The ancient Kirat country, as mentioned in Kirat history, extended from the western region of Kashmir to the eastern region of Myanmar, along the foothills of the Himalayas. Among Nepal's indigenous communities, the Kiratis have the most solid and well-documented history, dating back to 800 BC (800 years before Christ), which is approximately 833 years before the start of the AD era or 833 years before the death of Christ. In Kathmandu, the Kirat King Yalambar established the Kirat rule, a period that predates the birth of Lord Gautam Buddha by 177 years and the birth of the Muslim prophet Muhammad by 1,404 years.
While other indigenous communities have histories, it is difficult to find well-documented evidence. In Nepal's history, the Kiratis are the only indigenous community to have ruled the Kathmandu Valley. The Kirat dynasty, with 29 rulers (some sources mention 32 Kirat kings), had the longest reign in the Kathmandu Valley. After their defeat in the war with the Lichchhavis, the Kiratis continued to rule in the eastern region of Nepal, divided into Majh Kirat, Pallokirat, and Wallo Kirat, until the unification of Nepal by Prithvi Narayan Shah.
Historical records indicate that the Kirat rule in Nepal lasted for a very long period, from their reign in Kathmandu until before the unification by Prithvi Narayan Shah. Before the Kirat era, the Mahishapal and Gopal dynasties ruled Kathmandu. It is said that the Gopals were cattle herders, while the Mahishapals were buffalo herders. There is a legend that Lord Krishna settled the Gopals in the Kathmandu Valley, but these stories are considered mythical and seem to diminish the significance of Kirat history. The descendants of the Kirats are the original inhabitants, while there is no concrete evidence of the Mahishapals and Gopals. According to the 2011 census of Nepal, the population of Yadavs is 1,054,458, Rai is 620,004, and Limbu is 387,300.
The reign of Yalambar predates the birth of Jesus and Lord Gautam Buddha by many years. The establishment of Pashupatinath is also believed to have occurred during the Kirat era. There is still a place called Kirateshwar in Pashupatinath, though it is now obscure and known to only a few. Regardless, Nepal's history lacks clear documentation of the Mahishapal and Gopal dynasties, and the country's well-documented history begins with the Kirat era.
In Tibetan tradition, after the death of a Dalai Lama, another Lama is appointed. The current Dalai Lama, who is exiled in India and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, is not the first but the 14th Dalai Lama. Currently, nations of Mongolian descent are almost like enemies among themselves. China and Korea do not favor Japan, as parts of China and Korea were once under Japanese colonial rule.
North and South Korea also do not get along. Similarly, Bhutan does not favor China, and many people of Tibetan origin reside in Bhutan. Even the Bhutanese king is of Tibetan origin. They have always been suspicious that, like Tibet, China might annex Bhutan. However, Bhutan and India are friendly nations. Bhutan does not have embassies in any country other than India, and Bhutan's foreign policy is determined in consultation with India. The exchange rate of their currency is also maintained equally by India and Bhutan.
Bhutan has a population of less than 800,000, with about 35% being of Nepali origin. Approximately 200,000 Bhutanese refugees of Nepali origin have been resettled in various countries. After the Nepali-speaking Bhutanese protested, the Nepali language is no longer taught in Bhutan; education is conducted in Dzongkha and English mediums. However, many in Bhutan understand the Nepali language but cannot read or write it.
Their trade is with neighboring Nepali-speaking Indian states like Sikkim and Assam, making it necessary to speak Nepali, though their accent differs. In Asian and world history, the Mongol Empire is very renowned. However, the Kirat civilization is about 2,000 years older than the reign of Genghis Khan, the ruler of the Mongol Empire, and about 500 years older than the era of world conqueror Alexander the Great.
After losing in Kathmandu, the Kiratis continued to rule in the eastern region of Nepal. Besides Nepal, Kiratis have been residing in countries like Bhutan, Burma (Myanmar), and India. Due to globalization, they are now living in many countries, including Hong Kong, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States. If we do not preserve our civilization for future generations, our descendants may become confused and start seeking their identity as Mongols.
Therefore, we Kiratis are the indigenous people of Nepal. The western Khas people also fall under the Kirat category, as Kirat history indicates, which is very important for all Kiratis. Now, moving towards the Mongol Empire, around the 1200s AD, there was a ruler named Genghis Khan (known as Chinggis Khan in Mongolia) in present-day Mongolia. He had conquered almost all parts of Asia; it is said that he had achieved victory over 22% of the world's land area. He is also referred to as the Asian Alexander.
Alexander is considered a world conqueror; the Greek emperor Alexander was born in present-day Macedonia. The Mongols had reached as far as Tibet, China, and India, but they could not enter Nepal. One reason for this was that, at that time, there were Muslim rulers of the Khilji dynasty in parts of present-day Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India. It is said that Alauddin Khilji was a brave warrior ruler who saved present-day India from the Mongols. Had Alauddin Khilji not existed, it is possible that the Mongols might have captured present-day Nepal as well. India has a history of being under various Muslim rulers, including the Mughal Empire, and later under British colonial rule. It has been only 73 years since independence from the British.
During Alauddin Khilji's reign, the Mongols fighting were descendants of Genghis Khan. Had Genghis Khan himself been alive at that time, he might have defeated Alauddin. However, over time, Mongolia began losing its territories and gradually weakened. Now, to reach their own territory, Tibet, they had to go through China. After that, Mongolia sent a Lama, a Buddhist religious teacher, to Tibet, elevating him to a king-like status. That Lama began to be known as the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama is not an individual's name but a title or position given by Mongolia.
After the death of a Dalai Lama, the tradition in Tibet was to appoint another Lama. The current Dalai Lama, who is exiled in India and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, is not the first but the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet. Currently, nations of Mongolian descent are almost like enemies among themselves. China and Korea do not favor Japan; at one time, Korea and China were colonies of Japan. North Korea and South Korea also do not get along, and Bhutan does not favor China either. There are many people of Tibetan origin in Bhutan, and even the Bhutanese king is of Tibetan origin. They always had suspicions that, like Tibet, China might annex Bhutan as well. However, Bhutan and India are friendly nations. Bhutan does not have its embassy in any country other than India, and Bhutan's foreign policy is determined in consultation with India. They have also maintained equal exchange rates for their currencies.
Bhutan has a population of less than 800,000, with about 35% being of Nepali origin. Approximately 200,000 Bhutanese refugees of Nepali origin have been resettled in various countries. After the Nepali-origin Bhutanese started agitating, the Nepali language is no longer taught in Bhutan. Education there is conducted in Dzongkha and English mediums, but many in Bhutan understand the Nepali language, though they cannot read or write it.
Their trade is with neighboring Nepali-speaking Indian states like Sikkim and Assam, so there is a compulsion to speak the Nepali language, but their accent is different. In the history of Asia and the world, the Mongol Empire is very renowned. However, the Kirat civilization is about 2,000 years older than the reign of Genghis Khan, the ruler of the Mongol Empire, and about 500 years older than the reign of world conqueror Alexander the Great.
After being defeated in Kathmandu, the Kiratis continued to rule in the eastern region of Nepal. Besides Nepal, the Kiratis have been residing in countries like Bhutan, Burma (Myanmar), and India. Now, due to globalization, they are also residing in countries like Hong Kong, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and America. If we do not preserve our civilization for future generations, our descendants might be confused and start seeking their identity merely as Mongols.
The Kirat civilization
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