Nepal is an ancient nation. Nepal has been mentioned in Hindu epic Mahabharata and Hindu Scripture Skanda Purana. However, the mention of Nepal in the Mahabharata and Skanda Purana does not prove the age of Nepal because when these versions of Mahabharata and Skanda Purana were written is also a point to consider. The popular version of the history of Nepal is about 2000 years old, however, the authentic version of Nepalese history is just about 1500 years. The popular version of Nepalese history begins with the Gopal dynasty, followed by the Mahispal dynasty, Kirat dynasty, Lichhevi dynasty, Malla dynasty, and the finally Shah dynasty. The authentic history of Nepal begins from the Kirat dynasty.
Nepal has always remained a free country in the written history. The country was never captured by foreign power. Even when the British ruled in India, Nepal was a free country. Likewise, Chinese empire also never captured Nepal. Nepal was never colonized, however, Nepal had once colonized Tibet. Nepal had to give up her claim to Tibet after 1792 Nepal-China war.
Nepal also fought with the British for two years which ended in 1816. Sadly, Nepal lost her eastern, western and southern territory to the British-India. Despite losing the war, Nepal remained a free country.
However, the burning question is was Nepal actually a free country. Nepal was never colonized. However, after signing treaty in 1816, Nepal had to accept a British Resident Mission. It is true that the British did not interfere in Nepalese politics, however, the Ranas, the defacto ruling dynasty were supposed to inform the Resident of the change of Prime Minister.
In 1950, Nepal overthrew 104 years old oligarchy. India had been recently free from the British. Nepal-India signed 1950 treaty that included claws that clearly showed political interference from the Indian side.
Whether we are humans or animals, we all love freedom. The concept of freedom is very old, it is as old as history itself. Sadly, even though freedom is old concept, freedom was not politically accepted until the United States became free.
United States is the first country to become free from the British Empire. It was in July 4, 1776 when the United States declared independence. The Independence Day, popularly called Fourth of July is the national day of the United States. After United States became free from British Empire, it began to vouch for the end of colonial rules in Asia and Africa. The second world was a great change in the human history in a sense that many Asian and African countries became free from colonial rules.
Statue of Liberty is a great symbol of freedom. The statue is on Liberty Island in New York Bay, United States. Statue of Liberty was gifted to the United States by the People of France to commemorate independence and friendship. French had helped the American to during the War of Independence. Interestingly, the United States had helped France during the French Revolution. The tie between the United States and France has an interesting pattern. The American people helped France to overthrow royalty and establish a republic. The French government sent armies during the War of Independence which helped American people to establish the United States of America. After the second world was ended America told France to give freedom to Vietnam. However, years later, America started a war in Vietnam.
There are numerous freedom movements. French Revolution is one of its kind in promoting Freedom. The French people revolted against the ruling class and devised a system to rule themselves. War of Independence is another freedom movement. Even in Nepal, we have fought against Ranas, and Shahs.
Originally, the concept of freedom only applied to men. Women were treated as inferior being until the beginning of 20th century. For thousands of years women were subjugated, until women movement egan in the early 20th century.
The Socialist Party of America held the first National Woman’s Day in 1909, to champion women’s rights and suffrage. On March 19, 1911, the international version of the US holiday was observed in Denmark, Austria, Germany and Switzerland. On March 8, 1917, Russian women staged strike and protested against food shortages, poor living conditions and World War I. It was in 1921, when the date of International Women’s day was changed to March 8. The United Nations officially recognized the International Women’s Day in 1975.
Everywhere freedom movements are rising. In some places, it is creating racial division
In recent times, racial divide is outgrowing in the world. Here are few examples.
After the end of Apartheid era South Africa has been priding itself as a rainbow nation, but a recent study suggests that lacuna between black and the white has not been patched up. Even amongst the black South Africans, skepticism in-between native and immigrants is alarmingly high.
In the United States, ratio of white American to Hispanic, African and Asian American is 60 to 40, however by the year 2060, social anthropologists believe, it will reversed. When it was asked by the BBC, in World Have Your Say, what it means to be an American, Americans said as long as people are deep rooted into their Asian, African or Hispanic identities – language, culture and tradition – they won’t be proper US citizens. Such kind of notion harms the society, however, this mindset is not the outcome of recent happenings.
If you follow American news, you might have noticed what’s happening in the United States recently. Slavery ended in the US in 1865, however, the African American did not have voting rights until 1965. The Black Americans had to wait 100 more years to become actually. However, the recent demonstrations in the United States show that the African Americans have not totally been assimilated in the American society.
India is a country of myriad cultures and religions. After India became free, the new constitution promulgated the country secular and India became a largest country with Muslim population outside Islamic world. However, the demonstration ensued after the new citizenship bill was passed show that Muslims are still thought to be outsiders and they are yet to be assimilated in the Indian society.
The racial divide is also strong in Nepal. There is a division between the Pahadias and Madheshis, between the Janajati and the Bhaun-Chhetris, and such more.