Nepal: From 1768 to 2015.A chronology of Nepal’s political history: From the time Prithvi Narayan Shah unified Nepal to the present day

A chronology of Nepal’s political history: From the time Prithvi Narayan  Shah unified Nepal to the present day.

1768: Prithvi Narayan Shah conquered Kathmandu and unified Nepal

1816: General Bhimsen Thapa’s Gorkha Forces surrenders to the British, which led to the ratification of Peace and Friendship of Sugauli – “The Sugauli Treaty.” As per the treaty, Nepal lost Sikkim (including Darjeeling), the territories of Kumaon and Garhwal, the territories of Ancient Mithila region and most of the lands of the Madhesh (Terai). The Mechi River became the new eastern border and the Mahakali river the western boundary of the kingdom.

1846: “The Kot Massacre” took place and Jung Bahadur Rana established the Rana Dynasty

1950: The Rana domination came to an end. In India, the end of the British Raj had left the Ranas without supporters and the Independence of India had inspired a similar hunger for self-rule and democracy in Nepal. It was at this time that the then-Prince Gyanendra Shah (later to assume the throne after the 2001 Royal Massacre) was briefly proclaimed king by the Rana regime, despite the fact that he was only 3 years old, in a bid to oust his grandfather King Tribhuvan.

1951: Matrika Prasad Koirala then President of Nepali Congress (founded in 1950), nominated by H.M. the King as the Prime Minister – the first commoner Prime Minister under the democratic set up.

1955 – 1960: After the demise of King Tribhuwan in 1955, King Mahendra ascends throne. The king agrees to establish a constitutional monarchy. 1960: King Mahendra seizes control after a brief period of multi-party democracy. King Mahendra had just taken over absolute power after dismissing an elected government. The democratic government of Jawaharlal Nehru in India was not too pleased.

The Panchayat System was formulated under which the King exercises full power.

1972: King Mahendra dies, succeeded by King Birendra.

1980 – 1986: 1980: King agrees to allow direct elections to national assembly – but on a non-party basis. 1985: NCP begins civil disobedience campaign for restoration of multi-party system. 1986: New elections boycotted by NCP.

1989: Border blockade by Delhi under Rajiv Gandhi. Following a dispute over negotiating lapsed trade and transit treaties with Kathmandu, New Delhi abruptly shut 19 of 21 border crossings with Nepal, cutting off links to the Kolkata port, which served as the only sea outlet to the land-locked nation, as well as several North Indian cities. The 13-month long blockade had a devastating effect on Nepal’s economy and cornered the powerful monarchy.

1990 – 1991: Pro-democracy agitation co-ordinated by NCP. Street protests suppressed by security forces resulting in deaths and mass arrests. King Birendra eventually bows to pressure and agrees to new democratic constitution.

Nepali Congress Party wins first democratic elections. Girija Prasad Koirala becomes prime minister.

1995: New elections lead to formation of communist party which was later dissolved. Start of Maoist revolution.

2001: The Royal Massacre. Gyanendra crowned King.

2001-2003: 2001: State of emergency declared. 2003: Maoists and the government declare ceasefire but the rebels end the peace talks the same year.

2005: King Gyanendra takes full power and dismisses the government.

2006 – 2007: King Gyanendra agrees to reinstate parliament following weeks of violent strikes and protests against direct royal rule. Maoist rebels call a three-month ceasefire. The government and Maoist rebels begin peace talks, the first in nearly three years. 2007: Maoist leaders enter parliament under the terms of a temporary constitution.

2007 – 2008: Maoists quit interim government to press demand for monarchy to be scrapped. This forces the postponement of November’s constituent assembly elections. Parliament approves abolition of monarchy as part of peace deal with Maoists, who agree to re-join government.

Nepal becomes a republic. End of Monarch. Ram Baran Yadav becomes Nepal’s first president.

2011: CA assembly fails to draft the new constitution.

2014: Sushil Koirala is elected as the new Prime Minister. PM Modi visits Nepal.

2015: Nepal endorses the new constitution.

The Present Day: “Unofficial” border blockade from India results in fuel crisis in Nepal.

Nepal never have had a stable political history, nevertheless, Nepalese move on with high hopes for the nation and future.

Credit: BBC and other sources for dates, timeline, information and images. 

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