Source of the image: The Printing Newspaper
The Printing Newspaper published an article titled "How has Nepal become a 'Hindu Nation'?" on September 25, stating that Nepal's identity as a "Hindu nation" was not naturally formed, but gradually established through historical evolution. The long-term turbulent domestic situation in Nepal indicates that imposing a single religion on a diverse society may intensify political and social conflicts. The author, Anirudh Kanisetti, is an Indian historian.
Recently, Nepal has been caught in political turmoil due to social inequality, systemic corruption, and authoritarian rule. "Generation Z" protesters continue to negotiate with the military. Several Indian media outlets reported that "establishing a Hindu nation" has become one of the political demands of certain groups. In the 20th century, Nepal once proudly called itself "the only Hindu kingdom in the world." Hindu rituals were at the core of national ceremonies, and laws explicitly prohibited people from converting to other religions. Since the secular constitution of Nepal was passed in 2015, there have been continuous voices in society calling for the restoration of the Hindu monarchy (editor's note: the "royalist" faction).
However, Nepal is far from being naturally a "Hindu nation" - in fact, Nepal has long been in a state of religious, ethnic, and political fragmentation. Before the formation of a unified country, Nepal showed a significant "Hindu-Buddhist coexistence" pattern. Although the mountainous regions were influenced by Indian religious ideas, they also developed unique systems of belief on their own.
There are two main lines in the religious history of Nepal. One is the gradual entry of the Hindu priest class into the center of power. From the 14th to the 15th century, the royal ceremonies in the Kathmandu Valley were mainly dominated by the Maithili Brahmins from what is now the Bihar region. Subsequently, the Naga sect of tantric yogis from northern India spread widely, profoundly influencing local politics in Nepal through the establishment of monasteries, participation in trade, and involvement in succession to the throne. The second line is the localization and transformation of Buddhism and its "Hinduization." After the decline of Buddhism in India in the 13th century, monks who fled to the Kathmandu Valley developed "Newar Buddhism," which retained the worship of esoteric deities while absorbing the Sanskrit scriptures, caste system, and festival rituals of Brahmanism, thereby maintaining their influence among the aristocracy. In addition, folk beliefs also show a blending feature, with many Buddhist sects beginning to incorporate Hindu elements.
The modern Nepal truly established the "Hindu nation" system, originating from the Gorkha unification wars in the late 18th century. In the 1760s, the Gorkha army controlled the Kathmandu Valley through brutal means, while the Naga tantric yogis served as royal advisors in governance. After unification, the Shah dynasty and later the Rana regime implemented systematic policies of "national Hinduization": suppressing the Newar culture of the Tibetan-Burmese language family, promoting the Nepali language and Khas-Aryan noble traditions; prohibiting cattle slaughter, forcing people to participate in Hindu festivals such as Dasain; establishing a religious hierarchy, regarding Buddhism as a branch of Hinduism, and enacting laws to strictly prohibit conversion.
The series of "national Hinduization" policies marginalized Buddhist forces in Nepal, further intensifying social conflicts, with profound and lasting negative effects. Imposing a single religious identity on a diverse society is unlikely to consolidate the national foundation, but rather to sow deeper social fissures. In 2015, Nepal's constitution established the principle of a secular state, but according to the 2021 population census, 82% of Nepalese citizens claim to be Hindus, while Buddhists account for only 8%. Furthermore, opinions on "restoring a Hindu nation" are severely divided in Nepalese society. On one hand, elderly people and descendants of the Gorkhas highly regard the social stability under the monarchy. On the other hand, ethnic minorities and Buddhists in Nepal look down upon the oppressive nature and corrupt situation of the Hindu monarchy.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7554650477560889906/
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