Prithvi Narayan Shah is legendary in Nepalese history and a visionary leader who laid the groundwork for the modern Nation-state. His sagacious strategy, strong will, and commitment to unification helped Nepal to be united and monarchy-free. In this blog, we shall discuss the life and contribution of Prithvi Narayan Shah to the inception of the modern Kingdom of Nepal.
QUICK FACTS
- Born: January 11, 1723 (27 Poush,1779 BS) in Gorkha palace
- Parents: Nara Bhupal Shah and Kaushaliavati Devi
- King of Gorkha at the age of 20
- Married to Queen Narendra
- Strategic thinking and military leadership
- Founded in the modern Kingdom of Nepal
- Death: January 11, 1775 (Magh 1,1831 BS) at age 52
- Also known as the father of Nepal
Prithvi Narayan Shah’s Early Life and Rise to Power
Born to a Nepalese nobility on 11th January 1723 (27 Poush,1779 BS), Prithvi Narayan Shah was born to plenty and destiny. Although the details of his early childhood education are debatable, there is no doubt he was brought up with knowledge of armed tools and state policies compounded with legends like Ramayana and Mahabharata. The Ramayana and Mahabharata stories drove him towards a wish to reunite the broken states around his principality of Gorkha.
His fortune, however, took a markedly different direction at the age of 20. Following his father’s death in 1743, Prithvi Narayan succeeded in an insecure Gorkha kingdom bedeviled by internal and external perils. His first responsibility was to safeguard and consolidate his territory. It served to incisively focus his mind as never before on the desire to forge a united nation.
Strategic and Military Tactics: How Prithvi Narayan Shah Forged Nepal
King Prithvi Narayan Shah was not just a conqueror; he was an astute strategist. Various causal factors led to his rise in power and ultimately the unification of Nepal.
Mountain Might: Shah was born in Gorkha, which was a very important springboard because of its campaigns. The rough terrain also honed the guerilla skills of his Gorkhali forces.
Hit and Run Heroes: Shah was highly effective in such tactics as mountain surprise attacks and mountain ambushes. His non-standard tactics usually took the enemy unprepared.
Logistics and Loyalty: Shah’s leadership was apparent on every front, be it the battlefield, logistical support, or loyalty. He ensured sufficient supplies for his men, resulting in the motivation of his loyal land-grant forces.
Divide and Conquer: Shah practiced the policy of fragmentation and empire. Shah institutionalized, dissolved, and undermined other states through diplomacy first and then established the platform for the conquest.
Unification of Nepal
Prithvi Narayan Shah, another name for the “father of Nepal,” was an astute strategic thinker and a military leader; he captured the neighboring districts through strategy and acts of guerrilla warfare. He made the best of the central situation of Gorkha and the mountain toughness of his people. He was never scared of measures of innovation or diplomacy, forming alliances, or measures of strategic undermining of the adversaries. It is the desire to unify Nepal that propelled him to mount intrigue, capture the Kathmandu Valley, and further extend its unification to greater Nepal.
Prithvi Narayan Shah Attack on Nuwakot Attack:
Nuwakot was an important fort in the Kathmandu Valley. The conquest was of utmost importance in Shah’s plan to expand. Shah adopted both military and diplomatic means to fulfill his desires. He first of all sent his messengers to hold talks with the Nuwakot monarch. To them, he promised a favorable period if they came to his side on their own accord. When the negotiations failed, he ultimately ordered a military assault. His warriors blockaded the fort, and after a long battle, Nuwakot succumbed to the Gorkhali army. Shah’s victory at Nuwakot had him expand his territory. It warned the neighbors that he was one man to be reckoned with.
Kirtipur Attack:
Kirtipur, a small, fortified town in Kathmandu Valley, was a serious obstacle. It was strongly defended, and its inhabitants had deep loyalty to the king. Shah knew that an all-out direct attack on this fort would prove very costly and risky. So in a way, he followed an attrition tactic. He surrounded Kirtipur with his army, cutting off its supplies and the town from the rest of the Kathmandu Valley. The long months’ blockade weakened and disheartened the defenders of the town.
