Book Launch: Collection of Historical Boundary Maps Related to Nepal
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Buddhi Narayan Shrestha
Book Launch :
Collection of Historical Boundary Maps Related to Nepal
Authored by: Buddhi Narayan Shrestha
The book entitled ‘Collection of Historical Boundary Maps Related to Nepal’ was launched in a special function at the Hotel Hardik, Bagbazar, Kathmandu. The chief guest was the folklore and cultural poet Tulasi Diwas to launch the book. The other guests were political analyst Prof. Dr. Surendra KC, military heritage expert Nepal Army Retired Brigadier General Dr. Prem Singh Basnyat, senior journalist and editor of Gorkha Express Weekly Rajan Karki and myself as the author of the book.
During my turn, I spoke at first a brief introduction of the guests who were on the dais. First, Tulasi Diwas is the famous poet, literature, folklore cultural expert and author of more than three dozens of books concerning indigenous culture. Some of his books have been translated and published in twenty five languages. He has travelled more than one fourth of the world countries to participate and recite his poems. He is known by famous cultural poets in many countries.
Second, Prof. Dr. Surendra KC is a famous political analyst and vocal orator. He has given more than five thousand interviews in various electronic media, especially television and online media. He is a retired professor of history in the Tribhuvan University. Now, he teaches in various private institutes and in some other education sectors. He does the comment and critical appreciation of many of the Nepali political leaders time and often in the electronic media. He is the author of more than a dozen books, including diplomatic history of Nepal. He is known far and wide in the Nepali community at home and abroad.
Third, Nepal Army Retired Brigadier General Dr. Prem Singh Basnyat is the military heritage expert. He is a researcher on the forts, fortress and war castle of the border areas of Nepal. He has obtained knowledge on the border issues of Nepal and he is the analyst of Anglo-Gurkha War 1814-16. He has a loud solid proof voice, while giving interviews to the media. He has authored eighteen books, including Military History & Heritage of Nepal, Anglo-Nepal War : Military Review as well.
Fourth, Rajan Karki is the senior journalist and editor of Gorkha Express Weekly. He writes on a column regularly in his weekly. He has written seven books and translated six other books from Hindi and English.
After the launching of my book by the dignitaries, I spoke: while we talk on the border issues of Nepal, we have to deal on the 1439 kilometre long Nepal-China boundary and 1880 kilometre long Nepal-India boundary line as well. There is one issue with China at Korlangpariko Tippa in the Lapcha village, located north of Lamabagar of Dolakha district. This is a matter of six hectares of Nepali territory.
While talking the border issue with India, according to my study and research, there are encroachments, disputes, claims and counter-claims at 71 places and spots. Its total area is 606 square kilometre.
Everybody knows that there are disputes of encroachment of the territory of Nepal by India in Greater Limpiyadhura area (372 sq km). The next issue is the Susta area with 145 sq km and the rest 89 sq km in other 69 places and spots.
I narrated: as almost all the Nepali people know, India published a new ‘Political Map of India’ on 2 November 2019 encroaching Nepal’s territory of Lipulek-Kalapani-Limpiyadhura, which consists of Nabhidang, Gunji, Nabi, Kuti settlements of Nepal. Nepal protested it saying that new map of India has encroached the territory of Nepal. Nepal ministry of foreign affairs sent five diplomatic notes inviting India for bilateral talk on this matter. At first, India ignored. While Nepal pressed, India responded that the talk will not be possible during COVID-19 pandemic period. However, after the subsiding of the pandemic, Nepal followed up, but India was not willing to talk with Nepal on the border issue. So, it was under compulsion that Nepal published a new ‘Political & Administrative Map of Nepal (Chuche Naksa or Pointed Map)’ on 20 May 2020 including the whole area that was encroached by India, just after India-China Border War-1962. It became a ‘Conflict of Maps’ between Nepal and India. The same area of Greater Limpiyadhura area has been overlapped on the map published from Nepal and India.
In such a situation, my book, just now formally released, will be helpful to resolve the dispute over Greater Kalapani or Limpiyadhura. The book contains collection of 90 historical boundary maps related to Nepal published from 1800s to nearly to this date. The maps prepared in 1795. 1805, 1819, 1827, 1851, 1856, 1880, 1907, 1947 and some other published in Chinese, Tibetan, Japanese, German, French characters depict that the river Kalee (Mahakali) is originated from Limpiyadhura. I have collected these maps from the Library of Congress- Washington DC, British Museum Library- London, Public Record Office- London, Royal Geographical Society Library- London, National Library of China- Beijing, and Nepal National Library, Keisher Library, Madan Puraskar Library, Tribhuvan University Central Library- Kathmandu etc.
