A Brief History of Limbuwan

Posan Samser Limbu

MBBS, Batch 2005

All humans came from Africa. One exodus after another, the early humans settled in
different parts of the earth and modified their environment. In turn, the early humans
were also modified to suit their environment. In due course of time, isolation and
adaptation resulted in people in different places greatly differing from one another.

There are several legends behind the term Kirat. The early ancestors of the Kirats were
Silk merchants somewhere in the plains of Mongolia and China. Kiret meant silk farmer
and Kireti was silk seller. From Kiret and Kireti, the term Kirat is thought to have
evolved. In another legend, it is thought that as population grew, the people lived in forts,
and they were called Kiriyat. From Kiriyat evolved Kirat. According to Balchandra
Sharma as written in Amarkosha Kirat meant sour and Kiratis were very sour
businessmen.

Kirats are thought to have spread across the Indian subcontinent and Burma around
15,000 years ago. Different historians give different reasons as to how they got here.
Some write that they came with their cattle searching for better pasture, while others are
of the opinion that the hunters got here following game. Some also believe that the early
settlers were the vanquished from frequent wars in the Caspian Sea region. They must
have reached here in several waves and over a period of several thousand years.

Limbus are descendents of the Kirats. In their ever easterly migration, they were spread
as far as Burma. While they set up their own kingdoms and ruled this part of the world,
Aryan civilization was gaining momentum. In the inevitable clash of the civilizations,
Kirat kings lost key battles and, slowly but surely, the demise of the Kirat civilization
occurred. This is supposed to have taken place around 5th – 6th century B.C.

The Kirats migrated north. The group under the leadership of Yalambar entered ‘Nepal
Valley’ and founded the Kirat Dynasty. Similarly, Kirats under other leaders settled in
different parts of Nepal. The eastern region was divided into 8 kingdoms and ruled by 8
Kirat kings. These groups of Kirats/Limbus are called the ‘Kashi’ gotra Limbus.

Another saga describes how the ‘Taisaan’ gotra entered Nepal. They lived in Saan region
somewhere in Burma. They were defeated by ‘Kachin’ dynasty and in the decisive battle
a thousand Kirat warriors lost their lives. In their honor, the survivors started calling
themselves Saan Makwaan (Makwaan, meaning thousand). They migrated west under the
guidance of 10 leaders and over the course of 600 years settled in Assam, and eventually
entered eastern part of Nepal. Their entry into Nepal is estimated at 100 B.C. – 200 A.D.

The first place this group settled in was Bodhe village in Dhankuta. At that time, this
region had 8 kingdoms ruled by 8 Kirat kings from the first wave that entered Nepal.
Having obtained permission to live in their land, the Saan Makwaan Kirats prospered.
The new and the old wave of Kirats were similar in appearance and spoke the same
language.

For a thousand, years the 8 Kirat kings and 10 leaders co-existed in harmony. But the
descendents of the 10 leaders were prospering more than that of the 8 Kirat kings. The 8
Kirat kings knew that the Saan Makwaan had been kings before and feared that they
would be overthrown in the long run. So the treatment towards the Saan Makwaan grew
harsh. Taxes were raised very high. Those who failed to pay were severely punished and
movements restricted, in the hope that the Saan Makwaan would flee.

The 10 leaders decided that it was better to revolt and die than to tolerate such injustice.
They had a practice of holding a council known as “chumlung” to decide their course of
action. A do or die revolution was declared, and in the war between the 8 kings and the
10 leaders, the 10 leaders were victorious. The main weapon of the Saan Makwaan was
the bow and arrow. Having earned victory with it, they renamed the region Limbuwan (Li
= Bow, Abu = shooter i.e. Limbu = Archer, Wan = Land). The battle is estimated to have
occurred around 1000 – 1100 A.D.

Here are other legends as to how the name Limbuwan was derived. A great king is said to
have conquered the region of Limbuwan and Khambuwan. Limbuwan was won easily
and named thus; Limbu meant easily won in their language, while Khambuwan was won
with great hardship; Khambu meant won with difficulty.

Historians' differing opinions aside, the 10 Limbu leaders now became 10 Limbu kings
and they ruled by re-dividing the 8 Kirat kingdoms into 10 Limbu kingdoms.

The “Lasha” gotra Kirats are thought to have entered Nepal from Tibet in various
periods of history.

