More than two centuries ago, The British East India Company wanted three things from Nepal: to open a trade route to Tibet, establish a British Resident in Kathmandu and weaken the Gurkha Kingdom of Nepal.
The British used treaties with Nepal that many described as unfair and lopsided to achieve those goals.
After the British were defeated in battle by the Gurkhas in 1767, the first chance came in during the first Sino-Nepalese War of 1788-1792. The Nepalese initially invaded Tibet, but when the Chinese Emperor’s army arrived at Betrawati River near Nuwakot, Nepal Durbar sought help from the British and the first treaty of 1792 was signed.
By the time Britain’s Captain Kirkpatrick came to Kathmandu as the first British envoy, the war was already over. He did not come with arms and ammunition as the Nepalis had requested. Instead, he studied the geographical, political and trade strategy of Nepal and Tibet and went back. The trade treaty of 1792 had given the British the rights to sell British goods in Nepal, while Nepal had to pay a 2% duty to the British for all the products coming through Indian ports.
The next agreement was signed in 1801. When then King Rana Bahadur Shah abdicated and took refuge in Benares, the Nepali rulers wanted to make sure the deposed king did not return to Kathmandu and sought cooperation from the British. In return, the British demanded the establishment of a British Resident in Kathmandu again.
Despite being unhappy with the demand, Nepal had no choice but to accept Captain Knox as the first British Resident in Kathmandu and used various delaying tactics before he was finally allowed into Kathmandu. Due to political changes and instability in Nepal, the mission of Captain Knox did not go as well as the British had planned and he eventually left Kathmandu on March 19, 1803.
The Sugauli Treaty of 1815
Hostilities between the two sides continued for the next decades or so that eventually led to the Anglo-Gorkha war of 1814-1816. After the war, Nepal was forced to sign The Sugauli Treaty of 1815 in which it had not only lost one-third of its territory, but also had to accept the British Resident in Kathmandu and some humiliating terms.
The acceptance of Gurkhas enlisting in the British army was seen by many as one of the most significant losses the nation had suffered. The Sugauli Treaty of 1815 was seen as unfair and one-sided.
Brian Hodgson, the then British Resident in Kathmandu, had then King Rajendra Bikram Shah reinstate the defunct trade treaty of 1792 before he left Kathmandu in 1843.
The treaty of 1860 was the only treaty where Nepal gained the upper hand with the British and the plains of Terai between the Mahakali and Rapti rivers were returned to Nepal as a favor for Jung Bahadur and the Nepal army’s part in quelling the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857-58.
Read: A brief history of the Gurkha’s knife – the kukri
Before 1885, the British had achieved two of its primary goals in Nepal and the third, which was to enlist the Gurkhas in the British Army, was still progressing at a slow pace.
In 1885 Bir Shumsher came to power by sidelining the sons of strongman Jung Bahadur, who had taken refuge in India. In return for not supporting the sons of Jung Bahadur and plotting against the rule of Bir Shumsher, the British demanded free access to the young Gurkhas and the treaty of 1886 was signed.
The agreement of 1886 cleared all obstacles to the direct recruiting of Gurkhas into the British army, which formed 10 Gurkha regiments by the turn of the century.
Gurkhas’ achievements in WWI
Nepal sent 200,000 men, almost 20% of the total youth population, to fight in WWI. One in 10 never returned.
In return for its contribution, a treaty was signed in 1923 which gave Nepal the right to buy arms and ammunition from nations other than the British. The Gurkhas’ contributions in WWI played a big role in getting the treaty signed.
In WWII, the Gurkhas were again sent to fight and took heavy casualties. After the partition of India, the Tripartite Treaty of 1947 signed by the British, India and Nepal was signed. Many critics called it a bilateral treaty between the British and India which was later imposed on Nepal.
The agreement, which was supposed to protect the pay, pension and welfare of the Gurkhas, ended up being a tool to exploit the Gurkhas for the next four and half decades.
After the British had gone, Nepal and India signed a new trade treaty in 1950, and they already have seen many amendments since then.
Read: Why the British never colonized Nepal
Dear author: You say that 200,000 Gurkhas fought or saw service in WWI! Really,? It seems too high! Have you got any official and reliable references to support this claim?
Actually, the number of men in British Indian Army was about a million and Gurkhas were part of it. That 20% of this number belong to Gurkhas , is a bit questionable!
.
To arrive at [what it took] for the British crown to arrive at where it is in its quest for empire building, HOW MUCH TEAR, HOW MUCH UNTOLD HEARTACHE, how many tens of millions, maybe even HUNDREDS MILLIONS of young Brit lives had it costed the UK throughout its days of empire building and expansionism?
Based on the tiny landmass of this tiny little island known as the UK, do you seriously think Britons (ALONE) would be able to sustain the recruitment necessary for its expansionism without (forced recruitment) wherever they they go?
Throughout Britian’s struggle for dominance of the North American continent in days of old, God know ps the numbers of North American Indians (Aboriginals) were (RECRUITED), then offered as sacrificial offerings in her struggle for dominance against the French, then against the Yankees, visa Vera too of course, even used as tools to slaughter Indians themselves?
Then there’s the Arabs, how many Arab’s had been used to turn against uts win people throughout? How’s about the Tootoos, the Zulus, what not, of the continent of Africa? The indian subcontinent, and, of course, it’s exploitation of Imperial Japan against China throughout?
200,000 Gherkas, therefore is very very reasonable number and a drop in the bucket where British, French, and Spanish empire building and expansionism is concern, and, likely, the only computable logic as to why all three was able to achieved what it did..
.
Gurung ji, have you read an article, "Soldiers, Sovereignty and Silences: Gorkhas as Diplomatic Currency," Authored by Mary Des Chene, published in South Asia Bulletzn, Vol XI11 Nos. 1 & 2 (1993). It will give you more insights.
Still, I would say that as long as Gurkhas serve foreign armies they are mercenaries who are prepared to shed blood for livelihood, pension . Unfortunate!
Flora de la Sinensis : the number 200,000 Gurkhas in WW1 is a very questionable claim!
Flora de la Sinensis Comrade, lets not forget the 70m men women and children we sacrified for the glory of the CCP in the 1950’s starvation.
Its 2018 July
I condemn on recruting Gurkhas( some communities in Nepal) to serve other countries. International Law of defence must immediately stop this manipulative acts exercising by British and India violating the rights of indigenous from Nepal.
FCK Gvt of Nepal is equally liable of this FCK- Trio- Agreement
I had high opinion of Asian Times but timi Gurung is forcing me not to read asiantimes from now on.