I further said: while talking by the government of Nepal to India government organizations about the Lipulek-Kalapani-Limpiyadhura border issue, this book will be the solid proof and evidence that the area of Greater Limpiyadhura, encroached by India, belongs to Nepal. Nepal government authorities and researchers must study this book to discuss, plead, negotiate and mediate to maintain and preserve the territorial frontier, sovereignty and national integrity of Nepal.
I opined that discussion and dialogue is the first and foremost clue to negotiate the border issues with the neighbouring countries. If it is negotiated and settled the issue with each other, that will be permanent or for ever. On the other aspect, if one country wins in the United Nations or international court of justice, that may not be sustainable for ever. The loosing country will create unnecessary disturbances and annoyances to the winner country time and often, even in a trifle matter. So, Nepal must apply a clever, meaningful and tactful diplomacy to resolve the border grievances that India may not harass Nepal in future taking the same old issue.
During my speech, I mentioned that I have written fourteen books and eighteen other books in co-authorship. I am the Editor-in-Chief, MILAN Magazine published by JICA Alumni Association of Nepal, Kathmandu. I have published more than 600 articles in daily, weekly and monthly newspapers, magazines and journals. I have given more than 450 interviews on electronic and paper media (including BBC London, and Nepali / Hindi Services, China Global Television Network, Nepali Television Washington DC).
During my talk, I highlighted on one of my books entitled ‘International Boundaries of Nepal. The English script book was published by Lambert Academic Publishing, Latvia, Europe in 2019. It has been translated and recently published by the same publisher in eight languages (Russian, French, German, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Polish). Foreword of the book is written by Professor Martin Pratt, Former Director of International Boundaries Research Unit (IBRU), University of Durham, UK.
Various items such as international boundary principles, stages of boundary making, reasons of boundary aggression, border disputed countries of the world, ways and means to resolve the issues, countries of the world who fought on the border issues, border diplomacy and other theoretical deliberations etc etc have been elaborated in the book. This book has been published by Nirala Publication, New Delhi, India, as the South Asian Edition in 2021.
At the end of my talk, I thanked all the dignitaries who released my book jointly. Similarly, I extended thanks to the audiences who came here to show their love and respect to the national boundaries of Nepal. I also expressed gratitude to the electronic, paper and online media to publish the news of my book launch.
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Prof. Dr. Surendra KC was the next speaker. He said: Buddhi Narayan Shrestha had published his book entitled ‘ Nepalko Simana (Boundary of Nepal) in 2000 AD. We had visited Jhapa Bhadrapur to know the location of Junge Pillars and to study the border encroachment situation of Susta area, together in a group. There is an Indian encroachment in Kalapani area. There are Indian para-military men in our territory. Chandani-Dodhara, sovereign territory of Nepal have been neglected. Our political leaders are selfish and they are not intended to resolve the border issues. The then incumbent foreign minister Panday had said that King Mahendra sold the Kalapani territory with two boxes of gold. What is this mysterious saying ? On the other hand Bhairab Risal, noted senior journalist, has said his team had conducted census of the Kalapani area in 2018 BS.
9-Photo of Surendra KC speaking
K C further spoke: Buddhi Narayan is studying and motivating to resolve the border issues with India. In the present book, border issues have been engraved with the maps, which will help to resolve the issues with India. He has published many other books. Important thing is to read and understand the facts and figures mentioned in the book. He has established the statistics of the boundary of Nepal. The maps included in the present book does not have in the national archives of government of Nepal. But, Buddhi has collected these maps from the American Library of Congress, British Museum Library- London, National Library of China- Beijing etc. He has created awareness and spelled solution of boundary disputes.
He has published Chuche Naksa (Beaked Map) in 2003 in his book. Unfortunately, Chuche Naksa is not included in the new constitution of Nepal-2015. It should have been included in one of the pages of the constitution. However, government has published Chuche Naksa in 2020 AD. Present book written by Buddhi Narayan will be useful also for Nepal government. I congratulate him and wish he will continue his study and research in the days to come as well.
