Dossier BHH/1/59 - Placard sent by Premier Pushkar Shah of Nepal to Brian Houghton Hodgson, 14 February 1842

Placard sent by Premier Pushkar Shah of Nepal to Brian Houghton Hodgson. This takes the form of an open appeal addressed to the eldest prince (jethāsāhebjyū), prepared and distributed on the streets of Kathmandu in the name of an army battalion stationed in the capital by the anti-British and anti-Hodgson group of courtiers of Nepal; details the historical conflict and conspiracy between Bhimsen Thapa and Ranajang pande (Thapa-Pande conflict); the climax of this conspiracy in the court of Nepal; a list of 18 courtiers belonging to a so-called British supporter group known as an anti-national element and whom it says should be punished by the death penalty; accusation of the destruction of Nepal, the siphoning off of national wealth to British India and making Nepal a puppet of the British rulers in India; suggestion that there should be a mass execution of that so-called group of British supporters. Mentions Hodgson's Muslim mistress's nickname 'MusĪ dwāre' and her spying activities for Hodgson and the group of British lobbyists in the court of Nepal. Hodgson is addressed derogatively as "Harcanyā thāru musalmān phirangī " translated as 'stupid Hodgson, a Tarian or Indian of low class, a Muslim or untouchable or anti Hindu, an European traveller come with greed'. Names of royal relatives including high ranking Coutariyās (collateral brothers of the ruling monarch) namely Phatyajang Shah, Guruprasad Shah, Pushkar Shah, Badriban Shahi and ministers and courtiers including Ranajor Thapa, Singhabir Pande, Ranagambhir Pande, Birkeshar Pande, Kalu kaji, Abhiman Rana, Balanarshing Kunwar, Kirtibir Karki, Juddhabir Bohara, Gagansingh Khabas, Dalamardan Thapa, Kanaksingh Basnyat are included in the list of so-called British supporters and anti-nationals. Hodgson's title description in English on top and back side of the placard read as "Placard of February 41 received from Choutara Pushkar Shah on 14 Feb. 1842" (top) and as "Placard of Feb. 42 given me by the Premier." (back). Handwritten in Nepali on hand-made paper, 1 piece, dated 14 February 1842

• népalais