MESSAGE OF UNCOVERED STATUE
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Unity Is Strength
Prithvi Narayan Shah’s, whose statue was recently uncovered, message for national unity is more relevant now than ever before
By KESHAB POUDEL
“This will not be my little painfully acquired Kingdom but a garden of every sort of people. But if every one is alert, this will be a true Hindustan of the four jats, greater and lesser, with thirty-six classes. Let there be no injustice in our country,” says Prithvi Narayan Shah in his Dibya Upadesh.
As the country has been passing through a very critical time for its existence, his messages are more relevant and important than now than ever before. He stressed the need for alertness all the time to protect and preserve this small Himalayan Kingdom .
But, there are only a few people who buy his idea these days. His views were objectionable all the time whether it was during the period of active monarchy or the period of complete Loktantra. Although the first government formed after Loktantrick Andolan has officially cancelled national unity day which is supposed to be observed on 11 January 2007, his portrait reminds Nepalis people about the importance of Nepali nationalism.
During the Panchayat period, his statues were well protected and new statues were erected but his views were suppressed as if they were objectionable. Even Royal Palace did not permit the republication of book on Prithvi Narayan Shah for quite a long time.
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In the new Loktantrick Nepal , the statue as well as his views seems to be objectionable though King Prithvi Narayan Shah has historical importance in Nepal as he represents the symbol of national unity.
Unfortunately, it took more than six months to uncover the red cloths from the face of Prithvi Narayan Shah’s statue which was destroyed by some miscreants. Following the popular uprising and restoration of House of Representatives, a group of miscreants, reportedly cadres of Maoists, had partially damaged the statue.
Although the statue of Prithvi Narayan Shah, who unified Nepal giving it the present-day modern shape, has done nothing against popular uprising, his powerful views seem to be objectionable to some who are against strong and unified Nepal.
By j ust vandalizing the statue of the nation-builder like Prithvi Narayan Shah, one cannot change his contribution to the history. In the history of modern Nepal , Prithvi Narayan Shah has a legendary role not as a mere conqueror but as one who had higher objectives and ideals to promote by unifying small and weak regimes.
“The emergence of Prithvi Narayan, as a strong monarch in the prevailing chaos and uncertainty at the time of the breakdown of tribal era, was a major factor in the growth of Nepali nationalism. It was the Gorkhali conquest that gave this country unity and strong central government. “Prithvi Narayan Shah is the hero to whose prowess the Nepalese nation owes its existence. By his valiant deeds, Prithvi Narayan transformed Gorkhali nationalism into Nepali nationalism and made it immensely more potent and factitive,” writes historian late Rishikesh Shaha in his book Heroes and Builders of Nepal. “Prithvi Narayan was a great administrator as he was a warrior.”
The statue of King Prithvi Narayan Shah, the builder of modern Nepal , in front of main secretariat building in Singha Durbar, has always reminded importance of Nepal ’s national unity as well as his administrative skills.
He has not only been a symbol of monarchy but a visionary whose sermons have reminded eternal influence to make this country a partnership of all the people despite differences.
From domestic to foreign policy, Prithvi Narayan Shah has propounded many far sighted views. “This country is like a gourd between two rocks,” herein he shows his fundamental appreciation of the fact that a small nation such as Nepal , lying as it does between two great and relatively powerful nations, has a very delicate position to maintain.
“The position of Nepal was, of course, rendered delicate, not by mere juxtaposition with such powerful neighbors. It was the complex problem of trade from the north and the south, joined to the problems of divergent sphere of influence and the expansion of the East-India company,” writes historian L.F. Stiller, S.J. “At a given time in history, under given circumstances, Prithvi Narayan Shah did rise above his fellowmen. Not all that he did was perfect. Some of the acts he placed were clearly wrong and appeared so even to him. But when the accusations against Prithvi Narayan Shah and his failures are placed together in side of scale and weighed against his achievements, the scale will show clearly that he was a great man.”
” If the citizens are wealthy, the country will be strong…. The King’s storehouse is his people... Do not leave your ancient religion…. Let there be no injustice in our country.”
These sayings of King Prithvi Narayan Shah will be forever etched in the Nepali psyche despite the current tumultuous phase.
