of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) claim Indian territory including Varanasi, Ballia, Bahraich, Pilibhit and Jaunpur; however, this has been denied by the Maoist leader Prachanda who has claimed that the notion is a "media stunt."[6]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Telegraph Nepal
  2. ^ Telegraph Nepal
  3. ^ Greater Nepal
  4. ^ Telegraph Nepal
  5. ^ Telegraph Nepal
  6. ^ Greater Nepal

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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