Sikhism in Nepal explained

Population:~600–7,000
Founder:Guru Nanak
Group:Sikhism in Nepal
Flag Size:50px
Languages:Punjabi • Nepali
Religions:Sikhism (incl. Udasis and Nanakpanthis)

Nepali Sikhs first entered Nepal in the 18th century. Today, there is a small community of Sikhs living in Nepal, with varying claims of their numbers totaling around 609 according to the 2011 census of Nepal whilst others have asserted the true number is in the area of 7,000 people.[1] [2]

History

Sikh gurus

Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, spent more than a year meditating on a site now known as Nanak Math, located in Balaju, Kathmandu.[3] It is believed that Guru Nanak visited the math in 1516.[4] Guru Nanak is traditionally locally known as Nanak Rishi in Nepal.[5] [6]

Guru Gobind Singh makes mention of Gurkhas in the Dasam Granth, stating:[7]

Sikh Empire

Following conflict with the British East India Company, Maharani Jind Kaur, the youngest wife of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, managed to escape from the Punjab disguised as a servant girl and came to Nepal via Nepalgunj on 29 April, 1849. The Nepalese government gave her shelter. Later, she went to London, but those Sikhs who remained in Nepal started their livelihood there. A few Nepalgunj territories near the Indian border are still called Shikhhanpurwa, Jamunaha and Bankatwa.[8]

Release of Sikh prisoners-of-war in Tibetan captivity

In March 1856, a treaty between Tibet and the Kingdom of Nepal, known as the Treaty of Thapathali, was signed. Clause 4 of the treaty freed the remaining Sikh prisoners-of-war still held in Tibetan captivity whom were captured in 1841.[9] This clause was included in the treaty at the behest of Gulab Singh of Kashmir to free the remaining prisoners.[10]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Singh . Jaspal . 29 December 2013 . State of neglect . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140915025142/http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2013/12/28/free-the-words/state-of-neglect/257527.html . 15 September 2014 . The Kathmandu Post . Generation after generation, their population grew and there is now a substantial population of Nepali Sikhs—over 7,000 residents, according to the 2011 Census..
  2. Web site: Nepal Profile . Government of Nepal - Ministry Of Foreign Affairs . Religion(s): There are ten religious categories reported in the census 2011. Hindu is followed by 81.3 percent (21,551,492) of the population followed by Buddhism (9%; 2,396,099), Islam (4.4%; 1,162,370), Kirat (3.1%; 807,169), Christianity (1.4%; 375,699), Prakriti (0.5%; 121,982), Bon (13,006), Jainism (3,214), Bahai (1,283) and Sikhism (609)..
  3. Web site: Bali. Meghna. Little punjab Nepali Times Buzz Nepali Times. 2021-05-14. archive.nepalitimes.com.
  4. Web site: Sacred well in Kathmandu gurdwara cleaned | SikhNet. 2 May 2013 . sikhnet.com. 2014-09-14.
  5. Baker . Janet . 2019-10-02 . Guru Nanak: 550th birth anniversary of Sikhism's founder: Phoenix Art Museum, The Khanuja Family Sikh Art Gallery, 17 August 2019–29 March 2020 . Sikh Formations . en . 15 . 3–4 . 499 . 10.1080/17448727.2019.1685641 . 210494526 . 1744-8727.
  6. Web site: Service . Tribune News . Booklet on Guru Nanak Dev's teachings released . 2023-02-19 . Tribuneindia News Service . en . Rare is a saint who has travelled and preached as widely as Guru Nanak Dev. He was known as Nanakachraya in Sri Lanka, Nanak Lama in Tibet, Guru Rimpochea in Sikkim, Nanak Rishi in Nepal, Nanak Peer in Baghdad, Wali Hind in Mecca, Nanak Vali in Misar, Nanak Kadamdar in Russia, Baba Nanak in Iraq, Peer Balagdaan in Mazahar Sharif and Baba Foosa in China, said Dr S S Sibia, director of Sibia Medical Centre..
  7. Web site: Singh . I. J. . 8 February 2012 . Sikhi: The Global Vision That Was . SikhNet.
  8. https://mofa.gov.np/about-nepal/nepal-profile/ Ministry Of Foreign Affairs
  9. Book: Political Treaties of Tibet (821 to 1951) . Department of Information & International Relations (DIIR) - Central Tibetan Administration . 1990 . Treaty Between Nepal and Tibet, March 1856 . PDF . 4. Chouthon Kura (Article Four): The Government of Gorkha is to withdraw its troops from the occupied territories of Kuti and Kerong and Jhung and return to the Tibetans the sepoys, sheep, and yaks captured during the war, when the conditions of the treaty were fulfilled. The Tibetans, in return, are also to give back to the Gorkhali cannons and also the Sikh prisoners-of war who had been captured in 1841 in the war between Bhot and the Dogra ruler..
  10. Book: McKay, Alex . Tibet and Her Neighbours: A History . Edition Hansjörg Mayer . 2003 . 9783883757186 . 139.

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