Ganesh Man Singh

Summary

Ganesh Man Singh (Nepali: गणेशमान सिंह; November 9, 1915 – September 18, 1997) was the leader of the democratic movement of 1990 in Nepal.[1] He is revered as the Father of Democracy and the Iron-man of Nepali politics.[2] He joined Praja Parishad to protest against the autocratic rule of the Ranas.


Ganesh Man Singh
गणेशमान सिंह
Singh in 1993
BornNovember 9, 1915 (1915-11-09)
Itumbahal, Kathmandu, Nepal
DiedSeptember 18, 1997(1997-09-18) (aged 81)
Chaksibari, Kathmandu, Nepal
Organization(s)Nepali Congress, Nepal Praja Parishad
MovementNepalese Democratic Movement
SpouseMangala Devi Singh
Gamesh Man Singh's statue at Jawalakhel, Lalitpur

Early life edit

Ganesh Man Singh was born on November 9, 1915,[3] in Itum Bahal, Kathmandu. His father was Gyan Man Singh and his mother was Sanunani Shrestha Singh. His father died when he was young, so his grandfather, Ratna Man Singh (who was Badakaji in the Rana regime), raised him.

He studied in Durbar High School till class 6 when he was rusticated from the school for not respecting his fellow Rana students.[4] He then went to Calcutta to study where he completed his matriculation from Vidyasagar College in the first division.[4] He studied until ISc (Intermediate of Science) then returned to Nepal in 1938.[citation needed]

Leader of Nepali Congress edit

 
Ganesh Man Singh Statue in front of Ganesh Man Singh Bhawan in TU Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu
 
Ganesh Man Singh Building in TU Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu. The building contains the Pediatrics Department of the hospital.

Ganesh Man Singh was one of the main leaders of the Nepali Congress Movement in 2007 B.S., which was able to overthrow the Rana Regime. In 2015 B.S., he was elected as a Member of Parliament from Kathmandu and later became a Cabinet Minister. After the coup d'état by King Mahendra, Singh became one of the main leaders advocating for democracy in Nepal. He ultimately became the Supreme leader of Nepali Congress, the title he held throughout his life.[citation needed]

Early political life edit

He entered into politics formally by joining Praja Parisad, the first political party of Nepal. in 1997 B.S. Only after three months into married life with Mangala Devi Singh, he was handed life imprisonment by Ranas for waging a revolution against their autocratic rule. He successfully escaped from the prison and continued his struggle against the Ranas with Krishna Bahadur Pradhan as his pseudonym.[5]

Later life edit

 
Bhadrakali Mishra (right), with Ganesh Man Singh at Mishra's home in Kathmandu. Singh visited Mishra to welcome Mishra back to Nepal, a few days after his full-time return to Nepal following the restoration of democracy in the country. (August 1990)

After the coup of 1960, Singh was held without trial for eight years at the Sundarijal Military Detention Camp.[6]

Recognizing his outstanding contribution in the field of Human Rights, Mr. Singh was honored by the United Nations with the “Human Rights Award” in 1993. He is the first Statesman from South Asia to receive this prestigious award.[citation needed]

Singh had received the “United States Peace Run Prize” in 1990 for his contribution to peace in Nepal and the world and his leadership quality. He was also decorated by the “U Thant Peace Award”.[citation needed]

Ganesh Man Singh Foundation edit

Ganesh Man Singh Foundation was established in the commemoration of Ganesh Man Singh with the presidency of his son Prakash Man Singh.[7]

Contributions of Ganesh Man Singh edit

Singh made major contributions to Nepal. He was the leader of the anti-Rana Movement in 2007 B.S. as well as the leader of the Nepali Congress. He gave continuous efforts for the establishment of democracy over the autocratic rule of Ranas. He was the commander of the Mass Movement-I (2046 B.S.) Ganesh Man Singh's continued effort led to multi-party democracy's establishment in Nepal. He also showed his great renunciation by refusing the post of prime minister and instead suggesting the name of his friend Krishna Prasad Bhattarai for the post.

He died on 2nd of Ashwin 2054 B.S at Kathmandu.

References edit

  1. ^ "Ganesh Man Singh | biography - Nepalese activist | Britannica.com". Archived from the original on 2015-09-15.
  2. ^ Ghimire, Him Lal (November 11, 2014). "The Iron Man". The Kathmandu Post. Retrieved August 21, 2017.
  3. ^ Letter to "Mission Permanente, Du Royamu Du Nepal, Aupres de l'office des Nations Unies, Geneve" by Nepalese Ambassador, Jayaraj Acharya, nominating Ganesh Man Singh for Human Right Award, Page 62, श्रद्धांजली
  4. ^ a b वीर गणेशमान सिंह स्मारिका, Page 1
  5. ^ "त्याग,संघर्ष र बलिदानको प्रतिमूर्ति राजनेता लौहपुरुष गणेशमान !". www.panakhabar.com. September 18, 2016. Archived from the original on 2017-04-25.
  6. ^ "Picture of Sundarijal Military Detention Camp". Nepali Congress. Archived from the original on 2002-08-02. Retrieved 2008-10-07.
  7. ^ "Home". ganeshmanfoundation.org. Archived from the original on 2015-01-08. Retrieved 2014-11-08.

External links edit

  •   Media related to Ganesh Man Singh at Wikimedia Commons
  • Nepal homepage Archived 2007-04-23 at the Wayback Machine
  • Ganesh Man Singh Organization
  • Ganesh Man Singh Academy Archived 2013-08-19 at the Wayback Machine