Postage stamps and postal history of Nepal

Nepalese Postal Hitory from Earliest Times Until 1959 Dr. Ramesh Shrestha, Nepal

Nepal's initial postal history is shrouded in mystery as sequence of postal events is not yet clear. Therefore, it becomes necessary to rely on related extant materials like Lal Mohurs (red seals) and black seal papers of Nepalese kings and Rana Prime Ministers respectively. Information left by past studies helps to ascertain the subject to some extent. Rules and regulations, although very few published at different irregular frequencies, also support to this field. Furthermore, existing postal covers help much to reveal multifarious facts on postal history of Nepal. Kagate Hulak (Paper Post) and Thaple Hulak(Burden Post) were known to exist during Prithvi Narayan Shah (King of Nepal, 1768 to 1775). There is no information about any kind of postal system during pre–Lichhavi and Lichhavi periods of Nepal. And, also almost no information about Malla dynasty postal system within the valley kingdoms is known. However, there is some information pertaining to the initiation of regular communication during the time of King Prithvi Narayan Shah (of unified Nepal, 1768 to 1775), the founder of modern Nepal. Such contacts between Kathmandu, Nuwakot, Gorkha and other areas were so important for the unification campaign (of 1744 to 1810) that without good infrastructure of communications it was almost impossible to control the far lying territories successfully. Kagate Hulak(Paper Post) and Thaple Hulak(Burden Post) are known to have networked within the country during his time (Babu Ram Acharya, 1968 in Shree Panch Maharajdhiraj Prithvi Narayan Shahko Sanchhipta Jivanee, Part 3). These primitive, yet the then effective postal systems were regulated by government messengers and runners who were assigned to carry official orders and documents (by Kagate Hulak) and government goods (by Thaple Hulak). General public were not allowed to use the government post as it was exclusively for the use of government affairs only. General Bhimsen Thapa (Prime Minister, 1806 to 1837) has been credited as one of the pioneer reformers of modern Nepal. Among several ameliorations introduced by Bhimsen Thapa during the reign of Rajendra Bikram Shah (King of Nepal, 1816 to 1847) postal reformation was extremely felt in the dire state of importance within the Nepalese territories up to the Mahakali River in the west and the Mechi River in the east. Previously, before the war of 1814 to 1815/16 (7 months in the first phase and 2 months in the second phase = total of 9 months) with British India, the Nepalese territories were extended up to the Sutlej River in the west and Tista River in the east. And, due to the lack of well organized postal system in the newly conquered areas (from 1768 to 1815) from the capital, it became very difficult to control the then overstretched (to nearly 1,500 km from west to east) imperial kingdom. Even then it took several years for the postal system to become more rectified because of this large territory with difficult topographical conditions. During the time of Rajendra Bikram Shah (King of Nepal, 1817 to 1847), extensive postal reforms were initiated by creation of several postal routes, evidenced by the existence of Lal Mohurs (royal red seal documents), appertaining to them.

There is a strong evidence of management and monopoly of the government mail system. That is a Lal Mohur of 1887 Bhadra 07 VS (20 Aug 1830), which is a good example that exhibits the significance of the then postal system even during that time. This document states that the officer–in–charge and other staff at Chisapani Gadhi were authorized to open any letters (sent through personal bearer) . . . Some of the clauses of this document were: Clause II: Regarding letters sent through personal bearers rather than the postal letters to and from Madhesh (Terai) open and inspect all letters even though they may belong to the priests Chautariyas, Kazis, Sardars, Subedars, Mercahnts and others. If those letters are of domestic matters let them come and go. If those letters contained Royal Palace affairs and news arrest the bearers of such letters and present them before our court by placing them in the custody of musketeers. Clause III: Foreigners should not be permitted to set up post offices on way to …….. Clause IV: Go on inspecting Kagate Hulak (Paper Post). (Source: Nepali, Chittaranjan., Bhimsen Thapa Tatha Tatkalin Nepal). One of the other interesting documents, the Lal Mohur, of Rajendra Bikram Shah was about the management of the postal system dated 1891 Paush 14 (27 Dec 1834). This document creates & assigns Paper Post Runners sfut] x'nfs for the Markhu route (South of Kathmandu valley). It has been endorsed by Prime Minister General Bhimsen Thapa and Ranajor Thapa with their signatures at the back. Additionally, it also differentiates & prohibits paper post runners in carrying Bhariko Hulak ef/Lsf] x'nfs (Burden Post). Such important documents, for other postal routes known to exist in many numbers, are strong substantiation that prove the management of postal network in Nepal initiated by Prime Minister General Bhimsen Thapa.

