Opinion: Muslims as nation-builders

- Mohammad Zakir Hussain

Muslim of Nepal has a golden history as a trade developer, weapon makers, military trainers, unification fighters, lawmakers, diplomats, social reformers, political advisors and policymakers, artists, musicians, medieval architects, culture and civilization developers, diplomats, language and literature contributor, spies; in sum as NATION BUILDER.

A brief history:

When Muslims first settled in Nepal, it was not in united shape as present as it is. There were dozens of sovereign and independent states like a municipal state. In 1324 AD Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq of Delhi sultanate invaded Simraungadh the capital of Tirhut kingdom of Dev dynasty. Later colonial British ruled India. And, when the British were leaving India; after an Indian people's movement, they handed over Simraungadh to Nepal. This way Tirhut became a part of Nepal. The Muslims were living there when this part of Tirhut was handed over to Nepal. It is wrong to say Muslims entered in Nepal. This is the historical evidence that first time  Muslims entered in present great Nepal were as conquerors of Simraungadh. Simraungadh is now in Bara district of Madhesh province. As history witnessed Muslims ruled in Tirhut from Simraungadh fort a long period. They ruled directly and indirectly both ways.

Muslims from Arab entered India in twelfth century at southern bank. Gradually they sprayed in Delhi, UP and northern belt. India and Nepal both were not in current shape. There were innumerable states like municipalities. Muslims reached till Chure range and somewhere in hills as well in twelfth and thirteenth centuries.

A group of Muslims settled in Kathmandu during King Ratna Malla's a (1482-1512) reign in the late 15th century. These Muslims were Kashmiri merchants. Ratna Malla allowed them to settle in Kathmandu. Ratna Malla's envoy to Lhasa invited Kashmiri Muslims to Kathmandu in an attempt to profit from the rugs, carpets, shawls and woolen goods they traded between Kashmir, Ladakh and Lhasa. A batch of Muslims came with a Kashmiri saint who built the first mosque, Kashmiri Taqia, in 1524. Historian Baburam Acharya believes they were also there to protect King Ratna Malla from rebellious relatives and senior court officials.

Influenced by the system of Mughal courts in Delhi, the Mallas also invited Indian Muslims to work as courtiers and counselors of the Malla courts. While the Muslim courtiers did not last long and returned to India, other Muslims stayed on. The Mallas also got Indian Muslims from the Mughal Empire to join as musicians and specialists in perfumes and ornaments. 

The Chaubise rajas (kings)  of west Nepal also employed Afghan and Indian Muslims to train Nepali soldiers to use firearms and ammunition.

At different time Muslims from different places arrived in Nepal. When Prithibi Narayan Shah and other rulers of Shah Regime were fighting for unification, Muslims were residing in current Terai region where different kingdoms were in existence. And, Muslims were annexed with Nepal with their land and nationality. Not only period of Ratna Malla, had later different Malla Kings invited Muslims from India especially for security, militaries, weapon making, teaching, training, law-making, music, art and trade development purposes.

Many Muslims, especially Kashmiri traders, are said to have fled to India during the economic blockade that Prithvi Narayan Shah imposed on the Valley. Fearing persecution from a Hindu king due to their religion and their ties with the Mallas, the traders left despite assurances that they would come to no harm. By 1774, only a handful of Kashmiri merchants remained. Even so, Kashmiri traders proved to be a great help during the unification process.

Following Nepal's unification, King Prithvi Narayan Shah also encouraged Muslim traders to settle down with their families. Besides trade, the Muslims from Afghanistan and India were experts in manufacturing guns, cartridges and canons, while others were useful in international diplomacy because of their knowledge of Persian and Arabic.
Historians say that Prithvi Narayan Shah employed them as spies and informants as they had personal contacts with the Malla rulers. After his victory, he gave them permission to build a mosque, near Tri-Chandra Campus.

When Ranas dictators were ruling Nepal, Begam Hajrat Mahal, queen of Awadh and senior courtier to the Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar also came to Kathmandu as refugee. Jung Bahadur Rana was in power. There were a big number of refugees with her. When they were traveling via villages and jungles of Terai most of them settled there as well. Some reached Kathmandu. They were kept in Tapathali Palace by Jung Bahadur Rana. Hajrat Mahal was buried at compound of Nepali Jame Masjid (mosque). It is secured at corner of the mosque. Indian Ambassador visits it every year.

A small troop of Tibetan Muslims entered Kathmandu Valley in post-1959 after the Communist takeover in China. They settled in Kathmandu valley. They are almost in trade and business. 

Muslim of Nepal has a golden history as a trade developer, weapon makers, military trainers, unification fighters, lawmakers, diplomats, social reformers, political advisors and policymakers, artists, musicians, medieval architects, culture and civilization developers, diplomats, language and literature contributor, spies; in sum as NATION BUILDER.

(Copied from the research-based manuscript, Development of Islamic Civilization in Nepal written by Zakir Hussain)

(The published article is the author's personal opinion.)