'To put Nepal's culture in a nut-shell' was the primary aim while writing this book. My talented cousin brother Pashupati Shamshere J. B. Rana, (M.P.) wanted me to write a chapter on Nepal's culture for a book on Nepal which he wanted to compile. When I gladly agreed and started this seemingly easy work I realized how implacable a task it was. Nepal is one of the smallest countries in the world. But, as it lies between the two large subcontinents, having cultures dating back to the third millennium before Christ or beyond and as it has served for centuries as a land route between these great nations; its culture has turned polychromatic and complex. This small country, approximately 500 miles in length lying at the lap of the Himalayas, the highest mountains in the world dividing the Chinese and Indian subcontinents, has been crossed by numerous people of different races and ethnic origin; people carrying trade and commerce, men of arts and letters, religious leaders and preachers, as well as humble grazers and bold adventurers. Therefore cultures from both these northern and southern neighbours flowed into this little and remote country. Kathmandu Mandala or the Central Valley which always remained the epicentre of Nepal, infact became a melting pot for all cultural influences to smelt together and metamorphose, giving a distinct Nepali shape to all forms, ideas and sounds imbibed from all sides.
Likewise, the history and culture of Nepal is to a great extent a history of migration of people from outside the country into this land, of people of the country itself migrating from one part to the other and also of people moving out of the country to solve their problem of mass poverty. This, coupled with the rugged geographical nature of the country and climate, ranging from the cold snowy mountains in the north to the warm tropical belt in the south, kept migrating to an acceptable level. Thus for many centuries, there was inside the country, an ideal situation for various ethnic groups to foster. To squeeze the account of the culture of a country, with a long history of cultural changes and of people living in multi-ethnic and multilingual groups, into a carrying trade and commerce, men of arts and letters, religious leaders and preachers, as well as humble grazers and bold adventurers. Therefore cultures from both these northern and southern neighbours flowed into this little and remote country. Kathmandu Mandala or the Central Valley which always remained the epicentre of Nepal, infact became a melting pot for all cultural influences to smelt together and metamorphose, giving a distinct Nepali shape to all forms, ideas and sounds imbibed from all sides.
Likewise, the history and culture of Nepal is to a great extent a history of migration of people from outside the country into this land, of people of the country itself migrating from one part to the other and also of people moving out of the country to solve their problem of mass poverty. This, coupled with the rugged geographical nature of the country and climate, ranging from the cold snowy mountains in the north to the warm tropical belt in the south, kept migrating to an acceptable level. Thus for many centuries, there was inside the country, an ideal situation for various ethnic groups to foster. To squeeze the account of the culture of a country, with a long history of cultural changes and of people living in multi-ethnic and multilingual groups, into a few pages became almost impossible for me.
The present book, has not been able to do full justice in recording a com-plete history and culture of Nepal. But then from the incept my aim was to write a concise account of the culture of Nepal, which would help readers to get an overall view of its cultural scenario, within a reasonably short time. So the result has been, a book on Nepal, placed between the scholarly works and sloppy writing on this subject close to my heart. As a student of history, I know the limitations, even pitfalls in producing such a work, where both painstaking research and scrutinized authenticity would be lacking. I can almost foretell the controversies that the ideas expressed or conjectures made in this book may raise. But I am sure, to those who want to get a concise co-ordinated view on the fairly long and varied cultural scenario of this small and interesting country, this book would provide enough that one can gather by reading a small book on a wide subject. To such common readers and lovers of culture, I dedicate this book.
Hindu (887)
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Ancient (1022)
Archaeology (615)
Architecture (535)
Art & Culture (865)
Biography (598)
Buddhist (545)
Cookery (158)
Emperor & Queen (497)
Islam (235)
Jainism (274)
Literary (876)
Mahatma Gandhi (360)
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