History and Culture     

      Nepal was created from an amalgam of small principalities in 1768 under King Prithvi Narayan Shah. Under the control of a hereditary king, Nepal then became a 'buffer state' between the British empire and the territories to the north. The main instrument of British rule from the mid-19th century onwards was a hereditary prime minister drawn from the Rana family. The country became formally independent in 1923, but it was not until 1947 (the year of Indian independence) and the total withdrawal of the British from the region that Nepal achieved genuine independence. In 1951, the Ranas, who were still in power, were overthrown in a coup organised by the Nepali Congress, and a hereditary monarchy was restored under King Tribhuvan.

      Four years later he was succeeded by his son, King Mahendra. In 1959 Mahendra established a parliamentary constitution, and the ensuing elections were won by the Nepali Congress (led by B P Koirala) which had played a key role in the re-establishment of the monarchy. A year later, however, a royal coup led to the banning of all political parties and the establishment of a constitution based on the traditional village councils (the Panchayat system). Mahendra ruled until his death in 1972 when he was succeeded by his son Birendra.

      Birendra persevered with the Panchayat system, bolstered initially by the result of a referendum which gave a narrow majority in favor of its continued use. In the face of substantial and growing opposition, which increased steadily throughout the 1980s, Birendra resorted to a mix of repression, censorship and cosmetic administrative reforms to defuse the situation. In 1986, a member of the minority Newari community, Marich Man Singh Shrestha, became Prime Minister for the first time. Then, in 1990, growing public unrest forced the King to accept political parties and introduce a draft constitution allowing for direct elections to a bicameral parliament.

       The first two polls under the new system, held in 1991 and 1994, were won by the Congress Party (linked to the Indian party of the same name) and the United Marxist-Leninist Party (UML) respectively. Both parties are rife with factional in-fighting with the result that Nepal lacked a truly stable government throughout the 1990s. The Congress party was returned to office once again at the most recent poll in May 1999. Since then Nepal has been consumed by more dramatic events.

      The Maoist-inspired Nepalese Communist Party pulled out of constitutional politics in 1996 and launched an armed struggle, roughly akin to the campaign conducted by the Peruvian movement Sendero Luminoso. The guerrillas have attracted large-scale support from the impoverished peasantry and have over 10,000 personnel under arms.

      In June 2001, the monarchy, the bedrock of the Nepali state, almost self-destructed through a bizarre and bloody incident when the heir apparent to the throne, Crown Prince Dipendra, went berserk in the royal palace and murdered several members of his immediate family, including King Birendra, before committing suicide. The senior remaining Royal, Gyanenda, assumed the throne. The new monarch lacked the popularity of his predecessor amongst ordinary Nepalese and, along with his government, faced some formidable problems, including the Maoist insurgency, a squabbling parliament and a very weak economy.

     He also inherited a new Prime Minister, Sher Bahadur Deuba, after his predecessor, the deeply unpopular Girija Prasad Koirala was forced out of office. By late 2002, there had been little improvement on any front. The Maoists controlled much of the countryside and had established their own state-within-a-state in the western Nepal; their insurgency spread to the capital also. In addition, the collapse of the tourist sector was undermining the whole economy. In October 2002, Gyanendra sacked premier Deuba and the Cabinet, and assumed some executive powers himself. National elections due for mid-November were postponed. The Nepali government now began negotiations with the rebels, and managed to reach an accord on political reforms and a new constitution. In January 2003, the rebels announced a ceasefire. This held until the following September, by which time the Nepali government was in disarray, mainly due to profound disagreements over negotiating strategy. Nepal now has its third prime minister in nine months: Surya Bahadur Thapa was appointed to the post by King Gyanendra in June 2003 following his predecessor’s failure to form a government. As of December 2003, it seemed that Thapa might suffer the same fate.

      Nepal has few immediate problems abroad. Relations with India, which reached crisis point during the mid-1990s when the Indians imposed a trade embargo, have since improved. Outstanding border disputes have been settled (as with the Makhali River basin) or are in abeyance. Relations with Nepal’s other large neighbour, China, have also been good. Nepal is still coping with up to 100,000 refugees who crossed the border from its third immediate neighbour, Bhutan, to escape political strife in their own country. But all of Nepal’s neighbours are concerned about the consequences of the widening insurgency and the possible fall-out.

      Nepal is a constitutional monarchy. Although more power has been vested in the monarch than is customary under such a system, the main centre of legislative and executive power is the bicameral parliament comprising the 205-seat Pratinidhi Sabha (House of the States), whose members are directly elected to serve a five-year term, and the 60-seat Rashtriya Sabha (House of States).

Tibetan Prayer Flags

      Traditionally Tibetan prayer flags are hung outside as offerings, prayers and blessings for the wind to weave throughout the world. They invoke wisdom, compassion and strength. They protect against dangers and negative influences. They help to overcome obstacles, increase prosperity and long life and promote peace and harmony for all sentient beings.

      Prayer flags are sacred. They contain prayers and aspirations for all beings. Please handle them mindfully. Those printed on cotton will fade over time. The vertical banners printed on polyester are more color resilient. If you wish to dispose of the flags, please burn them.

      You may hang these flags indoor or out. The blue flag is usually hung slightly higher as it symbolizes the sky (White ~ cloud, Red ~ fire, Green ~ water, Yellow ~ earth). The five colors also represent the five directions, the five wisdoms, the five meditation Buddhas and the five mental attributes.

      Tibetans hang strands of flags from tree to tree, rock mound to rock mound, on hillsides and on rooftops for a variety of purposes. They may be hung across gateways, along pathways, above doorways, from house to tree ~ anywhere wind and prayer may meet.

      The vertical banner flags are attached to poles using the cording sewn along one edge and mounted in gardens, in rock cairns, on hillsides or on rooftops. The tiny flags are well suited for indoors as well as outdoors. Indoors on altars, above doorways or across windows, they are colorful reminders of what is of true importance in this precious human life.

      "The flying prayer flags are a constant reminder. They are at work at every instant. They respond to every nuance of breeze and wind. They are designed to fade and to disintegrate over time, just as all life fades and disintegrates and is renewed by other life. New flags are continually mounted with the old. By scattering text and image with the winds, the lessons thereon and prayers offered are spread far and wide. By renewing them we acknowledge and welcome life changes, we know we are of nature."

      Nepal is an incredibly diverse country with respect to culture and language. There are 125 different documented languages spoken in Nepal. The primary language of Nepal is Nepali which has been the push of the King and government for about 50 years now. Up to about 50 years ago, each isolated area basically spoke their own language and had there own customs. Since the launch of a national educational program in Nepal in the 1950's, the majority (58.3%) of Nepali's speak Nepali, but by no means is it consistent throughout the kingdom.

       Generally speaking, most Nepalis in the central and eastern development regions speak Nepali fluently. However, there are many areas out west where people still do not speak Nepali. Most of this has to do with the fact that the development has been more intense in the central and eastern regions. From the 50's up until 95-96 the government has used every means possible to unite the kingdom under one language. There has been much success over the years. However, due to the loss of some of the indigenous languages along with some democratic voicing of some of the larger non-Nepali languages, the government (Radio Nepal) has since recognized about 7 primary languages and currently broadcasts news in all of the primary languages. They are Nepali, Newari, Hindi, Gurung, Limbu, Gorkha.