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Lakhan Thapa Magar (1835–1877) was a Nepali revolutionary who was declared the "First Martyr of Nepal" by the Nepalese government. ^[1] He was the first recorded Nepali political dissident and resisted the rule of the Rana dynasty. As a king of Bungkot, he rebelled against the rule of Jang Bahadur Rana and propagandized his political ideology to destroy the Jung Bahadur Rana regime to form a free state and army. ^[2] He was supported by his close friend Jay Singh Chumi Magar and his minister Jaya Singh Chumi.

Kot Massacre of 1846

The murder of General Gagan Singh Bhandari followed the Kot Massacre of 14 September 1846 that catapulted the Ranas into power for 104 years. The reigning queen wanted to know the murderer of General Gagan Singh Bhandari. General Abhiman Singh Rana Magar, who was the first General or Commander-in-Chief of Nepal Army ^[3] had known who the killer was. Upon learning of the general's knowledge, Jung Bahadur Rana subsequently fatally shot the general. However, the dying general shouted about the killer's identity, and afterward, Junga Bahadur Rana was motivated to eliminate all nobles in and out of the royal house. This included ethnic leaders like Lakhan Thapa Magar to secure his position.

Resistance

After the Rana takeover, Lakhan Thapa Magar could not tolerate the iron-fisted rule of the dynasty. He organized some youths (some ex-military) to begin to protest against the government. Along with men he brought weapons and supplies to rebel against the government. The Rana government responded by deploying troops to Gorkha. Jung Bahadur thought to eliminate Thapa Magar and other rebels and ordered to hang them. After sometime, Thapa Magar was hanged in front of his residence in Bungkot on 14 February 1877 and seven others were hanged near Manakamana Temple. ^[4] Some historians have written that the government had captured and hung 50 other participants. Notably, one of the descendants of Jung Bahadur Rana has disputed Magar's claim to martyrdom. ^[5] But all renowned historians of Nepal have attested that Lakhan Thapa Magar was hanged to death. ^[6]

Legacy

While historically Lakhan Thapa has been seen as a foolish figure, in the 1990s his image was rehabilitated in the eyes of the public. ^[6] Historian and then Director General of Nepal Government's Department of Archaeology has written ^[7] that Jung Bahadur Rana's harsh rule prompted an inevitable revolution.

Some historians^{[ who?]} draw a parallel between Lakhan Thapa and Bhagat Singh of India, as they both were prominent political martyrs in their country.

Family tree

Lakhan Thapa Magar's Siblings:

• Ram Thapa Magar (older brother)
• Dhana Mala sister.

Notes

References

• Baidhya, Tulsiram, Vijay Kumar Manandhar and Premsingh Basnyat. 2009. Military History of Nepal (Part 2). Kathmandu: Army Headquarters.
• Bhandari, Dhundi Raj: नेपालको आलोचनात्मक इतिहास Nepalko Aalochanatmak Itihas (A Critical History of Nepal)
• Gurung, Hark – 1998: Nepal : Social Demography and Expression.
• Lecomte-Tilouine, Marie – Oxford University Press – 2008: Hindu Kingship, Ethnic Revival and Maoist Rebellion in Nepal
• Lecomte-Tilouine, Marie: Utopia and Ideology among the Magars: Lakhan Thapa versus Mao Dzedong?
• Rana, B. K. 2003: संक्षिप्त मगर इतिहास Sanchhipta Magar Itihas (A Concise History of Magars)
• Rana, B. K. 2012 : Martyr Lakhan Thapa of Nepal: From a Native Perspective
• Rana, Pudma Jung Bahadur – 1909: Life of Maharaja Sir Jung Bahadur of Nepal. The Pioneer Press Allahbad
• Rana, Promod Sumsher – 1978 : Rana Nepal – An Insider's View
• Sharma, Bal Chandra : नेपालको ऐतिहासिक रुपरेखा Nepalko Aitihasik Ruprekha (Glimpses of Nepalese History)
• Sharma, Janak Lal −1964 : जोसमनी सन्त-परम्परा र साहित्य – २०२० -Josmani Sanit-Parampara Ra Sahitya 1964 – Josmani Saint Tradition and Literature – 1964.
• Singh, Bhim Bhaktaman – 2005: Nepal

External links

• Magar Morcha
• Martyr Lakhan Thapa of Nepal: From a Native Perspective
• Celebration of Martyrs' Day In Nepal
• Martyrs, Martyrdom and Martyr Lakhan Thapa
• Martyrs, Freedom Fighters and Brave Children of Nepal
• Hindu Kingship, Ethnic Revival and Maoist Rebellion in Nepal:
• Even today, Lakhan Thapa is remembered as the first Nepali martyr
• Martyrs, Martyrdom and Martyr Lakhan Thapa
• Bagchi-Levi in Nepal A Glimpse of the Rana Rule in Nepal, Manindra Bhushan Bhaduri The Calcutta Review July 1962