[This column originally appeared on August 19, 2011 under the title “Sale of Nepali Antiquated Weapons to an American Antique Dealer—A Controversy.” I am republishing this article here with a disclaimer that nations need firearms to defend their sovereignty from aggressors. But I am not a gun fan.]
A recent revelation of the sale of Nepal’s 200-year-old weapons to an American antique dealer has sparked a debate in Nepal as well as in the Nepali Diaspora. I have read some of the emotionally-charged postings. There is nothing wrong with being patriotic and I respect those individuals who express love for their country in a positive way. However, if we examine the sale of the antiquated weapons to the American dealer objectively we will realize that we may have overreacted to an issue that really has not much merit.
Symbolically, these weapons stand for destruction. They are not objects of art that the maker took his time, energy and imagination to make. Nor are they the products of Nepalis whether of the past or the present. They do not reflect cultural, religious or even philosophical aspects of Nepal. Except for the Khukuris, Bhalas, Talwars, Khundas, Chakkus and Kardas, Nepalis never made guns or cannons. They were produced by Europeans as weapons of oppression, and were used and are still being used for killing. Period. And Nepal in the last decade has seen much of that in the name of “Revolution of the People.”
What is the justification for taking national pride in weapons? The only positive value I see is that many of our brave Gorkha brothers—even using these antiquated weapons in World Wars I and II against would-be imperialists and oppressors—were able to shine, earning the title of brave race. As a result, many have been decorated with the highest orders of bravery. That is our only history associated with these weapons. Beyond that, they are simply weapons of destruction no matter who has used them against whom.
Christian Cranmer, the American antique dealer who negotiated the sale of the Nepali arsenal with the help of an Indian broker, wrote in American Rifleman that the weapons were crammed in a room decorated with exotic murals of Lagan Silekhana. However, with 200 years of neglect, it should be pointed out that the weapons were in “absolutely filthy” condition.
In the opinion of Major General Pradip Pratap Bam Malla, “There was no proper way to save those ancient weapons from water, dust and heat, and their value was declining.” No matter who writes, it is true that the weapons were stored in a pathetic way, leading to decay. After all, they were made of metal, and one does not have to be a metallurgist to know that cold, dampness and dust are metal’s enemies.
I am reminded of a Nepali proverb: “Māl pāyera chāl napāune.” Where were the so-called historians, archeologists and protectors of Nepal’s heritage while these historic weapons rusted away locked in a dungeon? I concur with Bhusan Dahal’s comments: “the sale of antique weaponry at the price of scrap metal threatens to wipe [out] a portion of history. The antiques were directly related to the history of Nepal and it is our duty to inform the people about how they were undermined and traded to foreigners.” But why has nobody done anything to preserve the arsenal appropriately let alone prevent their sale on the first place?
The weapons include 50,000 guns, 180 bronze cannons, innumerable khukris, bayonets, musket flints and musket balls. If I understand the situation correctly, 146 cannons and an almost equal number of artillery carriages were scheduled to be smelted by the government of Nepal itself. If that was their imminent fate, what is wrong with an American antique collector saving them from destruction?
I sincerely hope that the weapons that have been purchased will be displayed in a dignified way. In the catalogue the dealer has acknowledged the source and the history of the weapons, tracing their origins back to Nepal. If we are history loving people, we should demand that our government keep a few samples of each of the weapons for display in the museum for the purpose of preserving Nepal’s history. From the interview of Nepal’s high ranking military officers, it is evident that 5% of the weapons have been retained. So contrary to the views circulated in the media, we have not really lost all of Nepal’s history. These weapons destined for melting would at least be restored and given proper care—albeit in a foreign land. They would not be piled up in a dungeon as they had previously been in Lagan Silekhana.
I am against reclaiming the weapons as some have suggested if there is no assurance from the present Nepali government that they would be properly restored and displayed in the museum for the public to learn their history. Do we really want to subject them again to the same conditions as they have been? I don’t think any sensible Nepali would want that. My only regret is that our government sold the weapons for a pittance. Had they opened the sale to antique collectors of the world, they could have received a price ten times higher than they did. What a pity!
Dr. Dwarika Nath Dhungel distributed a petition demanding the return of the sold weapons to Nepal. In my humble opinion, this is not the right course to take because the sale appears to be legitimate, contracted in transparently between the two consenting parties. In other words, the weapons were not stolen, although it is certainly true that the Nepalis were cheated by a cunning American antique dealer. But Christian Cranmer does have a bill of sale bearing the Nepali government’s official seal. So we cannot take him to the International Court to try him for stealing. The most we can do is accuse him of defrauding by not paying a fair price for the weapons in question. Being an antique weapons dealer, he knew well their actual value; but he did not pay the fair price. In other words, he took advantage of unwary Nepalis who knew little about the value of the antique weapons. I would be inclined to sign a petition that demands a huge restitution rather than the return of the weapons. This should make Cranmer feel guilty of the deal he struck with a desperate government that needed fast cash.
–Deepak Shimkhada
Very well said Shimkhadaji .
Thank you, Jayashree ji, for taking the time to read my blog. These days it’s hard find someone to read the entire article. People are looking for one liners or photo journals. I am afraid future generations would be like robots that will only scan things superficially without appreciating the beauty of language. At least we wouldn’t be around to see the deterioration of society.
This article is a year old, however it is interesting from your view point. If I may offer another view point, from a young American collector. I am 25 years old and live in the USA. Please find comfort knowing the vast majority of the collectors and enthusiasts who are purchasing these are buying them because of their rich history, there are books and dvds specifically on Ghurka weaponry and history and we collectors love this stuff. As a professional gunsmith I can assure you that most people who buy these do a very good job of cleaning and restoring them to preserve them. Many of us still shoot them if the condition is good enough. There is a deep respect for the Nepali craftsmen who buil these, and as collectors it gives us a bridge to the past. In the case of many guns, many are British manufacture and were gifted to the Nepalese. These guns retain Nevari script which adds to the collectors value and history of the guns which we deeply appreciate. As to the value of the weapons, yes they were decaying and would have eventually been worthless. Christian Cranmer did pay a lower price but by the time he had shipping and logistics added up he was more than 5 million dollars invested. I pay approximately $560 US for most of the British Martini Henry made rifles, and I just purchased a Nepalese made Brunswick musket for $460 which is very fair. I am in love with the history behind these guns and the culture they were made to protect, so much so that I would love a trip to Nepal to visit the palace from which they came from.
Thank you, Thomas, for your comments. You are absolutely right that collectors like you are people who preserve antiquities. I am not against collecting.
In the case of the cache of antique guns found in Kathmandu the situation is different. Let me explain: History and antiquity are preserved by passing down to the next generation. On one hand, the hoard of antique guns in Kathmandu was on the verge of extinction because they were rotting and hence they were set to be melted down. If a collector wants to buy them for their aesthetic and historic value, that is the right thing to do, because 1) it preserves the weapons’ history, and 2) the weapons are conserved for posterity. There is nothing wrong with that. My objection to Nepal government’s decision to auction the weapons to the American bidder was value. Considering their history, antiquity and aesthetic values, what the dealer paid was a pittance. He will be making a lot of money out of his investment. As a collector, you know the difference between a collector and a dealer.