NATIONAL 1 (Spotlight Weekly)]

Sikh Sway

The culture and traditions of the Sikh kingdom influenced Nepal’s court and squares

By AKSHAY SHARMA

The beginning of the nineteenth century saw the emergence of Bhimsen Thapa from the vortex of political intrigue and instability. Thapa’s 31-year rule and his contributions to Nepalese nationhood remain a subject of intense discussion to this day.

"He was clear-headed enough to save Nepal from British colonialism, "writes Chittaranjan Nepali in his book "Bhimsen Thapa". "He was the first person in Asia to raise the voice of cooperation in the continent."

Dharahara : Towering past

Thapa’s life was one of contrasts. "[No] Greek tragedy has presented a more dramatic catastrophe than his fearful end," P.B. Land wrote.

Less known perhaps is the influence the powerful Sikh kingdom exerted in the art and traditions of Nepal during Thapa’s rule.

The outward visual symbols established by the Khalsa have identified Sikhs around the world. The artistic traditions of the Punjab under Sikh rule are rooted in the interrelationship among Sikh, Hindu and Islamic traditions. In addition, most of the architecture in Nepal during Thapa’s period seems to have been influenced by the Sikh tradition.

"The temples that are clustered around Thapathali and the Dharahara, which was rebuilt after the 1934 earthquake to half its size, seems to reflect Sikh architecture," says Sameer Pradhan, a student of history.

These monuments reflect the cosmopolitan and egalitarian atmosphere of the Nepalese court during Thapa’s rule. This period saw a flourishing of architecture in the Nepalese court. Rich textiles of extremely high quality were produced.

A large number of objects at the museum in Chauni reveal the outstanding Nepal’s cultural achievements in the early 19th century.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh, feared as the "Lion of the Punjab", led the Sikh empire to its height during his rule from 1801 to 1839. His influence on Nepalese cultural habits seemed predominant, according to historians.

Some of the finest pieces from the court of Ranjit Singh — including the Maharaja’s famous octagonal Golden Throne, hand-crafted by a Muslim artisan in pure gold, drawing on Hindu forms — are among the artistic highlights of the era.

"With its tiled palaces and gardens of Lahore," writes another historian, "Lahore became the center of cultural and artistic activity, drawing the elites of almost every country."

Sikhism is explained through paintings and book illustrations, notably the illustrations of the Janam Sakhi manuscript that recount the life of Guru Nanak, considered the first Guru by Sikhs.

The Ten Gurus — particularly the Tenth Guru, Gobind Singh — and other exalted courtiers and religious figures are the subjects of a number of paintings.

"Nepalese architecture and thought seems to have been greatly affected by the strong Sikh kingdom," suggests Pratik Upadhaya, another history student.

The numerous ornately decorated weapons and armor on exhibition in Chauni convey a striking sense of the extravagance of the mid-19th century Nepalese court.

Among the military objects included in museum from that era include an enameled gold medal set with emeralds and diamonds; a turban helmet; a sword hilt of jade inlaid with precious stones; a full set of armour; and intricately carved pistols and a matchlock musket, manufactured in accordance with the latest European technology, with inlaid leaping figures and cast animal head finials.

The woven silks, carpets and printed cottons of Punjab are extraordinarily diverse in character — the towels made for the Hindu courts in Indian and the highly refined carpets of Lahore seems to have been available to the courtiers of Nepal.

The renowned Kashmir pashmina shawls were the most important textiles produced during the Sikh kingdom. Greatly prized at the court and by visitors, these shawls are known to have been as famous in Nepal then as they are today.

"This European perspective is also evident in many paintings by other well known artists, and albumen prints that document important sites and prominent individuals in Nepal during Bhimsen Thapa’s rule," Upadhaya.

Sikhism was founded by Guru Nanak (1469-1539) 500 years ago in what is now known as the Punjab region divided between India and Pakistan. Breaking from the caste system of the Hindu faith, he taught his disciples that God is the Truth and that all people are equal in the eyes of the Almighty.

The faith he founded emphasizes the values of democracy, tolerance, equality, courage and self-reliance.

Almost 200 years later, in April 1699, Guru Gobind Singh (1675-1708) initiated five of his followers to create the sacred brotherhood called the Khalsa, completing the work of Guru Nanak.

Declaring himself the last in the line of Gurus, he ordained the Sikh scriptures, called the Guru Granth Sahib, to be the everlasting Guru.

To ensure equality for all individuals and eradicate caste, Guru Gobind Singh asked that all men adopt the surname Singh and all women the surname Kaur.

He also prescribed the incorporation of five outward symbols for the initiates of the Khalsa — uncut hair, the comb, the steel bangle, under shorts and the kirpan (a small sword).

The Sikh empire had reached new heights in April 1801, when Ranjit Singh (1780-1839) was proclaimed the first Sikh Maharaja of the Punjab (Land of the Five Rivers) in Lahore, which lies in present-day Pakistan.

His cosmopolitan court held a powerful Sikh state, and was a scene of glittering brilliance, which dazzled European visitors, some of whom came to live at Lahore and influenced its artistic and military life. "This had a great impact on Nepal then," says Upadhaya.

The Sikh court synchronized some Mughal and Hindu patterns, using the Persian language, employing weaponry as a significant element of court costume, and commissioning paintings by well-known Indian and western artists, which may have affected the court of Nepal as well. Some words from the language used in the Sikh court may have influenced Nepali, some linguists say.

The dynamic artistic movement Ranjit Singh assembled for his court continued to thrive after his death in 1839, lasting through several wars and the annexation of the Punjab by the British.

During the same period, Bhimsen Thapa’s rule was plagued by one disaster after another, "bigger in their destructive power than the 1934 earthquake," in the words of one author.

Many monuments to his creativity remain to this day, but the territory of Nepal of that era has shrunk. Thapa’s own end came in tragic circumstances, having ended his own life in prison, according to most accounts. Many of the problems Nepal faces today are similar to those of Thapa’s era. This is probably why the man and his times are being dissected and interpreted so diligently by so many today.