Newars are thought to have lived in the Nepal Valley since
the 4th century AD, developing a Hindu-Buddhist culture. The Gurkha
principality was later established by RAJPUT warriors from India, and
in 1769 they conquered lands beyond the present-day borders of
Nepal. After incursions into northern India in which the Gurkhas were
defeated, Nepal lost part of its territory to British India but
retained its independence and enjoyed close ties with the British.It has
maintained its close association with India since the latter gained
independence in 1947.
Nepal, the world's only Hindu monarchy, was controlled by a
hereditary prime ministership until 1951. The nation's first election
was held in 1959, but in 1960, King Mahendra dismissed the cabinet,
dissolved parliament, and banned political parties. A 1962
constitution created a nonparty panchayat (council) system of
government. After a 1980 referendum approved a modified version of the
panchayat system, direct parliamentary elections were held in 1981. A
dispute with India led to India's closing of most border crossings
from March 1989 to July 1990, and the resultant economic crisis fueled
demands for political reform. After months of violence, King Birendra
Bir Bikram Shah Dev dissolved parliament. The opposition formed an
interim government in April 1990, and a new constitution creating a
constitutional monarchy and a bicameral legislature became effective
on Nov. 9, 1990. Multiparty legislative elections held in May 1991
were won by the centrist Nepali Congress party; the Communists became
the leading opposition party.
Source: Grolier's Encyclopedia
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Period Description
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ca. 563 B.C. Buddha born in Lumbini;
ca. A.D.400-750 Licchavi kingdom in power in Kathmandu
750-1200 "Transitional" kingdom in power in Kathmandu
Valley
1100-1484 Khasa Mall kings rule in western Nepal
1200-16 Arimalla, first monarch of the Malla Dynasty,
rules in Kathmandu Valley.
1312 Khasa king Ripumalla leads raid in Kathmandu
Valley
1345-46 Sultan Shams ud-din Ilyas of Bengal leads raid
in Kathmandu Valley.
1382-95 Jayasthitimalla rules as king of united Malla
kingdom in Kathmandu Valley.
1428-82 Yakshamalla reigns - height of united Malla
kingdom.
1484 Malla kingdom divided; three kingdoms of
Kathmandu, Bhadgaon, and Patan established.
1559 Gorkha kindgom established by Dravya Shah.
1606-33 Ram Shah of Gorkha reigns; Gorkha kindgom
experiences first expansion.
1743 Prithvi Narayan Shah ascends to throne of
Gorkha.
1768-90 Gorkha conquers Kathmandu and Patan, Bhadgaon,
eastern Nepal, and western Nepal.
1775 Prithvi Narayan Shah dies, first king of
united Nepal.
1814-1816 The Anglo-Nepalese War and the resulting
Treaty of Sagauli reduces the territory of
Nepal.
1846 Jang Bahadur Rana takes over as prime minister
and establishes hereditary Rana rule.
1946 The Nepali Congress Party is founded.
1947 The United States establishes diplomatic
relations with Nepal.
1948 The country's first constitution, the
Government of Nepal Act, is promulgated; Prime
Minister Padma Shamsher Rana resigns in the
wake of opposition to the new constitution
from conservative Ranas; Mohan Shamsher
becomes prime minister; constitution is
suspended.
1950 Ranas are in open conflict with King Tribhuvan
implicated in Nepali Congress Party conspiracy
against Rana power, seeks and is granted
asylum in India; government troops desert to
the rebel side; over 140 Ranas join the
dissidents. Treaty of Peace and Friendship and
Treaty of Trade and Commerce are signed with
India.
1951 Mohan Shamsher capitulates; King Tribhuvan is
restored to the throne; Mohan Shamsher heads
new coalition cabinet for 10 months; he is
secceeded by Nepali Congress Party leader M.P.
Koirala as prime minister;
1952 Koirala resigns; king assumes direct rule.
1953 Koirala is recalled as prime minister.
1955 King Tribhuvan dies and is succeeded by
Mahendra; Nepal joins the United Nations;
National Police Force is formed; Koirala
resigns; Mahendra takes over direct control.
