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PREFACE
TO THE FIRST EDITION
BY
THE AUTHOR
Nepal continues
to be a mystery land hidden in the little mountain groove confined
all to itself. The almost beastly conditions in this part of the
world, primitive as well as gruesome can be imagined than described
in words. Yet it is not an ordinary case of neither a primitive and
backward environment deliberately maintained, nor the commonplace
isolation and of naked tyranny and enslavement. A century of family
autocracy with all its cruelty and exploitation sits heavily tight
on its breast arresting it s growth in all directions. Nowhere in
this age is an example of a family ruling by virtue of propriety
rights so shamelessly evident in its entire phase of vile
persistence and unpleasant manifestations just as we find in present
day Nepal under the tyrannous regime. But he most painful aspect of
the problem has been its relegation to the background far from the
gaze of the outside world, a fact which has been utilized by the
autocracy in power to perpetrate and perpetuate its heinous act of
enslavement and exploitations. This book is intended to throw light
on various problems so far lying obscure and to draw the attention
of the world towards the unhappy lot of the Nepalese people.
A major portion
of the book covers ground of a lengthy note, which was prepared by
the author in the early months of 1942 for presenting the various
aspects of the Nepalese problem to the Indian leaders on the eve of
the great August revolution. That was the time when even in the
distant corner of the Himalayas the message of freedom had resounded
and everyone of us had felt its urge to advance on the road to a
grim struggle against the rampant feudal tyranny. Unfortunately,
however, the note fell into the hands of the Indian C. I. D. to be
alter on use as an incriminating evidence against the author in a
fake conspiracy case which entailed so much of harassment and
suffering to him personally and got lost in the tangle and tragic
drama ensuing thereafter.
The present book
is enlarged edition of the same not reproduced from memory rewritten
and reworked to contain the details as they unfolded in the course
of the fearless search for truth in the atmosphere of free Indian
after 1946. I have also added a new chapter covering the incidents
and the facts since 1942 up till today to make the document as up
–to-date as could be made possible in the changed situation, which
as lacking in view of the earlier work to have been completed in
1942. The book emerging in its present size traces events as a
historical survey to the day as late as October, 1949.
This book thus
describes conditions of Nepal in all their nudity and horror as they
developed during the last hundred years of the autocratic rule of
the Rana family. The readers will note that these conditions are
unique in the power of resistance they possess in showing themselves
hideously perpetuated, to which a great interest naturally attaches for
those of us in India, whose mind has been trained in an atmosphere
of the change owing to the unexpected withdrawal of the British Rule
in 1947.
The sources for
the historical narratives are mostly eyewitnesses’ account of them
supplemented by a few available records, which the author had to
verify by data obtained in India. I have not brushed aside the
flattering and biased versions of the events and accounts of
personalities left by interested European. But in trying to finalize
the conclusions I have always erred on the side of logical
probabilities and on deductions dictated by common sense to be based
on the study of the present condition of the place, which also
accurately reveals a grim story of the past in that context.
About the
relevance of such document as is produced here I hope no body will
have the least doubt. Such a fact giving document presented without
the least distortion
does not exist so far in regard to Nepal and further as a
country coming once again into the world picture the urgency of
knowing things in its relation has been never so keenly felt as at
in its relation has been never so keenly felt as at present. The
author will be gratified if this contribution to the knowledge of
that subject and if it also went to enliven and stimulate world
interest I the unhappy tale of the Nepalese there will be a cause to
be satisfies and optimistic about the future of the struggle which
the Nepalese people are waging relentlessly at the moment.
“Hundred years
of tyranny” was the title of the work originally proposed. But it
was taken to be undermining the historical value of the historical
value of the material and also showing the author to be a mere
propagandist with a blurred vision and unduly prejudiced in mind.
This apprehension might be incorrect and too far-fetched, but the
author had no doubt that this title was likely to create
misunderstanding. The present title “A Century of family Autocracy
in Nepal” has been, therefore adapted to avoid any such impression,
although the content has struck unaltered even to a
word.
In the end I
would like to express my gratitude to friends who have helped me in
my task. I want to mention in particular the venerable name of Dr.B.
Pattabhi Sitaramayya, the President of the Indian National Congress,
whose foreword contributed to this book has definitely enhanced its
value and prestige. It was very kind of him to spare a part of his
busy time for the work, go through the ordeal of reading the typed
manuscript at great length and to write the foreword. It only speaks
of his profound solicitude for the people of Nepal. I am really
proud of being able to be favored with the foreword and feel so much
indebted to him that it is difficult for me to express in words. The
patron without whose monetary assistance the book could not have
seen the light of print is another person to whom I owe a debt of
gratitude.
Banaras.
15-2-1950
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