The ancestors of Jang Bahadur Rana: History, propaganda and legend

In 1846 Jang Bahadur Kunwar and his brothers emerged victorious from the long power struggle which had followed the fall of Bhimsen Thapa, and for a century afterwards the history of their family and the political history of Nepal were virtually synonymous. It was not unnatural for those with such a distinguished present position to lay claim to an equally distinguished past, and this was officially recognised by the lal mohar of 15 May 1848, authorising Jang's family to style themselves 'Kunwar Ranaji' and asserting their descent from the Rajput rulers of Mewar, whom the Shah dynasty also claimed as their ancestors. Later sources present an elaborate family history, tracing the line back to the hero of the Ramayana and also giving a detailed account of the part played by Jang's immediate ancestors in the foundation and expansion of unified Nepal. This article will first examine the legends concerning the family's origins, then look at the Kunwars' role in Nepal's military and political history down to the death of Bal Nar Singh Kunwar. The primary purpose is the simple and straightforward one of putting on record the basic facts about the early Kunwars by testing the version presented by the Rana family historians against  the other available evidence. By way of conclusion, a brief attempt will also be made to see what light is thrown on the value-structure of Nepali society by the 'useful past' which was constructed for the Kunwars.