Despite the many unfavorable conditions created by the state about 250 years ago, the number of castes and communities in Nepal that can keep their language, culture, and traditions alive is small, the Limbu caste being one of them. The districts of Taplejung, Ilam, Panchthar, etc. under Province 1 of Eastern Nepal are the traditional home of Limbu. At present, Morang, Jhapa, and Sunsari also have a significant Limbu population. Apart from that, the settlement of the Limbu caste is also noteworthy in the capital Kathmandu Valley.
Limbus are nature worshipers. The Limbu people have been living their social and cultural life according to the Mundhum which has been in the oral tradition since time immemorial. Limbu people are considered to be self-respecting, honest, and sure of speech. The Limbu people, who do not like to eat for free but prefer to give to others, take great care of hospitality. Tongwa is the main sign of the Limbu people for hospitality. Alcohol and jaundice are considered to be the main beverages of the Limbu people. The traditional occupation is agriculture. Agriculture is also important in agriculture and animal husbandry is helpful. Under livestock, cows, goats, and black pigs are reared by the Limbus with special attention.
Male and female chickens are essential in marriage. It is customary to look at the fate of children for marriage from Fedamba. Both Magi and Bhagi marriages are in vogue. Paddy dance is the main culture. There is also a tradition of running away if the children like each other during the dance.
According to Geography and Population Mundhum, Limbu land is Saya Muden (China-Tibet) in the north, India in the south, the Brahmaputra in the east, and the Barun river in the west. Of which, about one-third of the area falls within Nepal after the Sugauli Treaty. Outside Nepal, the Limbu population has not been identified. Within Nepal alone, the ethnic population of the Limbu caste is 387,300 (Census, 2068). This is 1.46 percent of the total population. The number of Limbu mother-tongue speakers is 343,603. Compared to the population of other tribes in Nepal, the linguistic population seems to be very small, but the Limbu people do not see much difference in the population and the number of native speakers.
After the Gorkhalis were twice defeated in the battle with Limbuwan during the unification of Nepal, the Gurkha chief Ramabhadra Magar sent a message to King Hilihang of Limbuwan that there should be no war between the Magar and the Limbu. After this message, it was agreed to end the war on a par. By defeating other states, the Gorkhalis did not annex Limbuwan to the Kingdom of Nepal. An outstanding written agreement has been reached with King Hilihang of Limbuwan. The Limbuwan region was given special rights due to the unification based on Sambhavata. That special right was taken away during the reign of King Mahendra. A historic treaty was signed between the Gorkhali army and Limbu on July 7, 1831 BS. In the red seal given by Prithvinarayan Shah to Limbu Subba in August 1831, the rights which had been given to him by Sen Raja earlier, He has mentioned that he will also give that right. According to historians, the agreement between Prithvinarayan Shah and Hilihang states, “Anyone who violates this agreement will be annihilated.” But then King Mahendra violated the treaty with Limbuwan by completely eradicating the stingy practice of Limbuwan from the Land Reform Act brought in 2021 BS. And, in line with the policy of one caste, one language, one religion, one disguise, one state, the Limbu language, religion, culture, and literature were treated unfairly. Probably the reason for the downfall of the Shah dynasty kings was by violating the agreement made with Limbuwan. A great injustice was done to literature. Probably the reason for the downfall of the Shah dynasty kings was by violating the agreement made with Limbuwan. A great injustice was done to literature. Probably the reason for the downfall of the Shah dynasty kings was by violating the agreement made with Limbuwan.
Historian Iman Singh Chemjong published ‘Kirat Itihas’ from Gangtok, Sikkim in 1948. At that time, Nepali historians could not publish books on history in Nepal. Baburam Acharya and Nayaraja Pant had detailed knowledge of history, but due to the tyranny of the Rana, their research could not shed light on it. Before him, Chemjong published a book on history. Chemjong’s first publication brought to light many historical contexts and shreds of evidence of the Limbu people.
By preserving their language, culture, and traditions, the Limbu people have made a great contribution to the culture of Nepal. Although some of the hilly districts of eastern Nepal and some parts of Sikkim are sparse, the Limbu people have now spread to many countries. This caste does not even imagine persecuting others, but if someone persecutes itself, it attacks with the love of life. There is a boxer, Mekh Bahadur. He had met this rower. He had punched his jar with a fist. He is still there. According to the civil law of Jung Bahadur’s time, people could not kill people without a state order, but in Limbuwan, even if a jar (fleeing his wife) was killed, society would allow it. This practice was the law of Limbuwan at that time.
If Prithvinarayan Shah had not signed an agreement with Limbuwan, his descendants would not have been able to unify the territory west of Gorkha in Nepal. With the help of the Limbuwan army, the Gorkhas were able to merge the powerful Sen state and the mighty Khas state into Nepal.
Prithvi Narayan Shah’s contribution to Nepal’s unification may not be as great, but the contribution of King Hilihang of Limbuwan cannot be underestimated. If he had not been ready for an agreement, Limbuwan would not have been an integral part of Nepal. If Limbuwan was not included in Nepal, it would not have been possible to unify the territory west of Lamjung in Nepal. But the then rulers could not appreciate the contribution made by Limbuwan during the unification of Nepal. Representatives of the Limbuwan region in the central government were gradually weakened. Limbuwan’s contribution to Nepal’s unification was not included in the textbook. Therefore, many Nepalis do not know about the contribution made by King Hilihang of Limbuwan to the unification of Nepal.