Eventually, the town surrendered, allowing Shah’s troops to occupy the vital point. His patience and thorough approach towards strategy paid off.
Battle of Makwanpur (1763):
Under the leadership of Prithvi Narayan Shah, a significant battle took place against the Nawab of Bengal in Makwanpurgadhi. Prithvi Narayan Shah aims to cast off the Kathmandu Valley. He did this by controlling trade routes and key locations. By 1762, he had secured the eastern and western trade routes to Lhasa from the valley. He has vanquished locations like Makwanpur, Timalkot, Sindhuli, and Hariharpur on the Mahabharat range southwest of the valley. In the conflict, the Nawab of Bengal sent troops to strike the Gorkha stronghold in Makwanpur. They were led by Digbandhan Sena, Prithvi Narayan Shah’s first wife’s elder brother. He was the deposed ruler of Makwanpur.
Battle of Chaukot:
During their unification drive in Chaukot, Gorkhalis experienced another obstacle. Within a 15-day struggle, the Gorkhas and the people of Dhulikhel were engaged in ferocious fighting. In the initial fights, they did not succeed a lot, although they tried. On the 6th of Jeth Sudi, they fought very hard for 14 hours at night. At that time, the battle was so dense that Jayakrishna Thapa fought incessantly and saved the life of Prithvi Narayan Shah. At this time, an enemy soldier was going to slaughter him. Finally, Gorkhalis retreated. They fought alone, and yet they were fighting because there was a combined force of three states.
These wars were essential in defining Nepal’s history and Prithvi Narayan Shah’s unification aspirations.
The Role of Kalu Pandey
Under the command of Kalu Pandey, Shah had an effective commander who supported him with his dedication, skill, and leadership in various important battles. positive outcomes of Shah’s plans. The man, Kalu Pandey, had the energy and charisma to inspire and lead his troops, a great factor that boosted Gorkhali in battles which included Nuwakot, Kirtipur, and others. With such strength of support from a strong commander, Kalu Pandey, Shah was assured his success as a victor of military campaigns.
Legacy Beyond Unification
As a result, Nepal was unified in the 18th century. It has remained so since then. When the king died, the state had been left with the blueprint of a centralized regime. Local government was carried out through the Mukhtiyars. All these became the foundations on which modern Nepali administration is based. His Muluki Ain has become part of the legal norms even today. Besides the administration, Shah’s policies centered on fostering national unity. Nepali as a language of communication was promoted. The culture was to be Hindu-based. National symbolism is seen through the flag which portrays the oneness of Nepal as a single entity.
Death
King Prithvi Narayan Shah died on January 11, 1775 (1832 BS Magh 1), aged 52 years, at a confluence near the meeting of the Suryamati and Trishuli rivers in Devighat, Nuwakot. He is still remembered today, decades later, as a visionary leader who laid the foundation for greater Nepal’s modern state through unification.
Prithvi Narayan Shah: The Unifier of Nepal
The life and achievements of Prithvi Narayan Shah indicate ambition, strategy, and country creation. From a young prince molded by the dynasties of battle and epics to a king who made integration a divided nation, his footprints in Nepal can never be negated. His rule created the framework of Nepal’s administration, law, and culture. It left a lasting mark still felt today. His rule created the very foundation of the administration, law, and culture, creating indelible marks that resonate even now. The greatest part of Prithvi Narayan Shah’s biography is an education about the utmost importance of leadership, vision, and strategic thought in making or breaking the fate of a country.
Dibya Upadesh of King Prithvi Narayan Shah
“मेरा साना दुखले आर्ज्याको मुलुक होइन यो चार बर्ण छात्तिश जात सबैको साझा फूलबारी हो सबैलाइ चेतना भया ।“
“घुस लिन्या र दिन्या दुबै दाेषी हुन ।“
“दुनिया जसदेखि रजि रहन्छ, उसैलाइ नै काजि दिनु ।“
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