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Nepal Army Retired Brigadier General Dr. Prem Singh Basnyat opined that this book consists of historical facts and figures. The writer of this book border expert Buddhi Narayan Shrestha uses to raise his voice loudly time and often while there are border encroachments by the neighbour of Nepal. At other times also, he is keen to raise the issue. His books must be read by all to know the border issues of Nepal and means to resolve it. In the historical times, military men would demarcate the border of Nepal. In these days, civilians demarcate and manage the national boundaries of Nepal. While the a few soil of the nation is encroached, the heart of the Nepali people will be burnt. So we must feel and act to protect the boundary of our nation. The book, just launched, is useful also for the laymen to researchers to know the territorial integrity of Nepal. The book consists solid proofs of maps like Lipulek-Kalapani-Limpiyadhura belongs to Nepal. If the neighbour is with a bad intention, the other neighbour will be in sorrowful state. So is the case for Nepal by the neighbour India. Our forefathers were ready to sacrifice their lives to protect the soil of the nation. But, now, we are not to that state of spirit. This is sorrowful. In this context, Nepal army should be aware to protect the boundary of Nepal. The boundary issues, if not resolved, that comes ultimately on the shoulder of the army men of the nation.
10-Photo of Prem Singh Basnyat speaking
It seems that Nepal government is not eager to talk to India and China on the issue of the boundary of Nepal. But we, the general people, should create awareness to our government to resolve the border disputes and issues with our neighbouring countries. I emphasize that Nepal army must be active ultimately, to protect our national boundary. Army should consult the concerned experts and researchers to maintain the territorial integrity of Nepal. Buddhi Narayan Shrestha is the voice raiser to make aware to protect the boundary of sovereign nation. I wish all the best to him to continue his voice on the border issues of Nepal.
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The folklore, poet, litterateur and folk-cultural expert Tulasi Diwas said as the chief guest of the book launch programme: I am happy to release this book authored by Buddhi Narayan Shrestha. Buddhi’s book has much important to resolve the border issues with the help of maps and charts. Our country, our home, our land and soil is important for the integrity of all the people of Nepal. I would like to mention that if we loose a bit of our own personal land, there will be quarrel and fight with our neighbour. But, we have lost our possession of a portion of our national territory at Kalapani area, our government is not sensitive to talk to the neighbouring country. Every citizen of the country should protect our territory, in the same manner as we save a small piece of our personal land. If it is necessary to flow our blood for the protection of our national territory, we must be ready for that. I repeat, every Nepali must protect our national boundary, as to protect our personal land. In the history, our forefather had created ‘Greater Nepal.’ Now, it is necessary to become aware ourselves to protect our territory.
Diwas further said: awareness should be created. Buddhi Narayan’s book has created awareness to the general people. Some of the points mentioned in the book, I had not known. It has given me some more knowledge on the boundaries of Nepal. To protect our national territory, we have to read this book, authored by Buddhi. Proof is not sufficient, But on the basis of that proofs, we have to fight for our nation for the territorial integrity of Nepal. Actually, gun is not necessary to protect our nation. But we should be united in one unit for the awareness and extension of consciousness and feeling to save our nation. We must be one-mouth with single thinking for the protection of our boundary. At present, love to the nation is to create the consciousness. So we have to go ahead to create consciousness and awareness. Regarding Buddhi Narayan’s activities, it will be insufficient, if we jointly roar our voices loudly. He has done his work attentively, according to his name Buddhi (wisdom). I wish, he may continue his intellect for the protection of national boundary of Nepal.
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Welcoming all the guests and audiences and media persons, senior journalist and editor of Gorkha Express Weekly Rajan Karki, at first, recited a poem authored by him concerning the national boundary of Nepal and its security. He said: there are encroachments from Mechi of the east to Kalapani on the west by India. He questioned: is it the role of a good neighbour ? It is not good to make dispute and encroach neighbours’ portion of territory. So, we, the Nepalese, should be united in one bundle within our sovereign nation to protect our territory. Sikkim was amalgamated and annexed with India by the role of the then Lhendub Dorjee. Lhendub was virtually dead when alive. He slayed his own country and his body is dead. We should not be as Lhendub in our country.
Karki further spoke: leadership in our country is not capable to lead the nation for the protection of territorial integrity. At present, Nepal is in sorrowful state, Nepal is in danger. This is my thinking. Border security is in grave danger with lapses. There is a danger that our southern neighbour India is powerful to encroach our territory from Mahakali, Lipulek-Kalapani-Limpiyadhura to Mechi to the east. In this context, we must be highly sensitive and aware for the territorial integrity and to save the soil of our motherland Nepal.
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