Four Immortal Martyrs & King Tribhuvan’s Democratic Movement Contribution

The Nepal government has declared the martyr’s week every year- just Mag 10th to 16th., in memory of the immortal martyrs of Nepal. Sukraraj Shastri was hanged 9th Mag 1997 Bs at Pachali,. Darma Bhakta Mathema was hanged – 11th Mag at Siphal and Dasharath Chand and Gangalal were shot at Bishnumati. The goal of any transformation and uprising is to reconstruct the nation on the foundation of preservation of its dignity, values and norms. But, since 2006, the leaders of Congress, UML, Maoist and other parties have forgotten all the norms and sense of democratic nationalistic path.

The glory of Nepal’s natural and cultural diversity resounds around the world. Different castes and creeds that exist within the territories of Nepal have jointly preserved the democratic value and tradition. Although our country is small it is home to many castes. The spirit of nationality of Nepal will remain incomplete in practicing discriminatory attitude towards any group, organization or caste. Should Nepal’s natural and cultural identities be extirpated in name of political revenge? If so, Nepal will vanish. Following the unification of Nepal, the kings of the nation as Prithvi Narayan Shah, Tribhuvan, Mahendra, patriotic and democratic warriors and people from various castes have protected this unity. But, since the uprising of 2006, the leaders of Congress, UML, Maoist and others have forgotten all their commitments.

Why are the works that defile such national unity, nationality and democratic history of this country being carried out? For example what sorts of unity or nationality is being achieved vandalizing the statues of Prithvi Narayan Shah. The day of Prithvi Jayanti (birth anniversary of king Prithvi Narayan Shah) and the national unity day are abolished. Is this nationality? Are those who destroy the nation’s identity being called a Nepali? Is it nationality to remove the national holiday on Prithvi Jayanti? The creator of the nation- Prithvi Narayan Shah, father of the nation- Tribhuvan, literary figures- Bhanubhakta, Leknath, Laxmi Prasad Devkota, Dharanidhar, Sidhicharan Shrestha, are national icons and political fighters- B.P Koirala, Matrika Prasad Koirala, Ganeshman Singh are founders of democracy. Those who disgrace these figures are traitors. Such traitors by birth are found to be nurtured in such surrounding.

No matter how much you bathe a crow it will not become white. A donkey never turns to a cow whatever water is poured over it. Touching a dog with rabies is suicidal. No matter how much you love a mad dog there is no other option than to kill it. If a rotten potato is thrown into a bag of potatoes it will decay all of them. Currently Nepal’s government is full of such dogs and criminals. The foreign agents that are at the leadership level of Nepali Congress, UML, Maoists and Madhesi parties will never speak in favor of Nepalese interest. They have accepted foreign money to serve foreign design. They are the founders of treason. If we remain contingent on their support the nation will drown and we will become refugees.

How long will Baburam Bhattarai deceive the patriotic Nepali people and rule them?

Nepal entered in a dangerous phase after 2006. The biggest traitor of the nation had been Nepali Congress leader Girija Prasad Koirala, whereas now the more dangerous one turns out to be Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, PM of Nepal. He is gradually finishing off Nepal’s identities one after another. He had contrived many schemes to cast aspersions on the late king Prithvi Narayan Shah. He removed the national attire of the nation in ten days after becoming the Prime Minister. He wants to insinuate the A.D. era in Nepal after conniving a tussle between B.S and Nepal Sambat. The decision taken by PM Bhattarai and his cabinet to remove the statue located at the Martyr’s Gate, has concerned all democratic Nepali people. This is a treacherous decision. If Baburam wants to live as a Nepali he should abstain from such condemnable decisions. He must retract his decision. Otherwise nationalist Nepali people will not forgive him.

It is the duty of the government to preserve the statues and idols of historical and archeological importance. It is not reasonable that such statues that have preceded many governments should be removed because of dislike of someone in power. Nepal’s kings should not be compared to the tyrants that have ruled around the globe. Nepal’s unification is ascribed to a king; and we have become a Nepali due to this unification. The autocratic rule of Rana regime lasted for 104 years. The Rana rulers had kept king Tribhuvan a captive in his palace because the former dreaded his concern for freedom.

The Rana rulers insolently approved of all official edicts in name of the monarch. King Tribhuvan stealthily met with democratic fighters and their secret papers were passed to the king. The king used to communicate with freedom fighters through such papers secretly. The king had a desire to free himself and also institutionalize democracy in the country. As we read the books written by the king’s personal nurse Ms. Erika, Ganeshman Singh, Compounder Chandraman, Sidhhicharan Shrestha, Khadgaman Singh as ‘Jailma Bish Barsha (Twenty years in jail)’, we will have the idea that King Tribhuvan had not actuated the sacrifices of the martyrs would have wasted like pouring water on sand.

