Jitgadhi War Museum operation stalled

By Kapil Gyawali,Siddharthanagar, June 24: The four-storey building of the Jitgadhi War Museum stands on the left bank of the Tinau River in Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City-1. According to history, on Baisakh 7, 1872 BS, Nepal achieved victory over the East India Company in a battle that took place in Jitgadhi.

During the war that took place from 1871 to 1872 BS, in which the East India Company sought to expand its empire through military campaigns, brave Nepali soldiers achieved victory over the British troop from this area and forced them to return. 

Built to reflect this tale of bravery, the Jitgadhi War Museum is currently in a neglected state due to a lack of budget. The construction of the building is complete, and around Rs. 130 million is still required to fully operate the museum.  Narendra Basnet, ward chair of Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City-1, said that the museum lacks funding for completion. 

“The building has been constructed, but there is nothing inside for tourists to witness,” said Basnet.  There is a plan to have museum exhibitions on the first, second and third floors, and a cafe offering traditional food items on the fourth floor, he informed.

A souvenir shop displaying items symbolising Butwal’s identity and mementos was also proposed for the ground floor. The museum was a project initiated by the previous administration of Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City. Former mayor Shivaraj Subedi had laid the foundation stone on March 17, 2021. 

Full operation costs Rs. 130 million 

 In the Jitgadhi battle, Lieutenant Ambar Adhikari, Kummedan Brish Sur Thapa and Kripasur Thapa, Sardar Surje Thapa, Jamdar Bhimsen Deuja, Surbir Bohara, Hawaldar Ransur Baniya, Sipahi Hansabir Adhikari, Thardhar Nakul Baniya, Dalkhamba Thapa, Kaji Bir Manjan Pandey, Samsher Rana Magar, and Juthe Basnet attained martyrdom. 

Half-sized statues of Colonel Ujir Singh Thapa, who led the battle against the British, along with 13 brave Nepali soldiers who were martyred, have been built on the Jitgadhi premises. 

Statues have also been created to depict the war scene, including women carrying children on their backs during the battle. 

According to the master plan, a 9-foot tall full-body bronze statue of Colonel Ujir Singh Thapa has been built, and a 55-foot tower has been erected to hoist the national flag.  However, the museum still lacks the funds needed for its completion. “The building has become an empty haunted house, monkeys have ruined the building from inside,” complained ward chair Basnet. 

“Locals keep asking us about the museum,” he said, adding, the media should also raise the issue and report the concerns of the people. Though Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City has prioritised the Jitgadhi Museum project, budget constraints have arisen due to limited resources being allocated across the city’s numerous needs. 

Mayor Khelraj Pandey said that a plan has been made with a focus on the eastern part of Butwal for preserving the heritage of old Batauli bazaar and developing structures in the area. 

He confirmed that some works have been completed and others are progressing through procedural stages.

According to him, the remaining work of the museum will move forward. “We are committed to preserving the historical significance of old Butwal (Batauli) and developing it as a heritage site. There won’t be a budget shortage. We are actively managing and pursuing it,” said Mayor Pandey.

“Even during the election, we promised in our manifesto to protect the language, religion, culture, and identity of all communities, including temples, churches, gumbas, and mosques. We have remained true to that promise,” said Mayor Pandey. 

According to the municipality, construction company Shiva Shakti Construction Pvt. Ltd. Baneshwor, Kathmandu, took the contract on February 8, 2021, started work after two months and completed the museum on June 25, 2023 before handing it over to the sub-metropolitan city.

While the exterior and main structure have been completed, the municipality informd that the internal arrangements, such as placing historical items, hiring staff, and showcasing weapons, uniforms, and other wartime elements, could not be completed due to lack of secured funding. 

The four-storey museum was constructed on about three katthas of land near Bhairav Temple. 

Cultural expert Devendra Raj Shakya said that the museum, which highlights the identity of Butwal and provides information to the younger generation, holds significant value. 

He mentioned that the locals are disappointed due to the incompletion of the museum, which was supposed to reflect the ancient Batauli of Buddhawali and the present-day greater Butwal. Engineer Prabhakar Lamichhane of the construction company said the construction was completed within the agreed timeline. 

Ashok Rai, ward member of ward-1, said it is a matter of pride to have the museum that links the historic site of Jitgadhi and the cultural city of old Butwal (Batauli). 

“Everyone must contribute to operationalise it; this is a shared concern of both locals and representatives,” he said.Engineer Gautam Rauniyar of Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City said efforts are ongoing to secure additional funding for the museum’s operation, which was initiated through joint investment of the federal government and the municipality.

Rauniyar said that requests have been submitted to relevant ministries and agencies of the federal and provincial governments for additional budget. 

The museum, envisioned as a model war museum of Lumbini Province, should now be completed with all internal elements and opened to the public, demand locals. “The museum should be operated for the purpose it was built. If it opens, it will boost our businesses too, and tourists might come, it would be good for us,” said local Rudralal Shrestha.

A monument of bravery

Although Nepali forces led by Amar Singh Thapa, Balbhadra Kunwar, and Bhakti Thapa fought the British in several locations, victory could not be achieved. The British troops advanced to capture Butwal Fort and attack the Palpa state, with hopes of reaching Tibet. The British forces were defeated by the Nepali troops led by Colonel Ujir Singh Thapa. 

The British troops launched two attacks here. Although the winter palace of Mani Mukunda Sen in Butwal was destroyed, the Nepali soldiers hiding inside the fort launched a counter-attack and secured victory. The British side had modern weapons and trained troops, while the Nepali side used traditional weapons and included women carrying babies. 

In the battle of Jitgadhi, over 300 British soldiers were killed in combat against three Nepali battalions. Fights against the British also occurred in Kumaon-Garhwal (Nahan), Makwanpur Fort, Koshi-Tista, but Nepal secured victory only in Butwal.