Kot Parva (1846)

The Kot Parva, also known as the Kot Massacre, was a major political turning point in Nepal’s history that occurred on 14 September 1846. It marked the beginning of Rana rule, a century-long autocratic regime that dominated Nepal from 1846 to 1951. The incident took place inside the Kot (armoury courtyard) of the Hanuman Dhoka Palace in Kathmandu, where a bloody power struggle among Nepalese nobles and courtiers resulted in the rise of Jung Bahadur Rana as the most powerful man in the kingdom.

Background

In the early nineteenth century, the political situation in Nepal was unstable. The Shah monarchy, established by King Prithvi Narayan Shah in the eighteenth century, had become weakened by internal rivalries, foreign pressures, and court conspiracies. After the Anglo-Nepalese War (1814–1816) and the Sugauli Treaty, Nepal lost a large portion of its territory and prestige.
The royal court was dominated by competing noble factions, mainly:

• The Thapa family, led by Bhimsena Thapa, which had earlier enjoyed great power.
• The Pande family, a rival aristocratic group.
• The Basnet and Kunwar families, minor but rising political players.

By the mid-1840s, the death of Prime Minister Mathabar Singh Thapa and growing discontent among the courtiers had created a volatile political environment.

Immediate Causes

1. Murder of Gagan Singh:
   • On the evening of 14 September 1846, Gagan Singh Khawas, a powerful and trusted military commander serving Queen Rajya Laxmi Devi, was mysteriously assassinated while offering prayers.
   • Gagan Singh was believed to be close to the Queen, and his sudden death enraged her.
2. Queen Rajya Laxmi’s Reaction:
   • The Queen, suspecting that her rival nobles were behind the murder, summoned all senior officials, nobles, and military officers to the Kot courtyard (Hanuman Dhoka Palace) for an immediate investigation.
   • She demanded that the perpetrator be executed on the spot.
3. Power Struggle and Chaos:
   • As tension mounted, various nobles accused one another, and chaos broke out.
   • Jung Bahadur Kunwar, a clever and ambitious military officer, positioned himself and his troops strategically around the Kot.

The Kot Massacre

During the heated exchanges, Queen Rajya Laxmi allegedly ordered the execution of General Abhiman Singh Basnet, accusing him of being responsible for Gagan Singh’s murder.
When Abhiman Singh tried to reveal the real culprit before his death, his words were drowned in confusion. Soon after, violence erupted. Jung Bahadur and his loyal soldiers opened fire inside the courtyard, killing dozens of prominent courtiers and nobles belonging to rival factions.
Casualties:

• Historical accounts estimate that more than 30–40 leading nobles were killed that night.
• Many of them belonged to the powerful Pande and Basnet families.

The massacre effectively wiped out the traditional aristocratic leadership that had long dominated the Shah court.

Rise of Jung Bahadur Rana

In the aftermath of the massacre, Jung Bahadur emerged as the strongest surviving military leader. Using his military control and the support of the Queen, he quickly consolidated power.

• He was appointed Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of Nepal shortly after the massacre.
• He gradually eliminated remaining rivals and secured the confidence of King Rajendra Bikram Shah.
• Within a year, he exiled both Queen Rajya Laxmi and King Rajendra, placing Prince Surendra Bikram Shah on the throne as the new monarch.

This marked the beginning of the Rana era (1846–1951), during which the Ranas held absolute power while keeping the Shah kings as ceremonial figureheads.

Consequences

1. Establishment of Rana Autocracy:
   • The Kot Parva consolidated Jung Bahadur’s power and established the hereditary Rana Prime Ministership, which lasted for over a century.
   • The Ranas monopolised both military and administrative authority, reducing the monarchy to a symbolic role.
2. Isolationist Policies:
   • The Ranas pursued a policy of strict isolation from foreign influence, keeping Nepal largely closed to the outside world.
   • They maintained a cautious relationship with British India, ensuring Nepal’s sovereignty while avoiding confrontation.
3. Centralised Power:
   • Political power was centralised in the Rana family, with succession determined by heredity rather than royal appointment.
   • All major administrative and military positions were controlled by family members.
4. Suppression of Reforms:
   • Democratic aspirations, education, and political freedoms were suppressed to maintain absolute control.
   • The country remained socially and economically backward for much of the Rana period.

Historical Significance

• The Kot Parva transformed Nepal’s political system from a monarchic court-based governance into a hereditary autocracy under the Ranas.
• It marked the decline of the traditional feudal nobility (Pande and Thapa families) and the rise of a new ruling dynasty.
• The event is considered a watershed in Nepali history, as it shaped the political, social, and administrative structures for the next century.

Later Developments

• Jung Bahadur Rana further strengthened his position by introducing the Muluki Ain (1854), Nepal’s first comprehensive legal code, which unified civil and criminal laws under a single framework.
• His successors continued the Rana legacy until the 1951 Revolution (Sat Salko Kranti), which finally overthrew Rana rule and restored the Shah monarchy’s authority.