Govinda Neupane
1. Timeline
Neolithic
tools found in the Kathmandu Valley and in Shivalik area in Nawalparasi indicate
that people have been living in the Terai and in the mountain regions for at
least 30,000 years.
30,000 BCE to 900 BCE:
Nomadic tribes/ Primitive tribes/Herders (Gopal/Mahishpal, cow/buffalo herders)
900 BCE to 250 CE:
Kirats (Yalakhom, in western and eastern hills and Kathmandu valley, 1118 -
1225 years), Kapilvastu/Koliya, Videha,
Mithila
and Kichakdesh (Terai)
300 CE to 1100 CE:
Lichchhavi/Thakuri/Rajput (central Terai, Kathmandu valley), Kirats (Eastern
hills), Magars (western hills), Terai (eastern & western Terai?)
1100 CE to 1768/1800
CE: Mallas (Kathmandu Valley, near
western hills), Khasas (Khasan and also Baishi & Chaubisi principalities in
western hills), Kirats (Eastern hills and far eastern Terai), Magars (Magarat,
Makwanpur in mid-western hills and central Terai).
1769- 1950:
Shaha/Rana's dynastic rule/ absolute monarchy (Nepal)
1951 - 1960:
Parliamentary system with Shah Monarchy.
1961- 1990: Panchayat
system/Shah King's authoritarian rule.
1990 - 2003:
Parliamentary system with constitutional monarchy.
2005-2006: Shah
King's direct rule
2006 - Onward:
Republican system/transition to democratic system with elected Constituent Assembly/legislator
parliament.
2. Governance systems
Kirats: Primitive
Tribal Republic/chiefdom (primitive monarchy)/ monarchies/semi-autonomous
monarchies/ unitary/loosely centralized rule.
Kapilvastu/Koliya:
One of the earliest confederations of
South Asia
was that of the Shakya clan/tribe, whose capital was Kapilvastu,
Nepal.
It had loosely federated system of tribal governance.
Lichchhavi/Thakuri/Rajput:
Feudal monarchy/unitary/centralized system of governance.
Khasan/Baise/Chaubise:
Feudal monarchy/unitary/centralized system of governance.
Magarat: Chiefdom/republic/feudal
monarchy (out of many Magarats, in one there was a strange system of selection
of the king. The selection of the king of Liglig principality was done through
running in a particular day. He, who reached at Ligligkot first by running
fast, was crowned as king.) /unitary/centralized system of governance.
Mallas:
Monarchy/unitary/centralized system of governance.
Shah/Ranas/Panchayat:
Monarchy/unitary/centralized system of governance.
Parliamentary system with
monarchy: Representative democracy with constitutional
monarchy/unitary/centralized system of governance.
Federal Republic
(proposed): Representative democracy/federal/decentralized system of
governance.
3. Local Institutions/Common Community
Social Instruments
Panchali: There
were local bodies called 'Panchalis' to settle minor disputes and to carry out
the public utility services. This was the beginning of local self-government
and local democracy in Nepal.
Guthi: Guthi was a
social organization that used to maintain the social order of Newar society. Presently, most of the Guthis are defunct.
In the past, Guthis were most powerful social organizations, which resolved
conflicts, insured social harmony, provided social safety- net in situations of
extreme difficulties such as deaths and insured social and religious functions were
observed..
Bheja: Magars have an informal cultural institution, called
Bheja. Bheja was reponsible to perform religious activities, organize
social and agriculture-related festivities, bring about reforms in traditions
and customs, strengthen social and production system, manage resources, settle
cases and disputes and systematize activities for recreation and maintain social
solidarity.
Nangkhur: Tamangs had a traditional
cultural organization, which was called Nangkhur. This organization helped them
to continue cultural practices and strengthen collective community bond.
Chumlung: Chumlung was a social organization of
the Limbu
indigenous ethnic group.
Nogar: Nogar is some sorts of agricultural
cooperative of the Gurung people.
Dhikuri: The
Thakalis were known as business group and "Dhikuri" was their
indigenous cooperative institution.
Katuwal system: Under the Katuwal system, a
person was assigned with the responsibility of conveying important messages to
all the villagers in a village. The Katuwal, a communicator/messenger, used to beat
a drum to grab people's attention and convey the message orally in loud voice.
Most of these communicators/messengers belonged to the Dalit community. (This
system is still in practice in many villages in mid-western hill districts.)
Panchayat:
Village assembly organized under five elders, who functioned as juries to
resolve local conflicts and guided to build or maintain local facilities
including foot trails, water systems, irrigation canals, etc. This was the most
important participatory mechanism for local decision making. During King
Mahendra's authoritarian rule, he borrowed the traditional social instrument,
corrupted it and made this community social asset sounding as a negative
instrument.
Local bodies/village/
town assemblies: In 1961, the
government constituted Tribhuvan Gram Vikash Boards at district level and
assigned the task of local development. Afterward, the government created
elected local bodies as village/town/district Panhayats, which were renamed as
Village Development committees/Municipalities/District Development Committees
after 1990.
4. Democracy in Nepal: Initiation and Development
Ancient - 1950
Kapilvastu/Koliya: Primitive Federated system of governance
was introduced, first time in South Asia. This system created favorable
environment for consultation/participation.
Though, it was imperfect and had no mass participation in governance,
but it provided some mechanism that was new in that time.
Magarat: There were several small principalities, which
functioned independently. Some principalities had very strange system of
selecting/electing the ruler. The Liglig principality had the system of
organizing a marathon, which was open for all to compete. He, who came first,
that person, was declared a ruler. This was a unique system of election, but it
was participatory and open.
Kirat: After the agreement with the Gorkha rulers, the
Kirats accepted autonomy. It preserved the KIPAT system of land ownership and
also there was a sharing of revenues between the central government and Kirat autonomous
entity. Six parts out of 16 parts (of the total revenue collected) had to go to
the central government, whereas 10 parts could be utilized locally by the Kirat
political entity. This arrangement gave birth to the idea of federal system
with autonomous provisions.
The above three example and the traditional/local institutional
instruments discussed above provided basis for democracy in Nepal. Hence,
participation, consultation, federation and autonomy were in practice even
before 1950, though in limited area and with limited scope.
1951 - 1960
There was a mass political movement, which successfully
dethroned the infamous Rana regime and introduced the parliamentary democratic
system, first time in Nepal. The general election organized first time elected
a representative government.
1961 - 1989
The Shah king Mahendra staged a coup and snatched all
political power by dissolving the parliament.
The Shah dynasty ruled for 30 years. However, the Shah Kings also were
compelled to organize election for a rubber stamp legislative assembly. They too had to show some form of democracy,
though shamefully. But, the people continued their struggle and compelled the
Shah King to accept the multiparty parliamentary system by retaining his
ornamental role as constitutional monarch in 1990.
1990 - 2005
Once again, there was multi party system. The representative
government came to power through a general election. The parties and their
leaders discredited as many among them were corrupt. The constitutional monarch
of the time thought that that was the opportune moment to snatch power once
again. He dismissed the multi-party government and took over all powers.
2005-2006
The people came out on the street. The Maoists, who were
involved in a fierce armed struggle against the government for about 10 years,
joined hands with the agitating parliamentary parties and the King tasted the bitter
pills.
2006 - Onwards
After relinquishing active role, the monarchy was initially
suspended and finally abolished by an elected Constituent Assembly. The
Constituent Assembly debated on writing a new constitution for Democratic
Federal Republic of Nepal for four years, failed in its job, was dissolved and
another election for the assembly is presently being organized.
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