Kot massacre

Kot Massacre
Kot massacre, Kathmandu
Date 19 September 1846 Location Kot, Kathmandu, Nepal

The Kot massacre (Nepali: कोत पर्व|kot parva) took place on 19 September 1846 when Jung Bahadur Rana and his brothers killed about 40 members of the Nepalese palace court including the Prime Minister and a relative of the King, Chautariya Fateh Jung Shah, at the palace armoury (the kot) of Kathmandu. This led to the loss of power by King Rajendra Bikram Shah and the Shah family, resulting in the monarchy by Surendra Bikram Shah and the establishment of the Rana autocracy.

Background

At the peak of instability in Nepalese politics, a coalition ministry was formed in September 1845, headed by Fateh Jang Chautaria, but the real power behind the throne was General Gagan Singh Bhandari, believed to be the secret lover of Queen Rajya Laxmi Devi, who controlled seven regiments in the army compared to the three under the prime minister. Abhiman Singh and Jung Bahadur Kunwar also served as commanders, each with three regiments. Gagan Singh was found dead on the balcony of his palace during the night of 14 September 1846. The queen commanded Bahadur, who happened to be ready with his regiments, to assemble the entire administrative establishment of the country immediately at the courtyard of the palace armoury. Following the queen's orders, Jang ordered his men to let people inside the Kot but not to let them out without Queen's or his own orders.

Overview

Following the Queen's order, Courtiers ran for their attendance at Kot as soon as they heard sounds of Bigul. Almost all Courtiers were unarmed as they responded to the immediate sounds of Bigul at Mid-night. The armies allocated by Jung Bahadur Rana also had taken the most of arms of Courtiers who had managed to bring arms. Queen Laxmi Devi and King Rajendra Bikram Shah were also present in Kot.

At almost Mid-night, Most of Courtiers were present at Kot. Everyone present there were full of fears and skeptical thoughts. General Abhiman Singh gave information to King about the possibility of massacre. His presence had relieved some of the members present. Abhiman Singh also fetched three troops under his control to Kot.

Prime minister Chautariya Fateh Jung Shah had still not arrived. Jung Bahadur Rana had called his younger brother Bam Bahadur to fetch Fateh Jung.

Emotions ran high among the assembled bands of nobles and their followers, who listened to the queen give an emotional harangue blaming the Pandes and demanding Abhiman Singh to execute Bir keshar Pande whom she suspected for the death of Gagan Singh. Abhiman Singh hesitated and looked to the king. The king hesitated and said to punish the guilty only after proper investigation of the matter. He pointed out that he must have a discussion with Prime minister regarding this matter and skipped out of the place. He then left the Hanuman Dhoka palace and went to the British residency. When he was denied an audience with the resident at such a late hour, he went to Narayanhiti Palace. In Narayanhiti, King Rajendra had sometime alone with Prime minister. Either King Rajendra had not wanted to give information about the condition of Kot or Fateh Jung had not understand the point. So, Fateh Jung had moved to Kot with simple security.

Meanwhile, at the Kot, surrounded by Jang Bahadur's regiments, tension grew high as most of the nobles along with prime minister Fateh Jang Shah gathered there. Seeing a high possibility of bloodshed, Jang Bahadur, Fateh Jang and Abhiman Singh Rana decided that Jang Bahadur and Fateh Jang should try to calm the queen, and Abhiman Singh Rana Magar, who had disobeyed queen's orders would stay behind. As the two went to find the queen, Abhiman Singh decided to get his own regiments at the Kot, but he was prevented from leaving. Abhiman Singh tried to force his way out, and was killed in the process. After panic ensued, the bloodshed began. Many Thapas, Pandes and Basnyats (Sirupali) died including the prime minister Fateh Jang, Khadga Bikram Shah and Dal Bhanjyan Pande. Some escaped by leaping walls and roofs and even through the drainage systems. Jang Bahadur easily turned the situation to his advantage and used the situation to eliminate his rivals.

Aftermath

Jang Bahadur made himself prime minister immediately after the massacre. Feeling he was presenting a threat to her power, the queen conspired to eliminate Jang Bahadur and elevate her son to the throne. The Basnyat Conspiracy—so called because many of its participants belonged to one of the last leading noble families, the Basnyat—was betrayed and its ringleaders were rounded up and executed at Bhandarkhal Parva. A meeting of leading notables packed with Rana supporters found the queen guilty of complicity in the plot, stripped her of her powers, and sent her into exile in Varanasi along with King Rajendra. The king began plotting his return from India. In 1847 Jang Bahadur informed the troops of the exiled king's activities, announced his dethronement, and elevated Rajendra's son to the throne as Surendra Bikram Shah. King Rajendra Bikram was captured later that year in the Terai and brought back as a prisoner to Bhadgaon, where he spent the rest of his life under house arrest. Jang Bahadur then established the Rana dynasty, which ruled Nepal for more than a century to come.

See also

• List of massacres in Nepal

References

• Library of Congress - Nepal country report