Basics of the India-Nepal Border Issue

In the Indian Education System, it has been often been found that events of historical and national strategic importance are kept out of a student's syllabus booklet. The curriculum remains untouched since years and it is the same old theoretical knowledge which is repeated in every classroom for years now. An absence of current examples and the lack of discussions on latest news around the globe in the classroom environment has led to broken link between what is written in the textbooks and the ground realities of the things happening around us. Most of the times, we are left to doubt the usability of the texts that have been passed down to us during the formative years of our schooling. 

This is my humble attempt at delineating the current headlines with historical context and linking it with the textual concrete knowledge required to have a wholesome learning experience. My blogs will aim to keep it simple, answer the basic questions and support the learning journey of people like me, who are not very well aware of the historical trails of the headline making events.

First in the series, we have the recently surfaced India-Nepal border issue-

1. Where is the disputed area?

The Anglo-Nepalese War was fought between the Kingdom of Gorkha and the East India Company, which came to an end with The Treaty of Sugauli in 1815-16. According to the treaty, Nepal renounced all claim to the disputed lowland country, and gave up its conquests west of the Kali River and extending to the Sutlej River. This demarcated the borders for Nepal. After a representation made by Nepal, the villages of Tinkar and Chaggru, which lie to the east of the river Kali were transferred to Nepal. Hence, the drainage of the Kalapani and Lipulekh was considered wholly within British territory. Thus, making it a part of the Indian territory thereafter.

India-Nepal Border Dispute

2. Did Nepal laid claims to the western side of the river in the past?

Yes, as soon as the treaty was ratified, Nepal claimed that Kuthi Valley, which is further to the west of the river. The Himalayan Gazeteer records that these claims were denied by the surveyor W.J. Webbs at that time and this territory was retained by the British Raj.

Hence, to secure the agreed boundaries, a ratified Treaty of 1860 was signed between the British Raj and the King of Nepal (Maharaja Jung Bahadur Rana) in which this dispute was settled and Nepal agreed to its boundaries.

3. What are the previous written declarations that have cemented these borders of India and Nepal?

• The Settlements of Trail in 1828 and Batten in 1840-41 have clearly highlighted these boundaries.
• Moreover, The Himalayan Gazeteer pointed out to the new map prepared by the Survey of India which clearly demarcated these boundaries and eliminated any other sketchy maps that existed before. 
• A police post has been established by India at Kalapani in 1956.

4. What is the current issue?

The recent news headlines talk about the newly released Nepal Map by Kathmandu that lays its claim on the territory of  Kalapani, Limpiyadhura and Lipulekh of Uttarakhand as part of its own territory. This is a move similar to China's expansionist steps in which it releases sketchy maps and is infamously known for laying a claim on territories that are out of its sovereign bounds.

5. What is the solution to this?

The International laws and customs clearly support India's claim. International borders are agreed upon after political agreements and thoughtfully interpreted treaties. The global system and order will fall in a chaos if nations feel free to release their maps with new territorial boundaries without any international consensus. 

The legislative, administrative and judicial authority over the area has always been of India and that is what the people of the land believe too.

For a detailed reading, you can find more resources at-
1. The Hindu
2. Independent Blog