New Delhi: Nepal was by no means conquered by the Mughals and the Britishers. Its rugged terrain, restricted financial worth, fierce Gorkha warriors, sturdy cultural identification and strategic commerce hyperlinks saved it impartial for hundreds of years. The Nepalese just lately toppled the federal government following large-scale protests and subsequent violence. Rising unemployment, alleged corruption and bans on social media had pushed Gen Z to take to the streets. An interim authorities now runs the nation. Why did the Mughals, who dominated India for over 300 years, by no means deliver Nepal below their management?
From the sixteenth to the 18th century, the Mughal Empire dominated the Indian subcontinent. From Babur to Aurangzeb, their affect unfold throughout Bengal, Punjab, the Deccan and the Afghan border. However Nepal remained past their attain.
Nepal’s geography offered the primary and biggest problem. Excessive mountains, slender passes, deep valleys and dense forests offered pure safety. The Mughal military relied on heavy artillery and huge cavalry, each of which struggled in mountainous terrain. The hills of Nepal weakened their navy benefit.
Restricted Financial Enchantment
The Mughals focussed on fertile plains. The Ganga-Yamuna Doab, Bengal and Gujarat supplied wealth and commerce alternatives. Nepal, against this, had restricted agricultural output and a difficult panorama. It was not a horny goal for growth.
The nation itself was divided into small kingdoms, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur. Whereas these states generally fought one another, they may unite towards exterior threats. This unity turned a protecting defend towards Mughal ambitions.
Nepal As A Commerce Bridge
Nepal acted as a bridge between India and Tibet. Commerce in salt, wool, spices and metals handed via its territory. For the Mughals, sustaining commerce relations was extra worthwhile than navy conquest.
Cultural Resistance
Nepal was a stronghold of Hindu and Buddhist traditions. Its folks had been vigilant about preserving their cultural identification. The Mughal rule was seen as a risk to those traditions. Cultural consciousness helped Nepal resist exterior domination.
Army Challenges
Gorkha warriors mastered guerrilla warfare within the mountains. The Mughal military, constructed for plains, risked extreme losses in hill campaigns. This made invasion unwise.
The Mughals additionally confronted different urgent challenges: Afghan and Iranian threats within the northwest, Maratha resistance within the south and difficulties in Assam and Bengal within the east. Small and geographically powerful, Nepal was not definitely worth the strategic danger.
Historic Proof
Data like Ain-i-Akbari point out Nepal solely within the context of commerce and cultural relations. Scholar J.N. Sarkar highlighted that Nepal was by no means straight dominated by the Mughals. Nepali historians affirm that the nation persistently maintained its sovereignty.