Geo-Political Situation

• Beginning of 17th Century, EIC opened its trade in South India

• 1757 AD - formed their own force and defeated the Nawabs

• By 19th Century, direct control over Delhi

Geo-Political Situation

• Unification campaign in Nepal

• 1784 – 86 AD – Chaubise states

• 1791 – Mahakali River

• 1791 – crossed River Sutlej

• 1806 – Seized Kangada

Relation Between Nepal & EIC

• Rise of Gorkhali power

• 1767 – Capt. Kinloch expedition

• 1710 – 1801 – Efforts of Diplomatic relations

• EIC planned to compel Nepal to accept British proposals

Causes of War

• Main causes of the war

• Immediate cause of War

Main Causes of War

• Policy of expansion• Growing Military power of Nepal• Failure of diplomacy• EIC commercial interests• Self over estimation• Territorial disputes• Strategic interests and objectives of

EIC

Immediate Cause of War

• Border dispute in Seoraj and Butwal

• 1804 AD – Nepalese troops captured Palpa

• EIC proposed to give Seoraj and take back Butwal

• March 1814 – Border Commision

• EIC gave an ultimatum of 25 days

• Nepalese troops recaptured Butwal

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Relative strength

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Maj-Gen Rollo

Gillespie, 4500

Maj-Gen John Wood 4000

Maj-Gen Bennet Marley

6500

Capt Latter

2000

Anglo-Nepal War 1814-16British Forces Line of Attack

& Nepalese Defence Plan

T I B E T

Maj Gen Ochterlony

6000

AM

AR

S THA

PA

5000 +

UJIR S THAPA3000

R S THAPA

4000

B THAPA

2000

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Comparison of Forces

British

Infantry -4,061European

-31,008 Natives

-17,111 Irregulars

• Artillery -3,628• Pioneers -843

Nepalese Infantry 16-18000 Artillery about 200

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Preparation for War

NEPAL (1760-1816)

East India CompanyEast India Company Preparation for WarPreparation for War

Political Schemes of EIC

Rise Ex-petty rulers against Gurakha Confine Nepal within hills Annexation of Nepalese territory Pre-conditions for a treaty:

– Surrender of Culprits– Surrender of all disputed lands– War indemnity– Surrender of all lands captured by EIC

EIC Preparation contd..

Factors Considered by EIC Time of operation – limited Area of operation – mountainous Concentration of Nepalese force in two areas

Field Army Capital

Strategy of division and diffusion:• Independent & simultaneous attacks• Attack in two theatres separated by River Kali

Strategy for Invasion Strategy for Invasion

Deharadun

No 4 Div

No 3 Div

N

o 2

Div

No

1 D

iv

Bijayapur

Amar Singh Thapa, Arki

Palpa

Makwanpur

Field Army

Western Theatre

Eastern Theatre

British Military Preparation

Rohilla Khand

CHINA

RangapurGorakhpur

Dinapur

Saharanpur

Rupar Chhauni

Capital

Special arrangements

Hasting’s arrangements for war:

Supporting artillery European troops Ordnance Mobility & cannon for carriage  Special clothing  Supply depots &   food stock Communication

China FactorChina Factor

NepaleseNepalese Preparation for WarPreparation for War

Nepalese Preparation for War

Factors Considered by Nepal– Advantages over the British

• Knowledge of the Area• Experienced in fighting in the mountainous terrain

– Numerical & Weaponry Inferiority– Mixed opinion & Decision

Military Preparation – French expert– Manufacturing of arms and ammunitions– European titles for army– Uniforms of European pattern– Construction of Barracks– Fortification

Bijayapur

Arki

Palpa

Makwanpur

Field Army

Nepalese Military Preparation

Capital

East India Company

Deployment of Troops

Nepalese Political Maneuver

Bhimsen Thapa’s diplomacy against the common enemy EIC.

Marathas Gwalior Punjab Rohilla Khand Tibet China

Battle of Nalapani

• Battle before the decleration of Anglo Nepal War 24th Oct -30th Nov 1814• Battle of Khalanga • Famous – Nepalese History

Plain land

Fort

Deharadun

Nahan 7km NE

LakhandKharsali Village

Asthala Basti

Tapoban

Events

22nd Oct 1814 – Col Mawby Captured Nahan 24th Oct -0430 Mawby fired cannons – single cannon could not reach fort British experience a failure – retreted

Events a) 26th Nov Gen Gillespie Shifted HQ to Foot Hills – Recce Multi directional/ simultaneous attack

b) 30th Oct Gen Gillespie ordered to fire fort

c) Gillespie forgot signal –Furrious

d) Nepalese raid against cannons

e) Nepalese aggression outside the fort, Several losses on British side including Gen Gillespie at 1115 am 30th Oct 1814

f) 30 NCO and OR died 225 injured

THIRD ATTACKTED AGAINST NALAPANIEvents

a) British 4x18 pounder, 2400 cannons balls, 2 x 8” Mortar 400 mortar shell and reinforcement of extra Bns cdrs Maj. Ludlow & BalduckCapt. Bucke &CaultamaConstruction of Road Cut off of water supply, reinforcement of Nepalese side

b) Nepalese, Strengthen the fort, storage of water, food and supply. Reinforcement –Jawaladal Coy

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• Battle of Jaithak

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BATTLE OF JITGADHBATTLE OF JITGADH

