Documents on Slavery, Forced Labor, and Emancipation

Slavery has existed in Nepal since ancient times. The first known epigraphic evidence of slavery in Nepal is an inscription by the Licchavi king Narendradeva (reigned ca. 643–679) at Anantaliṅgeśvara in Bhaktapur. The traditional form of slavery, also known as chattel slavery, continued into the 20th century until it was abolished by Prime Minister Candra Śamśera in 1925. An overview of documents on various subtopics related to slavery and unfree labor in 19th- and 20th-century Nepal is presented here.

Ritual donation of slaves

K_0113_0023: A document recording the donation of a slave and land to Ādiviśveśvara by Ṭhākura Gira Gosāī (ŚS 1680)

PN_0002_0002: A copperplate inscription recording the offering of two slave girls by Bālakṛṣṇa Upādhyā to serve at Paśupatinātha (ŚS 1695)

K_0579_0063: A document from Joga Nārāyaṇa Malla to Bhagavanta Bā̃ḍā regarding the offering of female slaves to Palāñcoka Bhagavatī (VS 1832)

Slave Trade

E_2824_0044: A vikrayapatra documenting Bālasundara Thāpā’s acquisition of two of his former slaves from Bhairava Siṃ (VS 1889)

nepal/editions/show/17724" target="_blank">E_1448_0037: A document recording a loan taken by Darajīta Paṇḍita from Bhājupati to buy slave girls (VS 1898)

K_0348_0066: A deed recording the sale of a slave at Dhuni Byāsi (VS 1952)

K_0348_0037: A deed recording the sale of four slaves (VS 1965)

K_0282_0008: A sale deed recording the purchase of a slave’s son in Khairā Gāū, Pyuthana (VS 1966)

K_0281_0049: A document recording the sale of three slaves at Madanapura, Pyuthana (VS 1967)

K_0281_0051: A sale deed for a slave in Pyuthana (VS 1971)

K_0282_0007: A sale deed recording the purchase of a slave in Pyuthana (VS 1971)

K_0282_0001: A sale deed for a slave in Pyuthana (VS 1974)

K_0282_0002: A deed of sale for a slave in Pyuthana issued by Bhiu Siṃ Ghartī Magar (VS 1974)

target="_blank">K_0282_0003: A sale deed for two slaves in Pyuthana (VS 1975)

K_0282_0020: A sale deed for a slave in Tusara, Pyuthana area (VS 1975)

K_0282_0047: A sale deed for three slaves in Kārkī Ḍā̃ḍā (VS 1975)

K_0281_0058: A sale deed for a slave in the Purkoṭ area (VS 1976)

K_0282_0010: A deed recording the sale of a nine-year-old female slave at Khairā in Pyuthana (VS 1977)

K_0282_0006: A deed recording the sale of a slave mother and her child in Bādikoṭ, Pyuthana (VS 1978)

K_0281_0044: A deed of sale for a slave in the Pyuṭhāna area (VS 1979)

K_0282_0004: A deed recording the sale of a slave in Bādikoṭ, Pyuthana (VS 1980)

Bond-servant

K_0348_0035: A bond formalizing a money loan in which a slave has been put up as collateral (VS 1906)

E_1544_0020: A loan agreement involving the debtor’s own son put up as collateral (VS 1942)

K_0348_0043: A bond entered into by Bhīmarāja Girī with a creditor for an interest-bearing loan secured by the pledge of a female slave (VS 1950)

K_0210_0064: A loan deed in which Padma Jaṅg Sāha pledges a servant as security to Ḍaṃbara Kumārī Devī (VS 1956)

K_0348_0040: A document recording a loan taken by Vīkmāṃ Bhoṭe from Kulmāna Giri, with a son pledged as security (VS 1956)

K_0210_0066: A copy of a loan agreement entered into by four brothers from Navalapura to borrow 42 mohararupaiyās from a creditor in Patan (VS 1959)

(VS 1959)

(VS 1959)

L_1200_0025: A letter from three Bhoṭe brothers agreeing to hand over a bā̃dhā laborer to his master, Chāmbā Khunu (VS 1960)

K_0348_0039: A bond entered into by Kamāne Bhoṭe with Kulamāna Girī to pay compensation for a period of unauthorized absence (VS 1963)

https://nepalica.hadw-bw.de/

K_0281_0045: A loan agreement involving a slave put up as collateral (VS 1976)

Forced Labor

DNA_0014_0026: A rukkā from King Raṇabahādura exempting certain Kathmandu goldsmiths from corvée (VS 1840)

DNA_0013_0062: A rukkā from the king directing twelve families from the villages of Māsau and Kimāḍi to operate a hulāka (VS 1864)

RRC_0006_1015: A copy of a set of directives regarding hulāka stations for areas between Dharmasthalī in Kathmandu and the Yamuna River in Kumaun (VS 1866)

RRC_0040_0044: A copy of a set of directives regarding hulāka stations for areas between Dharmathalī in Kathmandu and the Jamuna River in Kumaun (VS 1866)

RRC_0041_0569: A copy of a set of directives regarding hulāka stations in areas between the Vāgmatī and Vijayapura (VS 1871)

https://nepalica.hadw-bw.de/

DNA_0013_0060: A rukkā directing residents of Ālampura and Pakarbāsa to repair an irrigation channel (VS 1894)

