What is The Treaty of Sugauli?
On December 2nd, 1815, the treaty of Sugauli (which is also spelt Segqulee or Segowlee) was signed and it was ratified by 4th March 1816. The treaty was signed between Nepal and the British East India Company. Nepal was considered to be a kingdom during that time. This treaty has a very important historical significance because it marked the ending of the 2nd British invasion that happened in the Himalayan kingdom during the Anglo Nepalese Gurkha war that started in 1814 and ended in 1816.
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During that time period, Raj Guru Gajraj Mishra was the signatory of Nepal. He was supported by Chandra Sekher Upadhyaya. The signatory for the British East India Company at that time was Lieutenant- Colonel Paris Bradshaw. The Sugauli treaty established some territorial concessions in the region of Kathmandu and then allowed the Gurkhas to be recruited into the British army for military services. With that happening, Nepal lost the right for deploying European or American employees in their service.
Know Some More About The Sugauli Treaty
Under this particular treaty, about a third of the entire territory of Nepal was lost. This included Sikkim because the resident Chogyals of the area aided the British army during the Anglo Nepalese Gurkha War. Apart from that, the entire territory of the west side of the river Kali such as Kumaon, Gharwal, as well as some western territories such as Kangra and other parts of the Terai Region also got lost in the treaty. However, by the year 1816, Nepal did have some control over certain regions of Terai. This happened during the treaty revision process. In the year 1865, some more regions were provided to Nepal in order to suppress the ongoing Indian Rebellion that started in the year 1857. The representative of the British East India Company was amongst the first foreigners who were allowed to reside in Nepal. Edward Gardener, who was the representative was posted in the northern area of Kathmandu.
However, in the year 1923, in December, the Sugauli treaty got superseded by another treaty which was known to be a treaty for friendship and perpetual peace. Nepal signed a different treaty with India in 1950 that restored the relations between the two countries that were considered independent by then.
What Are The Terms of The Treaty of Sugauli?
The terms of the Sugauli treaty are mentioned below.
A treaty of friendship and peace was to be established between Nepal and the East India Company of Britain.
The king of Nepal had to renounce the different regions in which he had his claim. The regions that were the topic of discussion before the war were to be provided to the East India Company and all rights of the king in those regions would no longer exist.
All the regions such as the low lands between the revers of Rapti and Kali; the low lands between Gandaki and Rapti, except Butwal; the low lands between Koshi and Gandaki, would be ceded to the East India Company by the King of Nepal. This also included the regions between the rivers Burma and Mechi and the territories in the Mechi River.
In order to assure the Bhardars and the Chiefs of Nepal, who would have suffered alienation due to the treaty under Article No. 3, the East India Company would provide pensions of about 2 lakh rupees every year to the chiefs and the Bhardars.
The king of Nepal would have to renounce all the claims of himself as well his successors and heirs to the territories that have been mentioned in the 3rd article of the treaty.
The king of Nepal would never disturb or molest the King of Sikkim regarding the possession of the latter in the territories as well. In case of any disturbances between the two regions, it shall be reported to the East India Company arbitration.
The King of Nepal should never retain or take in his service an of the British officials, nor the officials of the American and European state without having some consent from the Government of Britain.
To ensure the security and improvising of the relations that took place between the East India Company and Nepal for peace, it was agreed that all the accredited Ministers from the different states would reside promptly at one another’s court without any difficulty.
The King of Nepal will ratify the treaty of Sugauli within 15 days from the date of the signing. The ratification would be then delivered to the East India Company representative Lt. Col. Bradshaw would obtain the ratification and deliver the same to the Governor-General. This should happen within a period of 20 days.
Conclusion
The Suguali treaty marked the end of the rule that the British East India Company had over Nepal. Hence, it is noted to be a very important historical event today.
