Far-Western Development Region, Nepal
| सुदुर पश्चिमाञ्चल विकास क्षेत्र Sudur Pashchimānchal Bikās Kshetra | |
|---|---|
| Regions | |
 | |
| Country |
 Nepal |
| Region | Far-Western Development Region |
| Headquarters | Dipayal Silgadhi, Doti District, Seti Zone |
| Area | |
| • Total | 19,539 km2 (7,544 sq mi) |
| Population (2011 Census) | |
| • Total | 2,552,517 |
| pop. note | |
| Time zone | NPT (UTC+5:45) |
The Far-Western Development Region (Nepali: सुदुर पश्चिमाञ्चल विकास क्षेत्र, Sudur Pashchimānchal Bikās Kshetra) is one of Nepal's five development regions. It is located at the western end of the country with its headquarters in Dipayal.
The Far-Western Region covers an area of 19,539 square kilometers. It has nine districts with the regional headquarters at Dipayal, Doti District. The Far-Western Region is remote and developmentally challenged. Some 44% of people in the Far West Hills and 49% in the Himalayan districts live below the poverty line. The region has limited access to basic services and increasing development has proven to be challenging due to the difficult topography. The region has complex socio-economic structures and there is both widespread gender- and caste-based discrimination. Traditional systems associated with religion, culture and customs have historically had a great impact on overall development.[1]
The Far-Western Region comprises two zones:
The Far-Western Region is sometimes called the Doti region of Nepal, which some believe originated from 'Dovati' meaning land between two rivers. Others believe it originated from the Hindu god Dev, and Aatavi, meaning the place of re-creation. The area's history goes back to the 13th century when Niranjan Malldeo founded the Doti Kingdom following the fall of the Katyuri Kings. Dotiyali and Kumauni are spoken in the Far-Western Region. Deuda, Jhoda, Chhpeli, Chhaliya, Bhada etc. are traditional dances of the region and Gaura/Gamara is the biggest festival of the region.
History
Doti was an ancient kingdom of Uttarakhand of India and the Far-Western region of Nepal which was formed after disintegration of the Katyuri kingdom of Uttarakhand and the Far-Western region of Nepal during the 13th century. Doti was one of eight different princely states formed after the kingdom broke up and others were 1. Baijnath-Katyuri, 2. Dwarahat, 3. Doti, 4. Baramandal, 5. Askot, 6. Sira, 7. Sora, 8. Sui (Kali kumaon). The kingdom broke up because of the invasion of Khas kings Ashoka challa and Krachalla from Karnali Zone (Dullu) of Nepal in 1191 and 1223 respectively. Later on, the whole land between Ramganga on the west (Uttarakhand) and the Karnali on the east (which divides the Far-Western region from the other part of Nepal) came under Raikas after the origin of Raikas of Katyuris in Doti. "Brahma Dev Mandi" at Kanchanpur District of Mahakali Zone was established by Katyuri king Brahma Dev.[2]
Raikas of Doti
Niranjan Malla Dev was the founder of Doti Kingdom around the 13th century after the fall of Katyuris Kingdom. He was the son of Last Katyuris of united Katyuris kingdom. Kings of Doti were known as Raikas (also known as Rainka Maharaj). Later on the Raikas, after the overthrow Khas Malla of Karnali Zone, were able to form a strong Raikas Kingdom in the Far-Western Region and Kumaun which was called Doti. So far, the historical evidence for the following Raikas has been discovered:
Niranjan Malla Dev (Founder of Doti Kingdom), Nagi Malla (1238), Ripu Malla (1279), Nirai Pal (1353 may be of Askot and historical evidence of him from 1354 AD has been found in Almoda), Nag Malla (1384), Dhir Malla (1400), Ripu Malla (1410), Anand Malla (1430), Balinarayan Malla (not known), Sansar Malla (1442), Kalyan Malla (1443), Suratan Malla (1478), Kriti Malla (1482), Prithivi Malla (1488), Medini Jay Malla (1512), Ashok Malla (1517), Raj Malla (1539), Arjun Malla/Sahi (not known but he was ruling Sira as Malla and Doti as Shahi), Bhupati Malla/Shahi (1558), Sagaram Shahi (1567), Hari Malla/Shahi (1581 Last Raikas King of Sira and adjoining part of Nepal), Rudra Shahi (1630), Vikram Shahi (1642), Mandhata Shahi (1671), Raghunath Shahi (1690), Hari Shahi (1720), Krishna Shahi (1760), Deep Shahi (1785), Prithivi pati Shahi (1790, 'he had fought against the Nepali Ruler (Gorkhali Ruler) with British in 1814 A.D').[3]
The historic place of war between the Doti Kingdom and Nepal (Gorkha kingdom) during the period of Gorkha Expansion in 1790, according to the history of Nepal, is NARI-DANG which is on the bank of the Seti River, and the Dumrakot was the base of Doti Kingdom for fighting against Gorkhali.
Mongol/Mughal invasion of the Raikas Kingdom
During the period of Akbar, 16th century, Mongols (Mughals) attacked the Raikas of Doti. They invaded Ajemeru, capital of the Raikas Kingdom. Ajemeru is now in Dadeldhura District in the Far-Western region of Nepal. According to Abd-ul-Qadir Bada'uni (c. 1540 – 1615), an Indo-Persian historian, Army Chief of Akbar residing at Lakhnow Hussain Khan, lured by the wealth and treasury of the Raikas state, wanted to plunder the state, but did not succeed.[4]
Major cities
The Dhangadhi municipality is in Kailali District of Seti Zone.
Mahendranagar is the headquarters of the Kanchanpur District in Mahakali Zone. It is located on the Mahakali River, 6 km north of the India border, and is inhabited by people of various races, including the indigenous Tharu people.
Dipayal-Silgadhi municipality is the headquarters of Doti District and the Far-Western Region. It is within trekking distance of Khaptad National Park. Dipayal is also the name of the valley encompassing the Seti River.
Amargadhi is the headquarters of the Dadeldhura District.
Akhand Sudurpaschim
Akhand Sudurpaschim (अखण्ड सुदूरपश्चिम ) is a movement orchestrated by the native of far western development region of Nepal aim at which to create a separate state and self-determination rights for the native population of the region. Natives of the area have claimed two districts of Madhesh plain region: Kailali and Kanchanpur while Madheshi based parties want a separate Madhesh province along with the two districts which geographically lies in the Terai-Madhesh Plains. The Far Western Region, inhabited by a majority of Doteli speaking people as of the 2011 Nepalese census, shares a border with the Indian district of Uttarakhand and shares a similar ethnicity, language and culture. A movement against the central Sate “half-blood behavior" with the region began on the 26th of April, 2012, effectively halting state services, and ended upon the dissolution of the constitutional assembly on 28 May 2012.
References
- ↑ "An Overview of the Far Western Region of Nepal | Nepal Information Platform". Un.org.np. 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2015-06-04.
- ↑ "History of Dolpa". Topnepal.com. Retrieved 2015-06-04.
- ↑ "Courthouse in Far-Western Region, Nepal". Mygola.com. Retrieved 2015-06-04.
- ↑ "Kumaon History". Thekumaonhills.com. 1947-03-29. Retrieved 2015-06-04.
External links
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 Tibet Autonomous Region, China |
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Uttarakhand,  India |
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Mid-Western Region | ||
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| Uttar Pradesh, India |
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Coordinates: 29°16′N 80°56′E / 29.267°N 80.933°E