Mahayala

Kingdom of Mahayala མ་ཧ་ཡ་ལ་ཀྲོའུ (Nyachzon) Gurung Gyal Khap 古隆王國 (Shangean) Gǔ Lóng Wángguó
Flag Emblem
Anthem: བཀྲ་ཤིས་ལུང་གི་གླུ་དབྱངས། Tra Shi Lung Gi Lu Yang Anthem of the Propitious Dragon
Mahayala (dark green) in Kylaris
Capital and largest city	Dharma
Official languages	Nyachzon, Shangean
Recognised regional languages	Yangzom, Sangpo, Lhakpa, Gyal
Demonym(s)	Mahayalan
Government	Unitary parliamentary semi-constitutional monarchy
• King	Jamyang Trengwa
• Ugyen	Rabyang Aukatsang
Legislature	National Council
• Upper house	National Assembly
• Lower house	House of Representatives
History of Mahayala
• Independence	1 March 1935
• Civil War	1963–1975
• Duga Conference	8 October 1975
• Current constitution	20 September 1982
Area
• Total	704,547.94 km2 (272,027.48 sq mi)
• Water (%)	0.455
Population
• 2016 census	20,342,000
• Density	28.87/km2 (74.8/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	2018 estimate
• Total	$478.19 billion
• Per capita	$8,099
GDP (nominal)	2018 estimate
• Total	$199.7 billion
• Per capita	$2,023
Gini (2015)	32.5 medium
HDI (2022)	0.697 medium
Currency	Mahayalan bhuti (MBH)
Time zone	UTC-1
Date format	YYYY-MM-DD
Driving side	left
Calling code	+32
ISO 3166 code	MY
Internet TLD	.my

Mahayala (མ་ཧ་ཡ་ལ་; Gurung) officially Kingdom of Mahayala (མ་ཧ་ཡ་ལ་ཀྲོའུ; Gurung Gyal Khap) is a landlocked country in Coius bordering Shangea to the south, Nirala to the northwest and Ansan to the west. Situated in the Western Shaleghos, Mahayala is notable for its biodiversity, including alpine and subtropical climates, as well as being a host to Tselha, the highest peak in Coius and X highest on Kylaris. Dharma is the nation's capital and the largest city. Mahayala is a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-religious and multi-cultural state, with Nyachzon and Shangean as the official languages.

Etymology

The name Mahayala is believed to be a combination of the Lhakpa words mah "between" and yalan "mountain" or "peak". The official name of Mahayala in is Gurung in Nyachzon and Gǔlóng in Shangean.

History

Under Togoti and Shangean Rule

The Togoti Khaganate had annexed or puppeted most of the small kingdoms by 1510, but the culture of the region remained vibrant and spread among the Togotis as well. The Khaganate fell after their invasion of Shangea in the early 1600s, and, as a southern buffer of the Khaganate, most of Mahayala was taken by the Jiao dynasty. Some small kingdoms still remained. Following the collapse of Jiao and the establishment of the Toki Dynasty, the region swiftly transitioned into an integral part of the empire, significantly reliant on the central government in Outomari. Toki rule lasted from 1667 to 1864. In 1864, the Toki Dynasty was overthrown and the Heavenly Shangean Empire was founded. The new dynasty occupied Mahayala from 1864 to 1935. The Mahayalans were discriminated against by the Shangean government, who regarded them as inferior citizens.

In 1903, a meeting of Zohist monks, government officials and heads of prominent families unanimously elected Jamyang Tashi as the king. The meeting was done in hiding. In 1914, a severe famine swept across the empire, with Mahayala suffering the greatest devastation. On 19 January 1915, an Imperial Regiment stationed in Dharma murdered rioting civilians in an accident known today as Bloody Tuesday. Following this, on January 29, 1915, the Imperial Governor of Mahayala, Shao Lingxin, was assassinated by a Mahayalan socialist nationalist named Kinzang Dorji. In response, the Qingzhuo Emperor implemented strict measures to punish Mahayalan nationalists, exacerbating the already widespread famine by the year's end. During the famine, around 800,000 Mahayalans perished, accounting for roughly 40% of the Mahayalan populace.

Unification and independence

Great War

Soliders of the Mahayalan Army in June 1934.

In 1927, the Great War began. With the beginning of the Sakata Offensive in June 1932 and the major casualties it enflicted on Shangean troops, Shangea redeployed its forces to the primary front. On May 2, 1933, king Jamyang Tashi declared Mahayala's independence with the support of the Entente. As the Shangean forces were tied up in the war against Senria, Mahayala was not their main priority. Although officially the rebellion continued until 1935, the fighting ended already in the fall of 1934.

Civil War

Main article: Mahayalan Civil War

Anti-aircraft troops of the NCF in 1967.

The 1960s were problematic in many ways. In 1962, inflation soared due to the government's poor economic policies. The king did little to address the issue, despite holding ultimate power in the government. The breaking point came in late 1963 when rebellion erupted in the Shangean regions of the south. With Shangean support, the National Coexistence Front began a guerrilla war against the central government forces. The insurgents quickly gained control of large parts of the rural south. They periodically besieged the capital, causing severe food shortages. The main supporters of the insurgents were primarily impoverished farmers. In 1964, as the civil war was in its early stages, another movement emerged in the south. The Red Resistance Movement aimed to overthrow the government and establish a socialist state. However, the movement received little support from other socialist countries and faced full-scale attacks from both sides of the civil war. The RRM collapsed in late 1969.