FAQs on Treaty of Sagauli
1. What was the Treaty of Sagauli and who were its signatories?
The Treaty of Sagauli was a peace treaty signed in 1815 that officially ended the Anglo-Nepalese War (1814-1816). The treaty was signed between the Gurkha chiefs of Nepal on one side, and the British East India Company on the other. It was signed by Raj Guru Gajraj Mishra on behalf of the King of Nepal and Lieutenant-Colonel Paris Bradshaw for the East India Company.
2. When was the Treaty of Sagauli signed and ratified?
The Treaty of Sagauli was initially signed on 2nd December 1815. However, the Nepali side was reluctant to ratify it due to the harsh territorial losses. After the British resumed hostilities and advanced towards Kathmandu, the treaty was finally ratified on 4th March 1816.
3. What was the immediate cause of the Anglo-Nepalese War that led to the Treaty of Sagauli?
The immediate cause of the Anglo-Nepalese War was a border dispute over the Terai region. The conflict was triggered when the Nepalese forces captured the Butwal and Sheoraj districts in the Terai plains, which were claimed by the British East India Company. This territorial friction, combined with growing British imperial ambitions, led to the declaration of war in 1814.
4. What were the key territorial changes for Nepal under the Treaty of Sagauli?
Under the terms of the Treaty of Sagauli, Nepal faced significant territorial losses. The key changes included:
- Ceding the regions of Garhwal and Kumaon to the British.
- Giving up all claims to the Terai region, a fertile lowland strip.
- Withdrawing from Sikkim, which became a British protectorate.
- Accepting a permanent British Resident (an envoy) to be stationed in Kathmandu.
5. Who was the British Governor-General during the Anglo-Nepalese War and the signing of the Treaty of Sagauli?
The British Governor-General of India during this period was Lord Hastings, also known as Francis Rawdon-Hastings, the 1st Marquess of Hastings. He served as Governor-General from 1813 to 1823 and oversaw the British war effort and the subsequent peace negotiations that resulted in the Treaty of Sagauli.
6. Which river was established as the new western boundary of Nepal by the Treaty of Sagauli?
The Treaty of Sagauli established the Kali River (also known as the Mahakali River) as the new western boundary between Nepal and British India. This demarcation significantly reduced the size of Nepal, which had previously extended west to the Sutlej River.
7. What was the broader historical significance of the Treaty of Sagauli for Anglo-Nepalese relations?
The historical significance of the Treaty of Sagauli is immense. It defined the modern-day borders of Nepal, established a formal, albeit unequal, relationship with the British, and marked the end of Nepal's expansionist policy. Critically, it also initiated the tradition of recruiting Gurkha soldiers into the British army, a practice that continues to this day and has shaped the military history of both nations.
8. How did the Treaty of Sagauli impact the recruitment of Gurkhas into the British army?
The Treaty of Sagauli had a profound impact on Gurkha recruitment. While the treaty did not explicitly mention recruitment, the British were so impressed by the Gurkhas' fighting prowess during the war that they began recruiting them into the East India Company's army shortly after. The treaty's establishment of peace and a formal diplomatic relationship facilitated this process, turning a former adversary into a loyal and formidable source of soldiers for the British Empire.
9. Why is the Treaty of Sagauli sometimes considered an 'unequal treaty'?
The Treaty of Sagauli is often cited as an example of an 'unequal treaty' because it was signed between two parties with a significant power imbalance—the expanding British Empire and the much smaller Kingdom of Nepal. Nepal was forced to accept the terms under military duress, leading to the loss of approximately one-third of its territory without proportionate compensation. The treaty heavily favoured British strategic and economic interests, a common feature of treaties imposed by colonial powers during that era.
10. How does the Treaty of Sagauli differ from the subsequent Treaty of Titalia (1817)?
The Treaty of Sagauli (1816) was primarily between Nepal and the British, where Nepal ceded territory. In contrast, the Treaty of Titalia (1817) was between Sikkim and the British. In the Treaty of Titalia, the British transferred some of the land they had acquired from Nepal (under the Treaty of Sagauli) to Sikkim, rewarding Sikkim for its support during the Anglo-Nepalese War and establishing it as a buffer state against Nepal.
