KATHMANDU, APRIL 10

Remittance has formed the spine of the Nepali economy. It is one of the largest contributors with 27 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at present.

At one time, agriculture was ranked number one in terms of its contribution to the GDP, but it has plummeted to 25 per cent and is playing second fiddle to remittances.

Remittance is, however, not a recent phenomenon.

Nepali people used to go to Tibet, more popularly known as Bhot in Nepal, in the past. It was a preferred destination for foreign jobs more than India which was infected with Malaria.

Moreover, Nepal imported salt, wool and gold from Bhot while it exported food items. It is surprising to know that Nepal imports edibles from China and now India when it used to export them not long time back in the past. The import of Tibetan salt continued until the export of sea water processed salt from India.

The first Nepali to visit Bhot is said to be legendary Bhrikuti, who was married to Chinese Emperor Tsongsen Gampo in the year 630. She went to Bhottaking several Buddhist images like Akshobhya, Tara Maitreya which were placed in the Jhokang Monastery. It then gave sequel to the movement of the Nepali people for trade as well as work. Arniko, the legendary architect whose White Pagoda still dominates the sky-scape of Beijing, went to Tibet at the request of Kublai Khan in the 13th century and constructed many buildings which have acquired the status of monuments in the present time.

Later several people went to the northern neighbour in search of fortune.

Some departed for business. Others entered Bhot for making a fast buck. This is very eloquently explained in Muna Madan written by the great poet Laxmi Prasad Devkota.

When proposed by Madan to go to Bhot to his sweetheart Muna, she prevents him from going. He says to his wife that he has four objectives to go to the far off country.

Firstly, he wanted to moisten the throat of his old mother with sips of milk. It meant that he needed money to buy a milch cow. Secondly, he wanted to fulfil his mother's life time wish of build astone spout and a rest house. It was considered a virtuous deed which is still in practice.

Thirdly, he wanted to buy heavy golden bangles to suit Muna's stunningly beautiful hands. Fourthly, he wanted to strengthen the foundation of his house enfeebled by the loan.

Many people used to take a loan from the local money lenders by keeping thehouse and house plot as collateral.

During the illustrious regime of Pratap Malla, Nepali businessmen were allowed to open 32 shops for trading. No tax was imposed on Nepali businesspersons, and the offspring of a Nepali and local lady would be a Nepali citizen.

What was the political relations with Bhot? What were the institutions that operated in that country?What were the perceptions of the Nepali people in the eyes of the local people? What was their identity and prowess like in Bhot? These are some of the questions that have been answered in a recent book by Prof Dr Tirtha Prasad Mishra entitled Bhotma Nepali: Pahichan ra Prakram, released amid a gala programme at the Russian Cultural Centre.

The book was so mesmerising that the invitees consisting of celebrities of different professions were spellbound while listening to its review made by towering historians of the country like Tri Ratna Manandhar, Hemanta Shumsher JBR and Rajkumar Pokharel.

Mishra is a renowned historian who retired as a Professor of Tribhuvan University. His first book The taming of Tibet pro-jected the situations prevailing in Tibet as never before.

Thereafter, Mishra wrote many articles that have been food for thought to many history lovers. This book is the latest in this series of more than 20 books and more than 100 research articles that the author has penned.

The book begins with the marriage of Bhrikuti with the Tibetan Emperor Gompo.

It then deals with the relations sweet and sour with Bhot to the extent of even going to war. Nepali people wanted to have flourishing trade while China wanted to confine Bhot within its fold. Bhot wanted to remain free from Chinese clutches. The British who had colonized India did not want to irritate a bigger China by siding with the smaller Bhot. This quadrilateral relation has been very deftly presented in the book.

Nepal used to produce coins from its mint which were used in Bhot. For this, Nepal received gold and silver from Bhot. The first conflict started with the Malla kings mixing only 50 per cent of silver in the making of coins for a huge profit. The war occurred between the two countries in the year 1789, which later ended in a treaty.

Such wars continued in the later years, and treaties were made in the year 1792 and 1856. Nepalese were beaten by Tibetans in the Potala Palace in the year 1873, which almost erupted into war. Later, the Bhotes apologized, and it was resolved through talks.

People with Nepali and Bhote parents, more popularly known as Khacchada, were more than 2000 till 1956, after which they ceased to be citizens of Nepal.

There was also a Nepali school operating till 1973 to teach Nepali. A Lhasa court administered justice based on the acts of Nepal. A Nepali resident emissary, known as Wakil, used to look after the bilateral relations of both the countries.

It then follows that Nepali people did business in Bhot duly retaining their identity and pride, which are not seen in the present.

Nepali workers presently in Arabian countries, Malaysia and Korea are virtually like slaves. Professor Mishra has made a valuable contribution by writing this book, which has highlighted the Nepali Tibetan relation from the ancient time to the present as an important episode in the history of Nepal.

A version of this article appears in the print on April 11, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.