Prologue: Bhimsen is Nepal, and Nepal is Bhimsen
Prologue: Nepal is Bhimsen, and Bhimsen is Nepal
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One is born in this world in order to undergo the fruits of actions performed in past life. After the fruits of such actions are undergone, the soul is separated from the body. It then departs to another world to undergo the fruits of actions performed by it during its residence in the body. This is the way of the world. – King Girvan Yuddha Bir Bikram Shah of Nepal
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He was the first Nepalese statesman who grasped the meaning of the system of protectorate which Lord Wellesley had carried out in India. He saw one native state after another came within the net of British Subsidiary Alliance and his policy was steadily directed to save Nepal from a similar fate. – Percival Landon
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If I die the nation will not die, but if Bhimsen dies the nation will collapse. – King Rajendra Bir Bikram Shah of Nepal
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"Go capture the fort that you could not win by war, but now we have left it at our own will". - Balbhadra Kunwar, Captain of the Royal Nepalese Army
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“Chasing angels or fleeing demons, go to the mountains.” - Old Nepali Quote
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May 25th, 1816, Kathmandu, Nepal
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Bhimsen Thapa, the Mukhtiyar (Prime Minister of Nepal) clenched his teeth as sweat poured down his 41 year old body. He looked towards the roof of the Durbar once before looking towards the distance the Angrezi (British) enter the court. Poor King Girvan Yuddha Bir Bikram Shah. The young King had survived the deadly disease of small pox against all odds. And the old man in Bhimsen Thapa felt guilty as Edward Gardner entered the Durbar admiring it as he walked with the two Royal guards behind him. He was the commander-in-chief of the army during the war, and everything Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah, Bahadur Bir Bikram Shah had done was suddenly thrown out of the window in the war that had just ended between them and the English. It was his fault that the kingdom had lost the war, and his fault that the efforts of great Nepali men now lay dead on the floor for nothing. His fist clenched in self depreciation and anger for a moment. He stared right ahead as Edward Gardner walked up to him and said “Maharaja Bhimsen Thapa, it is an honor to meet you.”
Bhimsen mentally asked why in the world did he ever learn English for a second before putting up a fake polite smile and replied “Mr. Gardner, an honor to meet our resident British.”
“Yes it is an honor to be in the legendary city of Kasthamandap. Our Indian citizens in the south speak such wondrous tales about it, and I can see, they weren’t exaggerated.” Gardner replied as he tipped his hat.
“Thank you.” Bhimsen answered curtly. He stepped to the side and nodded at Gardner showing him the way to the new quarters for the Resident. Gardner nodded at him and strode forward.
Bhimsen watched the retreating back of Gardner and clenched his fists. He grit his teeth and looked towards the side where the frail King, Girvan was staring at him, as if knowing his thoughts. Bhimsen broke eye contact and looked at Gardner once again.
“I have lost my empire. But I haven’t lost my country.”
***
END OF PROLOGUE
***
One is born in this world in order to undergo the fruits of actions performed in past life. After the fruits of such actions are undergone, the soul is separated from the body. It then departs to another world to undergo the fruits of actions performed by it during its residence in the body. This is the way of the world. – King Girvan Yuddha Bir Bikram Shah of Nepal
***
He was the first Nepalese statesman who grasped the meaning of the system of protectorate which Lord Wellesley had carried out in India. He saw one native state after another came within the net of British Subsidiary Alliance and his policy was steadily directed to save Nepal from a similar fate. – Percival Landon
***
If I die the nation will not die, but if Bhimsen dies the nation will collapse. – King Rajendra Bir Bikram Shah of Nepal
***
"Go capture the fort that you could not win by war, but now we have left it at our own will". - Balbhadra Kunwar, Captain of the Royal Nepalese Army
***
“Chasing angels or fleeing demons, go to the mountains.” - Old Nepali Quote
***
May 25th, 1816, Kathmandu, Nepal
***
Bhimsen Thapa, the Mukhtiyar (Prime Minister of Nepal) clenched his teeth as sweat poured down his 41 year old body. He looked towards the roof of the Durbar once before looking towards the distance the Angrezi (British) enter the court. Poor King Girvan Yuddha Bir Bikram Shah. The young King had survived the deadly disease of small pox against all odds. And the old man in Bhimsen Thapa felt guilty as Edward Gardner entered the Durbar admiring it as he walked with the two Royal guards behind him. He was the commander-in-chief of the army during the war, and everything Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah, Bahadur Bir Bikram Shah had done was suddenly thrown out of the window in the war that had just ended between them and the English. It was his fault that the kingdom had lost the war, and his fault that the efforts of great Nepali men now lay dead on the floor for nothing. His fist clenched in self depreciation and anger for a moment. He stared right ahead as Edward Gardner walked up to him and said “Maharaja Bhimsen Thapa, it is an honor to meet you.”
Bhimsen mentally asked why in the world did he ever learn English for a second before putting up a fake polite smile and replied “Mr. Gardner, an honor to meet our resident British.”
“Yes it is an honor to be in the legendary city of Kasthamandap. Our Indian citizens in the south speak such wondrous tales about it, and I can see, they weren’t exaggerated.” Gardner replied as he tipped his hat.
“Thank you.” Bhimsen answered curtly. He stepped to the side and nodded at Gardner showing him the way to the new quarters for the Resident. Gardner nodded at him and strode forward.
Bhimsen watched the retreating back of Gardner and clenched his fists. He grit his teeth and looked towards the side where the frail King, Girvan was staring at him, as if knowing his thoughts. Bhimsen broke eye contact and looked at Gardner once again.
“I have lost my empire. But I haven’t lost my country.”
***
END OF PROLOGUE