Svasti Sri (Giriraja Chakra Chudamani Narayanetyadi Vividha Virudavali Virajamana) Sri Man Maharajadhiraja (Sri Sri Sri Rajendra Bikram Shah Bahadur Shumsher Jang Devanam Sada Samara Vijayinam) Kasya Rukka ………… At Markhu, the following post runners of Palung are authorised with this Lal Mohur to carry the mails (Paper Post/ Letter Post) despatched from here and coming from south without delaying for a moment for which they need not pay any taxes from their earnings. They need not pay anything from their land earning to the revenue collector. They are waived from any kind of forced labour. If the concerned revenue collector does not follow this rule he will be heavily punished. These post runners need to carry letters only and they are not required to carry burden post. If the appointed post runners delay for a moment on the way, either during night or day, they will be heavily punished. Name list of 24 post runners followed by the date Vikram Sambat 1891 Paush 14 Tuesday (27 Dec 1834).

General Bhimsen Thapa (Prime Minister, 1806 to 1837) reformed the postal system within the country. The reformation was extremely felt in dire state of importance due to lack of well organized communication in the newly conquered areas up to the Sutlej River in the west and the Tista in the east. This resulted in loss of 1/3rd area of newly conquered territory after the Anglo–Nepal war 1814–15/16.

The Lal Mohur of King Rajendra Bikram Shah, created & assigned Paper Post Runners for Markhu route (South of Kathmandu valley). Additionally, it also differentiates & prohibits paper post runners to carry Bhariko Hulak ef/Lsf] x'nfs (Burden Post). At the end there is the name list of 24 post runners, who were given land as their wages. Date Vikram Sambat 1891 Paush 14 Tuesday (27 Dec 1834).

Similarly, the process of the development of postal system was carried on during the time of Shir 5 Surendra Bikram Shah (king of Nepal, 1847 to 1881) by the legendary Jung Bahadur Kunwar Rana (Prime Minister, 1846 to 1877). It has been stated that Jung Bahadur initiated a new type of postal system called Lauri Hulak nf}/L x'nfs (Stick Post). There was an official order that the travellers were required to volunteer in carrying the letters to respective destinations. In Lauri Hulak the letters were tied up around a stick which would be kept at the cross–roads in deserted manner and the passers–by are needed to carry that stick up to another cross–road as far as they would find convenient on their respective destinations. Then, another traveller, who is going to next cross–road needs to carry it to next point until the letter reaches to its final destination. This system was also quite effective although there was very high risk of letters being lost in transit. It is believed that Jung Bahadur Rana transmitted the news to other parts of the country of his appointment to premiership by using Lauri Hulak, which proved to be quite effective. Furthermore, black seal documents of Jung Bahadur and his sub–ordinates regarding the postal management in Nepal are also strong evidences of the development of the then postal scheme in Nepal.

Ranoddip Singh (Prime Minister, 1877 to 1885) started the network of organized postal system with postal markings in1878/79 and postage stamps in 1881 during the time of Surendra Bikram Shah Deva (King of Nepal, 1847 to 1881). The black seal of Ranoddip Singh. The consequences of the previous progress in Nepalese postal systems started since the unification of modern Nepal a great leap of its development was achieved by Ranoddip Singh (Prime Minister, 1877 to 1885) during the time of Surendra Bikram Shah Deva (King of Nepal, 1847 to 1881). He started the network of organized postal system in 1875 and with postal markings in 1878/79 and postage stamps in 1881.

According to several Nepalese sources like Arjun Shumsher J. B. Rana (Ninety Years of Nepal Postage, 1965), S. K. Bhattarai (Historical Review of Postal Service in Nepal 1875–1967, Philately Vol. II No. 1, 1967) and T. B. Khatri (The Postage Stamps of Nepal, 1973) Nepal's regular postal services started in 1875 on major routes linking Kathmandu with Gorkha, Pokhara and Palpa. The regular postal services started with the appointment of runners who were strictly instructed to carry official mails only and they were not allowed to carry any public mails. The runners travel on foot, which often took long time for mails to reach their destinations. In 1876 horse–riders were also appointed so that the mails started to reach earlier than before. Up to 1878 this postal service was not available to the public. However, it became more organized from late 1878 with the establishment of NEPAL HULAKGHAR 35 g]kfn x'nfs 3/ #% (Nepal Post Office, 35 = 1935VS = 1878) in Kathmandu and several post offices in different strategically important towns and on routes connecting them. The year 1879 was exclusively important in the postal history of Nepal when the postal service was made available to the general public for which the senders had to pay postage fee in advance, which appears to be ½ Anna (equivalent to 2 pice / paisa) for a standard letter. The mails of general public were usually scripted by manuscript endorsement of Mahasul Chukti dx;'n r'StL (Fee Paid) with a notation of the amount paid. Several examples of Mahasul Chukti covers are known from Palpa, Kalaiya, Kathmandu etc.