RRC_0062_0180: Copy of a rukkā issued by the king to Prime Minister Jaṅga Bahādura Kũvara permitting jhārā labor to be used to build a bridge at Āryaghāta (VS 1903)

DNA_0016_0023: A rukkā from the king forbidding the abuse of porters and directing hulākī porters to carry loads only for state purposes (VS 1905)

Emancipation of slaves before 1924 CE

DNA_0012_0065: A lālamohara of King Girvāṇayuddha emancipating a family from Pāṭana from slavery (1858 VS)

PN_0002_0030: A copperplate inscription by Buddhirekhā Godārni recording a variety of implements offered to Paśupati and the emancipation of a slave (VS 1863)

RRC_0019_0444: A copy of an emancipation deed issued to Gajakesara (VS 1864)

PN_0004_0065: A copperplate inscription recording the emancipation of three women from slavery by Sundara Giri and his wife (VS 1869)

K_0118_0032: A deed of emancipation written by Rājakumāri Pãḍenī for her slaves Indravadan and Ujīra Khavāsa (VS 1943)

K_0118_0033: A deed of emancipation written by Rājakumārī Pãḍenī for her slave Gopāle (VS 1943)

RRC_0053_0029: An order emancipating the slaves owned by Samara Bahādura Rājabhaṇḍārī (VS 1943)

E_3446_0032: An emancipation deed drawn up by Kaisāṃ Khunu to free his female slave Palsāṃ Buṭī after his death (VS 1949)

L_1200_0016: A deed executed by Chiriṃ Buṭi of Sāmāgāũ providing for the future emancipation of her female slave Kārto (VS 1949)

https://nepalica.hadw-bw.de/

https://nepalica.hadw-bw.nepal/editions/show/41020" target="_blank">K_0614_0023: A letter from Deva Śamśera Jaṅga Bahādura Rāṇā emancipating seven slaves belonging to Jyedu Kumāra Paṇḍita (VS 1955)

Documents relating to the abolition of slavery in 1925 CE

K_0188_0060: An executive order from the commander-in-chief providing instructions to Rūpa Bāhādura Kũvara regarding restitution payments to be made to owners during the emancipation (VS 1982)

https://nepalica.hadw-bw.de/

https://nepalica.hadw-bw.denepal/editions/show/39589" target="_blank">K_0188_0061: A letter from the king instructing the Guṭhī Bandobasta office in Pyuthana to review documents pertaining to funds spent on the emancipation of slaves so that the presiding government agent may be granted clearance (VS 1982)

K_0281_0041: A report from Vīrajaṅga Sāha containing a list of 99 slave owners in Pyuthana (VS 1983)

K_0188_0057: A report by Vīrajaṅga Sāha correcting a statistic in the manumission figures for Pyuthana (VS 1983)

K_0188_0054: A document from Dāsatva Mocana Aḍḍā instructing the Guṭhī Bandobasta to waive a sum (VS 1984)

Correspondence between the Nepalese palace and the British government regarding the abolition of slavery

HDNB_0001_0001: A letter from Candra Śamśera to H.J. Wilkinson regarding the establishment of compensation funds for the abolition of slavery (CE 1924)

HDNB_0001_0002: A letter from H.J. Wilkinson to Candra Śamśera regarding the establishment of funds for the abolition of slavery (CE 1924)

https://nepalica.hadw-bw.de/

https://nepalica.hadw-bw.nepal/editions/show/42857" target="_blank">HDNB_0001_0003: A letter from Candra Śaṃśera to H.J. Wilkinson regarding the establishment of funds for the abolition of slavery (CE 1924)

HDNB_0001_0004: A letter from Candra Śamśera to H.J. Wilkinson regarding the establishment of funds for the abolition of slavery (CE 1924)

HDNB_0001_0005: A letter from H.J. Wilkinson to Candra Śamśera regarding the establishment of funds for the abolition of slavery (CE 1924)

HDNB_0001_0006: A letter from Candra Śamśera to H.J. Wilkinson regarding the establishment of a Slavery Emancipation Trust (CE 1924)

HDNB_0001_0011: A letter from Candra Śamśera to H.J. Wilkinson regarding the establishment of a Slavery Emancipation Trust (CE 1925)

HDNB_0001_0012: A letter from Charles Hough regarding the payment of interest on government promissory notes purchased by Candra Śamśera for the establishment of a Slavery Emancipation Trust Fund (CE 1925)

HDNB_0001_0013: A letter from Prime Minister Candra Śamśera to Hugh J. Wilkinson acknowledging receipt of the interest on the government promissory notes purchased for the establishment of a Slavery Emancipation Trust Fund (CE 1925)

HDNB_0001_0014: A memo from Charles Hough regarding the payment of interest on Government Provision notes purchased by Candra Śamśera for the establishment of a Slavery Emancipation Trust Fund (CE 1925)

HDNB_0001_0022: A letter from Sūrya Vikrama Jñavālī to Baḍā Kājī Marīca Māna Siṃha regarding the abolition of slavery (CE 1925)

Miscellaneous document relating to slavery in Nepal

DNA_0014_0041: A lālamohara from King Raṇabahādura informing Dalamardana Śāha et al. of his father’s death and the sati of eight slave girls (VS 1834)