The Limbu people have kept not only their language and culture but also their calendar alive. While keeping their language and culture alive, the Limbu people have made a great contribution to the development and promotion of Nepali as the national language of Nepal. If you look at the list of 10 great writers of the Nepali language, the names of Limbu people also come up. Even in the field of Nepali film and singing, Limbus is ahead of other castes. Not only this, it has been confirmed that the Limbu people have great attachment in education, health, agriculture, tourism, development of physical infrastructure, and so on.
Today, the eastern region of Nepal is ahead in all respects. Wherever the Limbu people live, there seems to be a leap forward in economic, material, and educational development. For example, prosperous districts like Ilam, Panchthar, Taplejung, Jhapa, and Morang are endless in Nepal. Nepal has been earning significant foreign exchange by exporting not only cash tea but also cardamom, ginger, amriso, akbare chili, dairy products, tongwa, sukuti, and churpi. These items are products of Limbuwan. Recently, the Limbuwan region has also leaped tourism. After Pokhara, most of the domestic tourists reach Ilam. Not only the gentle, learned and energetic people but also the natural beauty, climate, and fertile soil have blessed the Limbuwan region. The Limbuwan region is also rich in terms of water resources and herbs.
Today’s bitter reality is that Nepal’s tribes have less access to state power in proportion to their population. But the Limbu is a caste that has been over-represented in state power in recent times in proportion to its population. In every organ, plant, and body of the state, the Limbus have risen not only numerically but also in rank. Business, The Limbus has also made significant progress in the business. It has been seen that the Limbus who have gone abroad also get employment at a better salary than other castes. Apart from Padmasundar Lawati during the Panchayat period, other Limbus did not have much influence in the central politics, but after the restoration of democracy in 2046 BS, the Limbus seem to have a significant influence in the Nepali Congress and UML. Bhuvikram Nemwang’s family dominated the Nepali Congress for a long time. At present, Subash Nemwang has a good dominance in the CPN-UML. Among the major organs of the security forces, many limousines have reached the upper echelons of the Nepal Police. In the Nepal Army, until the establishment of the republic, Rana, Shah, and their relatives were syndicated, so people of other castes could not go above ‘second or third man. By the second or third man, the limbs had reached. Being a syndicate of Shah and his relatives, people of other races could not go above ‘second or third man. By the second or third man, the limbs had reached. Being a syndicate of Shah and his relatives, people of other races could not go above ‘second or third man. By the second or third man, the limbs had reached.
A Nepali girl met him in Hong Kong. After the conversation, it became clear that she was Padma Sundar Lawati, a world-renowned doctor of Chinese acupuncture treatment technology. He is probably the first Nepali expert on the subject. Not only politics, language, literature, agricultural technology, tourism, trade, and business, but also the number of doctors, engineers, professors, lawyers, researchers, social workers, philosophers, and construction businessmen in the country, the number of limbs is more than the population.
Not every side has a bright side. In terms of expanding their influence to other castes and communities, the Limbus seem to be after Ali compared to the Khas Aryans and Newars, and Thakalis. Except for the Eastern Hills and the Eastern Terai and the capital Kathmandu Valley, the limbs do not seem to be so mixed. While Newar, Gurung, Rai, Magar, Tribes including Thakali have spread to almost all the districts of the country. But the limbus does not seem to have spread much beyond their hometowns. They must not be interested in moving elsewhere because they have all the possibilities in their possession. After all, in terms of the settlement, the Limbuwan region is the strongest in Nepal. The Limbu people have made so much progress in politics because they have settled in one place. If they were scattered like crocodiles, Limbu politicians would not get tickets as easily as they do now. Because which caste has more population in which constituency? Political parties select candidates based on This is not uncommon in the politics of voting. But that doesn’t seem to be the case with Thakali. Because Ganesh Sherchan used to win elections even when 50 houses in the Kaski district were tired. Omkar Prasad Gauchan used to win the election even when 150 houses in Baglung were exhausted. Even when about 200 houses in Myagdi are tired The Jagat Gauchan family always wanted to win elections. There are 10-12 tired people in Chitwan but Amik Sherchan has been decisive in Chitwan politics for a long time. There was only one house in Rasuwa, but he was the chairman of the district development committee, which was later killed by the Maoists.
The intensive settlement and marital relations within one’s caste seem to be very helpful in enriching one’s language and culture. It also seems to have helped the Limbu people. But to reach a decisive position without being a supporter of the ruling power of the country, it is necessary to blend in all parts of the country and all castes and communities. The country will be built only by the people of all regions and all castes and communities. All geography and all castes, tribes, and communities are dominated by those who can vote, this is the rule of democracy. This is the reason why the Brahmins, who make up only 12 percent of the total population, are dominant in all areas of the country. Let’s look at the Koirala family, for example. They have also given daughters to Muslims. Dil Bahadur is the niece of BP Koirala, wife of Gharti (Bhujel). Basnet Samdhi of Solukhumbu. There are only a few districts in the country where the Koirala family is not related. Similarly, why are Chhetri, Newar, and Thakali successful? Because their relationship is in all districts.
There is no majority of any particular caste, tribe, and community in Nepal. All are in the minority. However, due to scattered settlements, traditional hold on state power, etc., Mohali is present in all areas of Khas-Arya, which has about 30 percent of the population. This is not how a country is built. Due to the principle of proportional inclusion adopted after the establishment of the republic, all castes will likely reach the decisive level of the state in the next few years, but it may be too late. Proportional participation of all castes, tribes, and communities in the state machinery is necessary to keep the country together. The battle now must be centered on this.
