[On Poush 1, 2017 Bikram
Sambat, amidst political crisis, an ambitious King Mahnedra took over dismissing
the elected government formed by Prime Minister B. P. Koirala. Most of the
ministers were arrested and imprisoned altogether. Martyr Rana Magar was also
imprisoned at the Central Jail in Kathmandu for 5 months. The King offered
political pardon to some political leaders. Martyr Rana Magar also obtained the
pardon and came out of the jail but rushed to Narkateganj, India as the political
situation in the country was not favourable for a leader like him to stay any
longer.]
By B. K. Rana
Birth, Early Childhood and
Education:
Martyr Buddha Singh Rana Magar was born in Lucknow, India in 1991 Bikram Sambat. His ancestral home was in Barbhanjyang, Tanahu district, West Nepal[1]. His father happened to have an inter-caste marriage[2] with a Kshtriya woman in the area. The marriage led the father to flee the country and resettle in Lucknow taking a servile watchman job at some business house in the city.
Martyr
Rana Magar had to take early education where his parents lived. He completed
Intermediate of Arts degree from a local college in Lucknow. His interest in
politics and social issues hampered him taking further degrees of education. At
that time, the people of India were up against the British Raj. Many Nepalese
leaders had taken part in the movement against the East India Company which was
also called the British Raj. The East India Company had supported the Rana Regime of
Nepal. So, it was natural for him also, as other Nepalese leaders, to take part
in the Indian Independence Movement against the British Raj.
Enters Politics with Nepali
Congress:
Martyr
Rana Magar came to Nepal in 2010 Bikram Sambat and entered national politics
with Nepali Congress. He worked as Nepali Congress Tanahu District Secretary
for three years from 2012 – 2015 Bikram Sambat. In the meantime he also worked
as a school teacher at Indravadan School in Dharampani, a school in one of the
remotest parts of the district.
Nepali Congress Wins
Election:
Nepal
held a first successful democratic election in 2016 Bikram Sambat. Nepali
Congress obtained two-third of the seats, a landslide victory in the election. The
party President B. P. Koirala formed the government in his premiership on Asar
16, 2016 Bikram Sambat. Dilip Kumar Shahi was appointed Minister for Industry
and Commerce. The minister appointed Martyr Rana Magar his Secretary.
King Mahaendra Takes Over:
On
Poush 1, 2017 Bikram Sambat, amidst political crisis, an ambitious King
Mahnedra took over dismissing the elected government formed by Prime Minister B.
P. Koirala. Most of the ministers were arrested and imprisoned altogether.
Martyr Rana Magar was also imprisoned at the Central Jail in Kathmandu for 5
months. The King offered political pardon to some political leaders. Martyr Rana
Magar also obtained the pardon and came out of the jail but rushed to Narkateganj,
India as the political situation in the country was not favourable for a leader
like him to stay any longer.
Nepali Congress Declares
Armed Struggle:
Following
the Royal Coup d’état, an outraged Nepali Congress declared armed struggle almost
immediately after its dismissal to restore democracy in the country. The party high
command deputed Martyr Rana Magar as the Secretary of Chitwan District Liberation
Army to launch attacks on government out-posts in the district. In the month of
Magh 2018 Bikram Sambat, Martyr Rana Magar along with his two associates Lal
Dhoj Gurung, Kamal Rai and few others led a successful attack on Thori outpost
and captured some arms and ammunition also. After the assault, leading his
squad, a jubilant Martyr Rana Magar headed towards Gauriganj to discuss
strategy for capturing Bharatpur also. In Gauriganj, he held a meeting with
other party workers such as: Maheshowr Lal Shrestha, Buddhi Sagar Baral,
Narayan Prasad Joshi, Purna Bahadur Gurung, Pahal Man Singh Rai, Iman Singh
Gurung, Major Mehar Dhoj Gurung and others.
Bharatpur Falls:
The
Nepali Congress Liberation Army launched a decisive attack on Baratpur as the
government side did not resist at all. Bharatpur fell to the hands of rebels on
Magh 26, 2018 Bikram Sambat and no blood was shed. Interestingly, there had
been a secret understanding in between Bharatpur Security Chief Bharat Gurung
and Liberation Army that there would be no resistance from the government side if
and when they were attacked. The reason being that the Security Chief Bharat
Gurung was a close relative of Lal Dhoj Gurung, a prominent leader of the
liberation army.
 |
| Bharatpur is the 7th largest city in Nepal. Image courtesy: Empower Generation |
By
felling huge trees or blasting bridges off to block the highways and, cutting
all other route accesses from other parts of the country the victorious
liberation army staged a victory rally in the city. Two days later on Magh 28,
2018 Bikram Sambat, while the rebels were still planning other assaults down
the road, a reinforced huge government army from Hetauda dashed into the city.
The liberation army retreated, dispersed or they were crushed.
Government Force Reclaims Bharatpur,
Captures Martyr Rana Magar:
The
government force led by Brigadier General Bhakta Bir Rana reclaimed the city of
Bharatpur. Martyr Rana Magar and one of his associates Hari Prasad Gurung were
arrested. The government force mercilessly beat Martyr Rana Magar to death on Magh
29, 2018 Bikram Sambat. The Martyr’s corpse was ditched in an unknown place.
The relatives of the martyr never received his body for final rites either.
Instead,
the government said the martyr was alive, imprisoned and was being indicted for
treason. In the meantime, King Mahendra offered amnesty to all the political
prisoners but Martyr Rana Magar did not return home. How would he? He was
already killed by the government force.
Government Indicts Martyr
Rana Magar:
The
government staged a farce in front of the Nepali people. On Asar 26, 2005 Bikram
Sambat, the court convicted Martyr Rana Magar of treason and ruled a 12 year
imprisonment and seizure of his property.
His
sacrifice for the cause of the country and people is profoundly immense. His martyrdom
has not gone in vain.
What the Government Should Do?
What the Government Should Do?
By
the time of his martyrdom, the Martyr Rana Magar was survived by his wife
Bishnu Kumari Rana Magar and only child Laxmi Kumari Rana Magar.
The
martyr‘s daughter, Laxmi Kumari Rana Magar lives in Batauli Village Development
Committee[3],
Tanahu district in Nepal. Martyr Rana Magar deserves to be officially declared
another martyr of the country. The martyr’s daughter and her children equally
deserve governmental care. More research on the martyr by the concerned entity
or people would be a welcome step forward.
@ Adapted from - Sanchipta
Magar Itihas – 2059- pp 88- 90
[1] बरभन्ज्यांग, तनहुँ जिल्ला , पश्चिम नेपाल |
[2] There persisted a law in the
country that prohibited Matwalis (alcohol drinkers) from marrying a Brahmin or Khstriya
woman. Should a Matwali marry Brahmin woman, he would be sentenced six years of
imprisonment. And should the Matwali marry a Khstriya woman, he would be put in
jail for four years.
[3] बटौली गाऊ विकास समिति
