Durga Dutta Poudel

About 125 million years ago, the Indian plate dissociated from Antarctica and began a journey northward. Roughly 80 million years later, the Indian plate collided with the Eurasian plate. The Tethys Ocean separated the Tibet and Indian plates by then. This collision of the two plates gave rise to the Himalayas, which continue to rise until today. We still find ocean floor traits in the Himalayas. In fact, the collection of Saligrams (i.e. fossilized ammonites) along the banks of Kaligandaki River is a prized and pious activity. Ammonites, the marine molluscs resembling octopuses or squids, became extinct more than 60 million years ago. They are now found as spiral-shaped shell fossilized rock. The Shaligram is worshiped as a divine power( Lord Vishnu) in Nepal and India and is regarded as a deity in Egypt. Shaligrams are integral parts of Hindu and Buddhist cultures, and have attracted pilgrimages for millennia. From Himalayas to the Indo-Gangetic Plain, there lie mesmerizing landscapes with snowy Himalayas, Blue Mountains, green forests, hills, valleys, countless rivers and streams, and lakes.

Nepal is a holy land for Hindus and Budhists. According to Hindu scripture, there are four ages: Satyayuga (17,28,000 years), Tretayuga (12,96,000 years), Dwaparyuga (8,64,000, and Kaliyuga (4,32,000 years). In Satyayuga, this land was known as Satyabati and was a Devasthal, the abode of God Shiva and Parvati. In Tretayuga, Nepal was mainly the meditation and Yagna land for Rishis and Maharshis. In Dwaparyuga, Nepal was used for salvation (Mukti Chhetra), hence the name of Nepal in Dwaparyuga was Muktisopan. The Mahabharat War and the heavenly abode of Bhagawan Krishna ends the Dwaparayuga, which was about 5,120 years ago. Hindu scriptures tell that the morality of human beings deteriorates continuously from Satyayuga to Kaliyuga. While Satyayuga is characterized as the humanity governed by gods, and people seeking knowledge and practicing meditation, the Kaliyuga is characterized with false doctrines, hunger, illusions, fights, wars, droughts, natural calamities, and pandemics. Lord Buddha was born in Nepal.

Nepal occupies a unique position in the world map. Based on the land area, her northern neighbor China is the third largest and her southern neighbor India is the seventh largest country in the world. Nepal is the 95th largest country in the world. In terms of population, China and India are the first and the second most populated countries. China and India share 18.47% and 17.70% of the world’s population, respectively. Nepal is the 49th most populated country and shares 0.37% of the world’s population. The 29,136,808 Nepalese live between 1,439,323,776 Chinese in the north and 1,380,004,385 Indians in the South. Three sides of Nepal are bordered by India while one side borders China. As Nepal occupies a unique geopolitical setting, it requires a special socio-politico-culture setting for its perpetuity. The uniqueness of Nepal as a Hindu country and Monarchical system of governance for millennia ended following a 10-year Maoist War killing 17,000 people with the signing of a 12-point Agreement between Maoists Party and Seven Political Parties of Nepal in New Delhi on 22 November 2005, and subsequent public unrest and constitutional changes in Nepal. The current republican set up with secularism and federalism is expected to guarantee the sovereignty and perpetuity of the nation by demolishing all the social differences, gaps, inequalities, malpractices, corruption, and transforming the Nepalese society into a prosperous and happy one. In contrast, national indicators suggest that the country is heading into a difficult situation. Major issues that Nepal is currently facing include:

(1) Over 7 million youths out-migrating from the country due to a lack of employment in Nepal,

(2) Imports of goods and services is increasing at exponential rate while exports have stagnated,

(3) Massive corruption,

(4) Very poor infrastructure and failure to complete development projects in a timely manner,

(5) Increasing foreign debt,

(6) Widespread environmental degradation, and

(7) Border disputes.

The independence of India in 1947 after 200-years of British rule injects many political impulses to Nepal. Some of them include the rise of Nepali Congress and other political parties, the signing of the 1950 India-Nepal Friendship Treaty, the fall of 104-years of Rana Regime, and reactivation of Monarchical governance. Of all these, the 1950 Nepal-India Friendship Treaty holds special significance with Nepal’s current Kalapani, Lipu Lekh and Limpiyadhura border issue. In this context, it is important to understand how India has viewed Nepal since its independence. Available literatures suggest that the first prime minister of India, Mr. Jawaharlal Nehru, presented his doctrine of border security in his parliamentary speech on December 6, 1950. He made his point clear in his speech that the security interest of India extends beyond the southern borders of Nepal reaching to the Himalayas, thus grossly undermining the sovereignty of Nepal. The signing of a 17-point agreement between Tibetans and Chinese in 1951 signifying China’s sovereignty over Tibet might have accelerated Indian’s security fear further. Tibet officially merged with China in 1965. India was successful in establishing 18 Indian Military checkposts on the northern border of Nepal through the 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship. According to Mr. Buddhi Narayan Shrestha’s book Border Management of Nepal, Tinkar Pass in Darchula was one of the 18 Indian checkposts deployed from 1952-1969 on the northern border of Nepal. All Indian checkposts were canceled by the Government of Nepal on 20 April, 1969. It was agreed that India would withdraw all checkposts by August 1970.