Plan• Cdr - Major General John Sullivan Wood

• Assigned responsibility of capturing Butwal, and up to Palpa in Nepal

• On 15th November,1814 - arrived at Gorakhpur

• King’s 17th Regiment and 8th Cavalry

Mahendra Highway

Mahendra Highway

Tinau River

Jitgadh

Butwal Gauda

Siddharth Highway

Nuwakot Gadhi

Palpa

- Cdr – Kaji Bdr Pandey- Very strong posn- 100 slodeirs- Gurubox Coy- Platoon - Sabuj

Plan - 1

Plan - 2

N

First plan was not supported by Kanak Nidhi Tiwari ( Advisor to Wood)

- Difficult to reachDifficult to reach

- No water within 5 km radius- No water within 5 km radius

Guru and advisor to ex Palpa king Prithivi Pal

Trying to regain Palpa from Gorkhali

Contd…

Mahendra Highway

Mahendra Highway

Tinau River

Jitgadh

Butwal Gauda

Nuwakot Gadhi

Palpa

Plan - 1

- 3 Jan, 1815 – Adv from Seoraj

- Guide – Kanak Nidhi

- Adv along Eastern bank

- Thick Sal forest-no roads and tracks

- Difficult for Wood

- Assembled- found only 3 coys

- When further adv- found that forest was ending nearly 30yds from his loc

- Little further adv – fort covered with mosses and creepers

- No sight of Nidhi

THE FIRST BATTLE

Seoraj

Mahendra Highway

Mahendra Highway

Tinau River

Jitgadh

Butwal Gauda

Nuwakot Gadhi

Palpa

Plan - 1

- Ensign Stephens was sent for recce

- Found fort was deserted and vacant

- While returning, barrage of gun fire

- 2 soldiers were hit

- Decided to wait till the remaining tps

- Divided into two gps

- Morale was high

- Reinforcement – Col Ujir Singh Thapa

- Turning in favour of Wood

- Unable to read the exact picture – ordered retreat

THE FIRST BATTLE

Seoraj

Capt Croker

Gen Wood

DeadDead InjuredInjured

British SideBritish Side 1919 100100

Nepal Side – Roughly the sameNepal Side – Roughly the same

Contd…

Casualty( Approx)

Mahendra Highway

Mahendra Highway

Tinau River

Jitgadh

Butwal Gauda

Nuwakot Gadhi

Palpa -Wood not giving up the idea of capturing Jitgadh again

- 6 April, marched towards butwal

- Weather deteriorated

- Rise of Tinau river

- British, 2 x 18 pound canon and 4 mortors

- Nepal had not more than 100 soldiers

- 4 x def posn- Butwal town

- 2 x def posn- Butwal Darbar

THE SECOND BATTLE

Seoraj

Mahendra Highway

Mahendra Highway

Tinau River

Jitgadh

Butwal Gauda

Nuwakot Gadhi

Palpa - British opened up fire with cannons

- Fire exchange continued for some time and stopped

- Thought fort was destroyed and deserted

- Crossing of river

- Intense fire from Jitgadh

- Some swam safely back to the river

- Not worth it and retreated again back to his loc

THE SECOND BATTLE

Seoraj

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Battle of Diothal

16th April 1815

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Battle of Diothal16th April 1815

• Introduction• Background• The Battle• Aftermath• Reasons behind Gorkhali Failure

Tactics & Principle of War

British Side

Political isolation of Nepal

Attack in various fronts to divide the troops of Nepal

Detailed preparation logistic planning

Well thought out time planning for the campaign with respect to the weather and climate of Nepal

Use of overwhelming force and multidirectional attack

Maximum use of local guides to gain local information

Maximum use of artillery weapons

Isolation and encirclement of strongly held position

Use of diplomacy

CONTD…..

Nepalese Side

Maximum use of local resources and improvisation

Well thought out selection of defensive location and defensive battle

Timely counter attack

Taking maximum advantage of terrain and local knowledge

Good leadership

Principles of war used in the War

Selection and maintenance of Aim

Offensive Action

Security

Surprise

Concentration of Force

Economy of Effort

Flexibility

Cooperation

Administration

Strong and weak points of both sides

British Side

The main weaknesses were as follows:-

• Lack of knowledge of adversary• Lack knowledge of the ground• Lack of information• Lack of detailed and precise planning and

also lack of contingency plan• Underestimation of the adversary• Lack of training in the mountainous terrain• Lack of cohesive spirit

The positive points were as follows

Good leadership

Good logistic support

Good fighting spirit

Nepalese Side

The main weaknesses were as follows:-

Lack of knowledge of adversaryLack of informationLack of good logistic backup

The positive points were as follows.

Good fighting spiritGood leadership

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• Results of war

• Effects of war

• Conclusion

RESULTS OF WAR

Treaty of Sugauli New Nepalese Boarder Gorkha Recruitment Unification Campaign of Nepal Halted Increase in British Influence in Nepal

EFFECTS OF WAR

Lost the 1/3 territory in the East, South and West Decisive Check for the Gorkhali Expansion Ended the possibility of Gorkhas with Marathas

and Sheikhs Question mark on Sovereign status Interference in the internal politics of Nepal Gorkha recruitment started Though able to maintain the independent status

Nepalese Side

EFFECTS OF WAR

Position became secure in Indian sub-coninent Got the valuable territorial Income from Mines and Timber Trade route opened British resident in Nepal Gorkha recruitment started Re-structuring of Bengal Army Lost lot of Money, man and material

East India Side

CONCLUSION

• After the War, the expansion policy of Nepal Halted and the size of its territory was reduced by one third

• Despite of heavy loss in the war, Nepalese troops were able to demonstrate outstanding courage, bravery, patriotism and leadership and able to protect its sovereignty

• Nepalese became famous all over the world for their bravery