Leadership is the gift of time. The time searches for leadership. It will be distrusting the history if we disregard the facts that the monarchs have ruled to protect Nepal time and again. In 1950 King Tribhuvan gambled his crown against the Rana regime for sake of democracy. After the execution of four martyrs the king led the fight for democracy. Had he not done so, would the dreams of martyrs like Sukraraj Shastri, Dharma Bhakta Mathema, Dasharath Chand, Gangalal Shrestha have come true? The king and the democratic Nepali people established democracy with a stern challenge to the Rana autocracy. The democracy rose in 1950, and now after so long time the statue of the king is being removed. Is it appropriate and logical? It will not be beneficial to anyone to harbor prejudice towards the statue.

We should not be ungrateful and harbor negative opinion towards the late king. The history has shown that the king disregarded his interest towards the crown in place for Nepali people. Had the king not escaped to India to end of Rana regime? It would be unfortunate if anyone speaks with asperity towards the 1950 revolution and revolutionaries- king Tribhuvan and democratic fighters. King encouraged and motivated the freedom fighters, many of whom became martyrs. It is our appeal that the cabinet must reverse its decision to remove the statue of king Tribhuvan and not plunge into an unnecessary controversy. If the cabinet persists with its decision it will be making a blunder.

It is a national crime to extinguish the identities that attests to the history of the nation. It had not been an easy task to establish democracy in Nepal. It was certain death to oppose the Rana regime at that vintage of time. How did king Tribhuvan surrender himself by risking his crown for democracy in 1950? It does not suit anyone to harbor prejudice against the late king’s statue at Martyr’s Gate in the capital.

Wouldn’t it have taken more blood in name of democracy without the king’s support? People are witness to the fact that king Tribhuvan’s statue was vandalized by four to five people of non Nepali origin in Banepa during the uprising in 2006. This is a systematic conspiracy. However, Banepa’s Tribhuvan Chowk is still popular. The statue will soon be reinstated in Banepa. Why is there need for so much detestation towards the late king? Hadn’t the king, who is known as the father of democracy, contributed much for democracy?

In 7th January edition of ‘Gorkhapatra daily government newspaper’ Shyam Rimal has portrait the reality of Martyr’s Gate. The designer of the Gate is engineer Shankarnath Rimal. The construction committee comprised of Arun Shumsher, Gaurinath Rimal and Suryalal Joshi. At the initial stage the committee had deliberated on constructing only a pillar of democracy but later they adhered to previous decision of constructing the statues of king Tribhuvan and four martyrs.

The then king Mahendra had not designed the idea of constructing king Tribhuvan’s statue at the Gate. However, in accordance to the advices and a stance taken by engineer Shankarnath, that the absence of the statue of the king, who had motivated the martyrs, would make the work incomplete. An analyst Shyam Rimal writes, “It was considered a big contribution on part of king Tribhuvan in heralding democracy in the nation. There should not be anything remiss in maintaining the king’s statue. That architectural work is the reverence shown by Nepali people in name of Martyrs’ Gate. Disregard to such works is ignorance.” For the construction of the work Rs. 150,000 had appropriated.

Recently, in ‘Rajdhani daily newspaper’ Madanmani Dixit and Bamdev Pandit have written articles supporting the decision of the cabinet led by Baburam to remove the king’s statue. They have forgotten all the contributions and facts of King Tribhuwan who is called- the father of democracy. In this context, Madanmani has written a controversial statement that, Tribhuwan is not bigger than the martyrs and “no Panchayan God is bigger than Shaligram”. But he must understand that Panchayan God is of higher hierarchy than Shaligram. Panchayan meaning the gods Ganesh, Devi, Surya, Shiva and Bishnu and their worship is compulsory. Shaligram is a single part of the structure of Bishnu.

If we are to talk of the incarnation of Bishnu then we will find a whole universe in it. Among the ten incarnation of Bishnu in order of precedence are Matsyarup, Kamal, Barahrup, Narsinghrup, Baman (Bhraman), Parashuram, Ram, Krishna, Budha and Kalkirup. It is mentioned in religious scriptures that after a curse befell Bishnu he took birth as Shaligram, Pipal tree and the holy Tulsi. Similarly, if King Tribhuwan would not have there, the only sacrifice of martyrs would not have significant in establishing democracy.

So let us not define the established democratic and religious values and norms and not distort it carelessly to serve one’s interest. No matter how much we may regret Nepal has remained under the grip of traitors after 2006. The traitors are being divided and spoiled themselves. They are bent on killing each other. Reconciliation is impossible among them. The Maoist party is itself on verge of disintegration. Nepali Congress and UML have already lost their identity. Now it is time for patriotic Nepali people, the chief organs of the state, court and Nepal Army to join hands to save the nation.

Dirgha Raj Prasai is a former Member of Parliament in Nepal, a political analyst who writes from Kathmandu.