Although all Indian checkposts were supposed to be removed from Nepalese territory by August 1970, the presence of an Indian checkpost at Kalapani, Nepal, until today is quite puzzling. Why and how this particular Indian checkpost is still there has become a big public concern lately in Nepal.

There is one argument that the Indian Army retreated back from the frontline at Lipu Lekh pass in the 1962 Sino-Indian war and settled temporarily in the flatlands of Kalapani to avoid the winter. Another argument is that the Indian Army has been occupying Kalapani since 1959, which are supported by eyewitness accounts. Yet, other reports indicate the presence of an Indian checkpost in the area earlier than 1959.

It may also be possible that the Indian checkpost moved from Tinkar Pass to Kalapani. It is our responsibility now to find out the truth in this matter.

The issue of border encroachment has become a very hot topic lately as India recently inaugurated an 80-km track to Lipu Lekh on May 8, 2020 to connect India to Mansarovar (Hindu Pilgrimage site) during the midst of the COVID-19 lockdown. Many sources show Kalapani, Lipu Lekh and Limpiyadhura within Nepal: the Sugauli Treaty of 1816 AD, earlier maps published by Nepal, testimonials from eyewitnesses, tourists, and local people; and hundreds of other resources in relation to land tax records, public works, census, general election, etc. Many Nepali citizens have openly reached out to the media and shared that in their experience, Kalapani, Lipu Lekh and Limpiyadhura area has always been within the political and administrative boundary of Nepal. However, despite these facts, the recent inauguration of a road in Nepalese territory by Indian Defense Minister, Mr. Rajnath Singh, has created a huge public concern in Nepal. Before this inauguration, India had unilaterally published a new political map showing Nepalese territory of Kalapani, Lipu Lekh and Limpiyadhura within Indian political boundary in October 2019. Also, there was signing of the Sino-India Trade Bilateral Agreement on June 9, 2015, mentioning Lipu Lekh pass without the knowledge of Nepal.

It is also important to analyze this border dispute from a trade viewpoint. It is common knowledge that the colonial British in India wanted to have trade with Tibet and China. Lipu Lekh pass was used historically as one of the seasonal trading routes between Tibet and India.

Therefore, administrators of this region seek to regulate the pass. It can be understood clearly from the series of Sino-Indian Trade Agreements (1954, 1991, and 2015) mentioning Lipu Lekh as one of the passes for trade. The gross mistake here is the bilateral trade agreements between India and China that involve Nepalese territory (the Lipu Lekh pass) without the involvement of the Government of Nepal. Nepal should have been involved in all of these agreements that occurred between India and China.

As a response to this border issue, the Government of Nepal has unveiled the new political and administrative map of Nepal on May 20, 2020. This new map puts Kalapani, Lipu Lekh and Limpiyadhura (the northwestern pointed part in the new map of Nepal) within the border of Nepal and secures the 335 sq. km. of land that India is claiming. While unveiling the new map is commendable work from the Nepal Government, it is necessary to come up with a detailed and thoughtful plan of action for future border protection and the rehabilitation of this territory. It is important to get answers to various questions of how this dispute occurred, where we made a mistake, how it could have been prevented, etc. To find answers to these questions and maintain territorial integrity, the Government of Nepal can immediately take several initiatives. Some of these initiatives include,

(1) Conducting a Key Informant Survey of the people who are familiar with and are directly involved in Kalapani, Lipu Lekh, Limpiyadhura area,

(2) Collecting additional evidences (historic documents, archives in international libraries, traveler’s records; notes from climbers, trekkers, diplomatic missions, traders, pilgrims, priests, etc.),

(3) Start discussion with India immediately, and

(4) Correcting the faulty border security measures.

At this historic juncture, it is critical for all Nepalese to leave their petty politics and differences aside and unite wholeheartedly in border protection and rehabilitation of Kalapani, Lipu Lekh and Limpiyadhura. This case of Kalapani, Lipu Lekh and Limpiyadhura has taught us a big lesson. Our current border protection strategies must be reviewed and robust measures must be developed and implemented. Immediate dialogue between two countries is necessary.