By the time Gorkha’s borders extended up to Arun River at 1830 B.S., Limbuwan had
weakened a great deal with many small self-acclaimed kings getting in the way of the
unity of the 10 true kings and by frequent wars, not only among themselves, but also
against Bhutan and Sikkim.

Gorkhalis were exhausted after years of warfare. They did not know the actual weakened
state of affairs of Limbuwan and thus were wary of the famed Limbu warriors. They had
already attacked Chainpur, the north-western frontier of Limbuwan, three times without
making any inroads. Hence they were unwilling to engage the Limbus in a drawn out
campaign.

Bijaypur was the accepted capital of Limbuwan. When Gorkhalis were advancing
towards Bijaypur, the King of Bijaypur should have called the traditional “chumlung”
and brought all Limbu forces under his command to resist the invaders. Instead he was
busy seeking help from the British, and the Chinese Emperor. In his absence, Bijaypur
fell easily. As mentioned before, Gorkhalis did not want to engage the whole of
Limbuwan. Hence exhaustive negotiations were done, and using all forms of trickery and
diplomacy; 6 months after the fall of Bijaypur, the Treaty of Bijaypur was signed.
Limbuwan became a part of Gorkha under the condition that the existing Limbu kings
would be allowed to continue taxation and effectively become kings of their own land.
Prithivi Narayan Shah became their overlord. This started the infiltration of other non-
Kirat races into Limbuwan, as the Kings were intent on making money by taxing the
newcomers.

However, while the arrangement was highly pleasing to Prithivi Narayan Shah, who
avoided a possible annihilation of his forces by averting open warfare and still annexed
Limbuwan, not all Limbus were pleased to say the least. Many kings (including 4 of the
10 true kings) weren't present at the treaty and after hearing of it, rejected it outright.

A year later, King of Yangrup of the Yongyahang clan, whose ancestors had ascended the
throne by defeating one of the 10 true kings of the Meyangbo clan, declared war on
Gorkha. Yongyahangs were aided by the King of Sikkim who sent a large force under a
very able General. The Meyangbo clan, who were now Kings of Thechambu, also allied
with their mortal enemy against Gorkha. Many other Limbu kings joined the war. After
several victories, the tide turned against the Limbus when the General from Sikkim was
killed in battle. The Sikkimese forces abandoned battle after the death of their general.
Lepchas inhabiting Nepal are considered to be the remnants of the Sikkimese army.

What sealed the fate of the Limbus was the lack of unity. The Treaty of Bijaypur had
effectively divided Limbuwan, and many Limbu kings, abiding by the Treaty, fought
from the Gorkhali side. The Limbu forces were pushed back to Yangrup where they
made their last stand. This war is considered as the first revolution of Limbus against
Nepal state.

Following the defeat, all Limbu clans that had fought against the Gorkhalis were
slaughtered indiscriminately. Therefore, the Limbus deserted their homeland and moved
to Sikkim and other neighboring areas. They were recalled several years later when
keeping Limbuwan became extremely difficult for Gorkha due to the lack of taxpayers.
Although, the Limbus were guaranteed safety and proper treatment, many chose not to
return.

Several small scale revolutions have taken place since, mostly led by Limbu scholars.
The backlash of the state against these revolts had been very swift and severe. In 1910
B.S., Jung Bahadur Rana took away the ruling rights of the remaining Limbu kings and
instead allowed them the use of the title “Subba” thus relegating their status to that of a
government employee. Chandra Shumsher ordered a house-to-house search and all
Limbu scriptures, genealogies, treaty papers, religious texts, literary writings etc. that
were found were taken to Chainpur and burnt. In 1965, King Mahendra and his
government unilaterally abolished the Kipat System of the Limbu people of eastern Nepal
by implementing the Land Reform act. Their only remaining territorial rights from their
past was stolen by an act of betrayal.
The current Limbuwan revolution is a continuation of the revolution of Limbus to regain
their sovereignty. In the modern context, it seems very unrealistic to ever regain past
glory and have an independent Limbuwan nation. Considering the current world affairs, it
would be wise to remember that Limbuwan's demise was the lack of unity. Limbus or
Gorkhalis, a broader unity is stressed to ward off the foreign vultures eyeing Nepal.

This is the history of Limbuwan in very brief. For more details regarding the exact dates,
names of kings and event details, readers are suggested to read the proper history books.

Sources: Meyangbo genealogy, Thebe genealogy, Begha genealogy, www.wikipedia.org