Anglo-Nepal War

Anglo-Nepal War

        Since their arrival in India, the English colonizers had been attracted to Nepal. They were tempted mainly by Nepal’ cool climate, natural resources such as forests and its cross a position between India and Tibet. However, their plan couldn’t be carried out immediately. While the English were s’ expanding their colonies in India, Nepal was being unified: Ti unification was naturally against their interest. Nepal’s growing army strength was looked upon by the English as a threat. Besides military build ups at home, Bhimsen Thapa had wanted ‘to drive tie English people away not only from India but also from the whole continent. He had been trying to form a union of Asian states, including Maratha and Punjab with due understanding established with them. So Bhimsen Thapa’s activities were highly opposed to the interest of the English. But, the defeated Baise and Chaubise kings, taking shelter in India, spared’ no pains to instigate the English to go in war with Nepal and to defeat it so that they could regain their lost territories.

        The English authorities were only seeking for a suitable moment to attack Nepal. So they picked dispute over the issue of two states Butwal and Syuraj under Nepal, that had been annexed together with Palpa at the time of unification operations. The English Governor, Marquis of Hastings sent a threatening letter to the government of Nepal for the immediate return of these states to them. But Bhimsen Thapa was not a coward administrator to yield to the threat. Nepal was firm not  to part with Butwal and Syuraj. As the result, the  Governor General, on November 1, 1814 war with Nepal      

        The war went on for nearly about two years. Nepali warriors fought bravely and resisted the English attack in many places such as Jalapeno and Jitgadh gallantly. Still the overall. development of the war went against Nepal. Bhimsen Thapa had expected help from Punjab, Gwaliyar and Maratha but in vain. So Nepal was compelled to sign a surrender treaty i.e. the Sugauli Treaty under humiliating circumstances on December 2, 1815. The treaty was handed over to the East India Company with King’s approval only on March 4, i8i6. According to the treaty, Nepal had to relinquish one-third, of the total territory including cool places such as Kumaon, Gadhwal, Nainital and Darjeeling. Following the treaty, the Indian ambassadors to Nepal interfered in the internal affairs of Nepal in the face of opposition made from time to time by the Governor Generals. As the Nepali warriors came back from the battlefield, they indulged in politics of conspiracy for power. As agreed in the treaty, Nepali youths were increasingly recruited into the British army.

        The treaty, however, had some advantages for Nepal. It marked the end of the Anglo-Nepal conflict. The two sides became friendly and mutual cooperation started in the subsequent years. Nepal could prevent the further loss of its territory and life and property by agreeing upon the treaty.