Kirat History and Culture

Book excerpt: This book is an enlarged edition of my book "Kirat Itihas" written and Published in 1948 in Kalimpong. Its second edition was published in 1952 in Darjeeling. In compiling this book I have consulted the books of every authority, I have knowledge of, who has written on Kirat people ad their civilization. The European authors like Col. Krikpatric, F. Hamilton, D. Hodgson, Father Guiseppe and Lieut. Col. E. Vansitart, who wrote about the Kirat people of Nepal in 18th and 19th century gave me much help. The Indian authors like late Pandit Rahul Sankrityayan, S.K. Chatterjee and Vagava Datta, who took much interest in publishing the ancient account of Kirat people of Nepal and India, gave me much idea about them. Last of all, my own collection of the old Kirat MSS in Shrijunga or Limbu script and Lapcha or Rong script became the base of this work. In this connection, I thank Mr. R.K. Sprigg, Professor of the school of Oriental and African Studies, London, who very kindly helped me in acquiring the micro film photo of the old Kirat MSS from the India Office Library, London. I also thank to all my friends who very kindly helped me in collecting materials for the composition of this book. Iman Singh Chemjong Specialist Kirat Language and Literature Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu,Nepal