Beside Nepal Hulak Ghar (Kathmandu post office) there is deem information that some 42 (later 48 by 1881) post offices were established at different times before the introduction of postage stamps in 1881. Because of the birth and death of post offices at irregular frequencies during this period, it becomes very difficult to ascertain the exact number of these ealy post offices.

In an order to enter the more popular forms of postal communications as in the neighbouring countries like India, Nepal also introduced the first postal card in 1887 during the time of King Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah (King, 1881 to 1911) by Prime Minister Bir Shumhser J. B. Rana. Furthermore, during Bir Shumsher's time the stamps were started to be printed on Nepalese hand made Lokta paper with an addition of one more denomination of ½ Anna also later.

Hand made Lokta paper were used for printing Nepalese stamps from the time of Bir Shumsher J. B. Rana, (Prime Minister, 1885 to 1901) till later period. Another denomination of ½ Anna was issued later.

One of the examples of the first postal cards of Nepal issued in 1887 during the time of Bir Shumsher J. B. Rana. The use of two colours, vermillion for stamp and inscriptions in black, is a unique example not found elsewhere in many contemporary countries' stationeries. Furthermore, the practice of bicolour was never repeated on later period cards until in September 1997 when 110th anniversary of this card was commemorated by a 75 paisa more or less similar card.

The highly assertive Chandra Shumsher J. B. Rana (Prime Minister, 1901 to 1929) was very ambitious to improve the then extant postal system of the country. He comprehensively reorganized the postal system by the introduction of a new set of stamps: Shri Pashupati set 1907, printed in England in lieu of the existing crudely and locally produced stamps, the Sripech & crossed Khukuris series. These new stamps were line engraved, perforated and printed on European gummed paper in London. Chandra Shumsher was even thinking of Nepal's admission into Universal Postal Union (UPU) (Perceval Landon, Nepal Volume II, 1928, London). However, this could not happen due to reasons unknown. Because of this handicapped situation Nepal's postal entity was restricted within her own territory only.

The postal agreement with British India, which effected from 1st of March 1937, by Joodha Shumsher J. B. Rana (Prime Minister, 1932 to 1945) during the time of King Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah Deva, provided a relief to the postal aptitude as letters bearing Nepalese stamps addressed to India were duly delivered by Indian postal system and vice versa.

Joodha Shumsher J. B. Rana (Prime Minister, 1932 to 1945). The black seal document of Prime Minister Joodha Shumsher JB Rana for the exchange and management of FREE postal service arranged with the British Indian Post Office in Kathmandu for the army and civil officers stationed in India during the World War II. Document dated 1996 Kartik 14 (27 Oct 1939).

The Lal Mohur, royal red seal, of King Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah Deva for the management of Money Order and other matters of Birat Nagar Exchange PO. Document dated 2003 Kartik 26 (09 Nov 1946).

Nepal's membership into Universal Postal Union was effected from 1959 during the time of King Mahendra.

Furthermore, in due course during the time of Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Deva (King of Nepal 1955 to 1971), Nepal became member of Universal Postal Union (UPU) on 11th October 1956, which became effective from 14th April 1959. And, during the inauguration of Nepal's admission, King Mahendra delivered a speech highlighting the importance of Nepal's membership into UPU. For the student of Nepalese postal history, the period from the very far beginning until the admission into UPU is being considered as Nepal's classic postal history with diverse stages at different times. However, the classic here also means the unusual characteristics of the postal markings and their beautiful nature. The Nepalese postal system remained one of the best and cheap means of communication for the common Nepalese for several decades. The current book attempts to give vital information on several issues of postal system, post offices, postal routes, postmarks prevalent in Nepal from the earliest times until 1959.

Reference: Nepalese Postal History from the earliest times until 1959 by Dr. Ramesh Shrestha 2009 Published by Kazi Madhusudan Rajbhandary, Kathmandu, Nepal.