Nepal: A Brief HistoryJosh Gellers, PhD

September 16, 2015

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Geography

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Vital Statistics

• Population: 28 million (2014)• GDP per capita: $698 (2014)• Life expectancy: 67 male/70 female (2013)• % with access to electricity: 76% (2012)• % living in extreme poverty: 24% (2010)• Human Development Index: 145/187 (2014)• Diversity: 101 ethnic groups, 91 linguistic

groups, 9 religious groups

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Early History• Lichavi Dynasty (400-750 AD)

– Lichavis migrate to Nepal from northern India and set up a peaceful, centralized system

• Malla Dynasty (12th-15th centuries)– Kantipur (Kathmandu) founded, and Kathmandu Valley

divided into 3 kingdoms (Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Patan) resulting in wars

• Shah Dynasty (1768-2008)– Nepal unified under King Prithi Narayan Shah, and war with

Great Britain caused loss of Terai– Marked by periods of monarchy (1768-1846), hereditary

prime ministers (1846-1951), and constitutional monarchy (1990-2008)

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Modern Struggles• 1959: Multiparty system achieved via democratic constitution• 1960: King Mahendra seizes power and installs partyless regime

(Panchayat)• 1990: First People’s Movement (Jana Andolan I) leads to democratic

constitution• 1996: Maoist insurgents wage People’s War against the state,

resulting in 13,000 deaths• 2002/05: Royal coups led by King Gyanendra restore rule of the

crown• 2006: Maoists and political parties unite to oppose king in second

People’s Movement (Jana Andolan II)• 2007: Interim Constitution adopted

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Nepal Today: Natural Disaster

• April 2015: Nepal earthquake

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Nepal Today: Constitutional Crisis

• 2008: Began drafting new constitution• 2010: Deadline passes• 2011-15: Deadline extended, protests ensue• Today: Constituent Assembly overwhelmingly

approves adoption of new 2015 constitution

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A New Hope/The Final Frontier