1956 Tanka Prasad Acharya is named prime minister;
Border treaty with China concluded;
1957 Acharya resigns; K.I. Singh becomes prime
minister for a few months.
1958 USSR opens an embassy at Kathmandu; Subarna
Shamsher is named new prime minister.
1959 United States opens an embassy at Kathmandu;
New constitution is promulgated, superseding
Constitution of 1951; First general elections
are held; Nepal Congress Party wins absolute
majority; Tribhuvan University founded;
1960 B.P. Koirala heads first popular government;
Koirala's policies are opposed by the king,
and Koirala is abruptly dismissed; all
political parties are banned; the king takes
over direct control of government; Treaty of
Peace and Friendship with China is concluded.
1961 Kind proclaims guided democracy; Boundary
treaty with China renewed.
1962 New constitution, third since 1951,
establishes panchayat form of government; Land
Reorganization Act and Mulki Ain, new legal
code, are promulgated; anti-Indian riots erupt
in Kathmandu over Indian aid to dissidents.
1963 Emergency is eneded; Panchayat elections
begin; National Guidance Council is formed;
Tulsi Giri is named prime minister;
1965 Local government reorganized; Giri resigns;
Surya Bahadur Thapa is appointed prime
minister;
1969 Thapa yields ofice to Kirti Nidhi Bista;
Indian military mission withdrawn.
1970 Bista resigns; Raj Bhandari becomes interim
prime minister.
1971 Bista is recalled as prime minister; New trade
and transit treaty negotiated with India.
1972 Mahedra dies and is succeeded by King
Birendra; Development regions are established
under National Development Council.
1973 Nagendra Prasad Rijal is named prime minister;
Singha Durbar, the seat of government, burns
down.
1975 Rijal resigns; Tulsi Giri is appointed prime
minister; King Birendra is crowned; "Go to the
Village" campaign is launched.
1976 B.P. Koirala returns from India and is
arrested; Treaty with India expires and is not
renewed.
1977 Tulsi Giri resigns as prime minister in the
wake of corruption charges; former prime
minister Kirti Nidhi Bista is reinstated as
prime minister.
1979 Following nationwide demonstrations by
students, Bista is replaced as prime minister
by Surya Bahadur Thapa; king announces
referendum on the panchayat form of
government.
1980 In national referendum people vote for
continuance of the panchayat form of
government and against the reintroduction of
political parties.
1982 B.P. Koirala, Nepali Congress Party leader
dies.
1983 Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa is defeated
in the Rastriya Panchayat and is replaced by
Lokendra Bahadur Chand.
1986 Second elections to Rastriya Panchayat held;
Marich Man Singh Shrestha becomes prime
minister.
1989 Failure to renegotiate trade and transit
treaties with India disrupts economy.
1990 Demonstrations for the restoration of
democracy; panchayat system is dissolved;
interim government made up of various parties
and king's representatives formed; new
constitution promulgated.
1991 Elections to Parliament held; Nepali Congress
wins a narrow majority; G.P. Koirala becomes
prime minister.President of Nepali Congress
and interim prime minister, K.P. Bhattarai,
defeated in the polls by the leader of
CPN-UML, Madan Bhandari.
1992 Local elections held; Nepali Congress wins a
majority of the seats.
1993 Madan Bhandari killed in a mysterious car
crash. Violent demonstrations by communists to
overthrow Koirala's government; devastating
floods kill hundreds.
1994 Prime minister Koirala resigns and calls for
new elections after losing a parliamentary vote
due to the abstention of 36 members of his own
party. New elections set for November 15.
1995 The minority goverment of CPN-UML loses power
in a parliamentary vote of no-confidence. A
coalition government of Nepali Congress, RPP
and Sadhvabana is formed.
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Sources: The Third World Encyclopedia; Nepal and Bhutan, Country
Studies.
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