During the conflict, it was widely believed that there was no military solution. The government's significantly stronger forces would likely have defeated the rebels in open combat, but the guerrillas managed to avoid such confrontations and stuck to guerrilla tactics that the security forces could never effectively counter. The group's actions pushed the entire state into isolationism. The guerrilla war had initially been fought against the central government's security forces, but in 1971, the country's army became involved. The army received support from Senria, which provided them with assault rifles and trained officers.

In a 1970 Community of Nations statement, the guerrillas were defined as terrorists. In February of the following year, a peacekeeping operation was initiated. Both the ICD and CN human rights commissioners unsuccessfully appealed to the central government to agree to ceasefires. The civil war did not fully end until 1975 when, following the Coastal Crisis, the government declared a ceasefire. CN's peacekeeping operation in Mahayala concluded in January 1976.

Contemporary history

In 1975, a significant policy shift unfolded during the Coastal Crisis. The newly appointed Prime Minister, Pema Norzang, found himself faced with the task of resolving a dispute with Shangea to prevent further escalation. Norzang and Sun Yuting convened in the town of Duga, located in the Shangean-inhabited region of Mahayala, to engage in discussions regarding the status of Shangean communities within Mahayala. This issue was subsequently presented before the Community of Nations in 1977, ultimately leading to the recognition of a special status for culturally Shangean tribes.

In the early 1980s, the new king, Jamyang Chenga, initiated significant reforms. He overhauled the military, border policies, and the economy. He also transferred a substantial portion of the king's powers to the prime minister, although he retained some authority. Modernizing the economy has been a success, and it has led to a period of economic growth and development. Jamyang Chenga passed away in 2008 and was followed by his son, Jamyang Trengwa. Since the beginning of the 1990s, Mahayala's economic policy has aimed at liberalization. In particular, efforts have been made to reduce the role of the public sector in exports. State-owned enterprises have been privatized or discontinued.

Geography

Biodiversity

Mahayala has among the highest diversity of mammals and birds in Coius. There are around 750 species of birds and more than X species of mammals in the nation.

Climate

Tselha (left) is the highest mountain in Mahayala. Advancing monsoon clouds and showers (right) in Geymutsang.

Mahayala has five seasons: winter, summer, spring, autumn, and monsoon season. Mahayala's climate varies with elevation, from subtropical in the west to temperate in central Mahayala and polar-type climate with year-round snow in the northeast. The majority of Mahayala's populated areas enjoy a temperate climate, with summer temperatures rarely surpassing 28°C. The typical yearly temperature hovers around 18°C. The southwest monsoon, which arrives in Mahayala during the summer, brings heavy rainfall to the southern slopes of the Shaleghos. This monsoonal precipitation is crucial for the Mahayala's water supply, but it can also lead to landslides and flooding in some areas. Higher elevations of the Shaleghos experience snowfall during the winter months.

The varied topography results in microclimates, where conditions can differ significantly over short distances. Sheltered valleys may have different climates compared to exposed mountain slopes.

Demographics

Education

Historically, education in Mahayala was limited to monastic school education, home-schooling or gurukulas. However, the country underwent a significant transformation in the 1980s when it began to modernize its education system. The rugged terrain has presented challenges to the provision of comprehensive educational services. According to the IFDS, Mahayala is meeting 94.9% of its expected fulfillment for the right to education, based on its income level. Most Mahayalan students being educated abroad received technical training in Senria, Shangea, Gaullica, Estmere and Werania. Estmerish-speaking countries attracted the majority of Mahayalan students. The vast majority returned to their homeland.

Culture

Cuisine

Garab, a deep fried Mahayalan snack filled with meat and cabbage

The diverse topography and climate conditions have led to the cultivation and availability of a wide variety of ingredients. Additionally, the region's cultural diversity, with various ethnic groups and their distinct traditions, has shaped the cuisine over centuries.

Meat and dried vegetable soups and stews, seasoned with chilies and cheese, are common. Rice is a staple in many Mahayalan dishes, particularly in the lower-lying southern part of the country. Different types of millet, barley, and wheat are also commonly used. The cuisine also prominently features meat, with lamb, qik and goat being popular choices. In some regions, meat is preserved through methods like drying or smoking to ensure its availability in harsh climates. Dairy products such as milk, yogurt, and cheese, including the famous qik cheese, are widely used in various recipes. Different types of lentils and legumes are used to prepare soups, stews, and side dishes.

Notable dishes include dema (dumplings), tso zang (lentil soup with rice), lhendup (fermented leafy greens), sanggyai (roasted barley flour), pem lhaden (chili and cheese stew), garab (bread stuffed with meat and cabbage) and chuki nidup (kidney beans with rice).

Dress

The traditional dress of Mahayala is known as dakpa for men and kha for women. The Dakpa is a knee-length robe tied at the waist with a fabric belt, and the Kha is an ankle-length dress accompanied by a blouse and a jacket. Common attire also includes the "subba," a long, loose robe with a wide sash, and distinctive boots. Colors and accessories often signify social and religious status. Common elements include colorful fabrics and intricate embroidery. Modern clothing, influenced by global fashion, is also prevalent, especially in urban areas.