FAMOUS MARTYRS OF NEPAL

1. SHUKRA RAJ SHASTRI

Shukra Raj was born in Varanasi (India) in 1950 B.S. Madhav Raj and Ratna Maya were his parents. He got his early education from Gurukul Sanskrit from his father and got the degree of Shastri in Sanskrit from Punjab University. Thereafter, he was called Shukra Raj ‘Shastri’.

He served as Head Pandit of Dayananda Anglo-Vedic High School in Allahabad for four years. He worked with the Indian social reformer, Madan Mohan Malabiya for two years. He also worked for Hindu Mahashabha in Darjeeling. He wrote several books like Nepal Ko Jhalak, Satyartha Prakash, Sanskrit Pradeep, Satya Kalpana, Brahmansutra, Swarga Ko Dwar. He had good knowledge of English, Hindi, Nepali and Newari languages.

In those days, Nepal was ruled by the Ranas. Many underground revolutionary groups were trying to overthrow the Rana regime. Shukra Raj met some leaders at Kathmandu and encouraged them. He went to Kolkota many times for the publication of his books. During one of his visits to Kolkota, he met Mahatma Gandhi. The Ranas considered this a crime, and arrested him. In Mangsir 1995 B.S., he gave a lecture at Indra Chowk on the essence of Gita. During his lecture, he also spoke indirectly against the Rana rulers. A huge crowd was gathered there. He was immediately arrested along with some leaders of the Praja Parishad. On Magh 10, 1997 B.S., at midnight he was hanged beside the Jaisi Dewal Pachali on the bank of Bagmati river, Kathmandu.

2. DASARATH CHAND

Dasarath Chand was born in Baitadi in 1960 B.S. Sher Bahadur Chand was his father. He received his primary education in Kumaon. He passed the Intermediate examination from Benaras. When he was studying in Benaras, there were movements for India’s independence. He took part in the Non-Violent Movement of 1921 A.D. (1978 B.S.) launched by Mahatma Gandhi. He worked for ‘Kashi Nagari Pracharini Shabha’ throughout his stay in Benaras. All these brought political consciousness in Dasarath Chand and he started thinking about his own country.

The social condition of Nepal at that time was very bad. The people were suffering from poverty, epidemics, etc. On the other hand, the Ranas lived a luxurious life. Dasarath Chand thought over these problems and decided that the solution was the abolition of Rana rule. Dasarath Chand formed an association of Nepali students who were studying in Benaras. He met Tanka Prasad Acharya and Dharmabhakta. Together, they established a political party known as ‘the Praja Parishad’ in 1937 A.D. Tanka Prasad Acharya became its first president. The Praja Parishad became active in Kathmandu-holding meetings, distributing pamphlets, drawing wall-posters, etc. against the Ranas. Dasarath Chand was in charge of all these activities.

Dasarath Chand wrote articles against the cruel rule of the Ranas by the name of Sewa Singh and published them in ‘Janata’ of Patna (India). The British Government in India banned the publication of ‘Janata’ at the request of the Ranas. Meanwhile, Ramji Joshi was arrested. He disclosed everything about the Parishad, including the names of its leaders. Dasarath Chand was arrested and was tortured in the jail with Gangalal. Mohan Shumsher, a Rana official, advised him to beg pardon for his misdeeds. But, Dasarath Chand turned a deaf ear to his proposal. On Magh 14, 1997 B.S. in the night he was shot dead along with Gangalal near the temple of Shobha Bhagawati, in Kathmandu.

3. DHARMABHAKTA

Dharmabhakta was the son of Subba Adibhakta Mathema. He was born in 1965 B.S. He got his education in Darjeeling and Kolkota. He was lean and thin in his childhood. Realizing the importance of physical exercise he got himself admitted in the ‘Physical Institute’ at Kolkota. He made good progress and became the ‘Bengal Champion’ in a physical show.

In those days, India was under British rule. Struggle for independence was in full swing. He met Chitaranjan Das, and worked for some time as a member of the Indian National Congress. He was inspired by the Indian struggle for independence. He came back to Kathmandu.

He met Dasarath Chand at Kathmandu in 1990 B.S. A great earthquake occured this year in Nepal. Dharmabhakta, along with some leaders of the Praja Parishad, was busy in a rescue-operation of the earthquake-affected people.

Dharmabhakta was a body builder. He got chance to hold physical show of two hours during the Ghode Jatra festival at kathmandu. The Rana rules was impressed by his physical show and appointed him to the Royal Palace to teach physical exercises to king Tribhuwan. Thus, he got an opportunity to have contact with the king. He made the King aware of the activities of the Praja Parishad. He acted as a link between the Praja Parishad and the king. A secret meeting of the king with the members of the Praja Parishad was arranged at Lainchaur. But, Juddha Shumsher, the Rana Prime Minister came to know about this and arrested Dharmabhakta and some members of the Praja Parishad immediately after the meeting. On Magh 12, 1997 B.S. Dharmabhakta was hanged in the midnight in Shifal, near kalo Pul, Kathmandu.

4. GANGALAL SHRESTHA

Gangalal was the son of Bhaktalal Shrestha. He was born in 1975 B.S. at Bhangeri, Ramechaap. He got his education from Durbar High school and passed the Matriculation examination in the first divison. He also studied I.Sc. at Tri-Chandra college. Gangalal was an intelligent student. He was also a good writer, orator and actor. He formed an association of young men in Tri-Chandra College and jointed the “Mahabir Institute”, where students were taught about patriotic ideas, human rights, and systems of government apart from a bookish education.

In the year 1995 B.S., Gangalal attended one of the lectures on ‘Puran’ by Pandit Murlidhar Bhattarai. He also gave a lecture on human rights at Asan. He met Shukra Raj and together they started to instigate the people against the Rana rule. Shukra Raj was arrested during such a campaign, but Gangalal could not be arrested. He disguised himself as a monk and began to live in a temple behind Swayambhu. Other members of the Praja Parishad visited him very often and they are meetings for future programmes. The police force detected this and arrested him. As the request of Padma Shumsher and Kazi Narayan Bhakta, Prime Minister Juddha Shumsher released him.

But Gangalal could not live a peaceful life. He could not tolerate the cruel administration of the Ranas. Then he met Dasarath Chand and became an active member of the Praja parishad. The members of the Praja Parishad now started distributing papers and pamphlets against the Ranas. During such a campaign, Gangalal was arrested. He was tortured in the prison but he never disclosed anything about the Praja Parishad. He was shot dead in front of Shobha Bhagawati, Kathmandu on Magh 14, 1997 B.S., at midnight.