Nepal’s Diplomatic Renaissance

Yuba Nath Lamsal
In the anal of history, the period under the Malla dynasty is a national renaissance particularly in the areas of art, architecture, trade and diplomacy. Nepal takes pride in the superiority of art and architecture of the Malla period. Most national heritages and brilliant art works of Kathmandu Valley are the creation and contribution of the Malla period. Similarly, Nepal, during the Malla period, was economically prosperous due primarily to its trade with Tibet. The economic prosperity had also enlarged Nepal’s political and diplomatic clout in all its vicinity. But this clout faded after Yaksha Malla divided his kingdom into different states among his sons and daughters. All the economic activities and trade with Tibet were then limited to the three kingdoms of the Kathmandu Valley. The relationship with Tibet was based on trade while relationship with China was more of a political nature.
Exchange of missions
There is one particular incident of historic significance in Nepal’s diplomatic relations with China and Tibet. During the reign of Jayabhimdev Malla, a team of Nepali artists led by Balabahu (Araniko) was sent on a project to Tibet and China at the request of Chinese Emperor Kublai Khan. According to Satyamohan Joshi, Araniko reached Lhasa in 1260, where he accomplished the task of building a golden pagoda style monastery in 1261. Upon reaching Peking in 1264, Chinese Emperor Kublai Khan, impressed by his genius, appointed Araniko in the imperial service with the responsibility of supervising the construction of temples and pagodas in China. Araniko soon became famous in China and his talent and reputation enhanced the image of Nepal, thus, leaving a significant imprint in the diplomatic history of Nepal. The relations between Nepal and China remained cordial and friendly for many years, which were marked by exchanges of missions and gifts between them as a sign of respect to one another. Leo Rose in his book ‘Nepal Strategy for Survival’ says, “In the period between 1384 and 1427, five Chinese missions and seven Nepali missions were exchanged between Nepal and China”.
Nepal, however, experienced a friction with its neighbours both in the north and the south, particularly, during the reign of Ratna Malla. The Tibetans and Bhutanese with the support of locals tried to destabilise Nepal. According to historian Balchandra Sharma, Ratna Malla, using his diplomatic acumen, sought help from Tirhout of India and Palpa to settle the problem.
In the 16th century, the Mugals had already established their powerful empire in India with their capital in Delhi. They were further expanding the empire. If the Mugals had moved to the north, Nepal definitely would have been its target. Sensing this danger, Mahendra Malla sought to better relations with Delhi and kept the Mugals at a distance through diplomacy. Perceval Landon says, “Mahendra Malla sent a mission to Mugal Emperor Humayun with a white swan and several falcons as token of respect from Nepal and Humayun, accepting Nepal’s friendship offer, sent some silver coins to Nepal’s king in return”. This was Nepal’s shrewd diplomacy to safeguard its independence and territorial integrity. The gift in the form of silver coins given to Nepal by the Mugal emperor also marked a historic event as it inspired Mahendra Malla to start minting silver coins in Nepal.
Tibet and China had relations with other states of Nepal apart from Kathmandu Valley’s kings as Nepal had been divided into many tiny states. Vijaya Kumar Manandhar in a book ‘A Comprehensive History of Nepal-China Relations Upto 1955 AD’ says, “Bali Raja was the king of Jumla, the biggest of the Baise (twenty-two) principalities around 1404 AD”. Manandhar has pointed out a reference about the Chinese government promising to give Bali Raja seven ‘dharnis’ (about 17.5 kilogram) of gold, good horses, brocades etc as well as the signing of a religious treaty between them. He also mentions a reference about ‘king Mahipal of Sinja (Jumla) signing a treaty with the Chinese Emperor and sending many horses to him”.
The Malla kingdoms of Kathmandu Valley (Kantipur, Bhadgaun and Patan) used to supply silver coins to Tibet, and in return they would get gold and silver from Tibet, which was very profitable business for Nepal. Thus, these kingdoms of the Kathmandu Valley had been desperately competing to control business with Tibet. Also there used to be periodic row with Tibet on issues of trade and purity of silver coins supplied by Nepali kingdoms.  The disputes sometimes led to war. When Tibet was weakened due its internal conflicts, and Kathmandu Valley’s three kings were also preoccupied in their bitter rivalries, Ram Shah, the king of Gorkha, invaded Tibet and took control of Kerong and the areas as far as Kukurghat of Tibet. The advance of Gorkha troops forced Tibet government to sign a treaty, thereby giving the Gorkhalis control over a main trade route between Nepal and Tibet, which was until then under the control of Kathmandu. The new treaty between Gorkha and Tibet served as a blow to Kathmandu. With Gorkha’s control over main trade route of Kerong, Kathmandu lost revenue from Tibet trade. However, Kathmandu’s king opened new trade route to Tibet via Kuti under the command of Bhim Malla in the period between 1645 and 1650.  A new treaty was negotiated to a greater advantage to Nepal. Upon return to Kathmandu, Bhim Malla, however, was rather greeted with insult as his enemies complained with the king against him. Being influenced by them, the king ordered Bhim Malla’s assassination, despite his patriotic works accomplished during his Tibet mission.
Fragmentation and unification had been the continuous process in the making of Nepal, which continued in all dynasties that ruled Nepal. There were many small principalities and kingdoms within the territory of present day Nepal. But the Kathmandu Valley represented the mainstream politics of Nepal. During Yaksha Malla’s reign, Nepal’s boundary had been extended far and wide in all directions but this glory lived short as he divided his kingdom, paving the way for fragmenting Nepal into more than 50 different principalities.
Tricks and tactics
Historian Surendra KC has categorised these principalities into six boarder groups on the basis of their nature and their interrelationship. These groups include: 1. Palpa League—Palpa, Jajarkot, Rishing, Ghiring, Arghakhachi and Gulmi. 2. Lamjung League—Lamjung, Kaski and Tanahu. 3. Bhirkot League—Nuwakot (West), Paiyu and Garahu 4. Parbat League— Parbat, Malebam and Galkot. 5. Pyuthan League—Pyuthan, Musikot, Isma, Khungri, and Bhingri and 6. Family League—states having close family relations like states ruled by Sen kings (Palpa, Butwal, Tanahu, Rishing, Makwanpur, Rajpur, Bijayapur and Chaudandi), states ruled by Shah kings (Gorkha, Kaski, Lamjung, Lasargha, Garahu, Satahu, Dhor and Pallo Nuwakot) and states ruled by Malla kings (Kantipur, Bhadgaun and Patan). Relationship among these states had never been cordial. KC further says that relationship among these states had been mainly characterised by jealousy, rivalry, groupism, treachery, attacks and counter attacks. Each state used to suspect the other even though they were bound by matrimonial and family ties. It was the basis of diplomacy of that time. Based on these tricks and tactics, the states tried to defend themselves from the potential invaders and intruders.
These states often waged wars against each another and at the same time entered into peace accords depending upon the situation. More rivalry was among states ruled by Shah kings namely Gorkha, Lamjung, Tanahu and Kaski. Similarly, the state of relationship among the Malla kings of the Kathmandu Valley was also marked by animosity and suspicion. The Sen states were also not an exception and there had also been wars and conflicts among themselves. Prithvi Narayan Shah took advantage of this rivalry between different states and brought them under Gorkha’s control, thereby laying the foundation of a unified Nepal.

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