FOUR MARTYRS

 Shukraraj Shastri

Shukra Raj Shastri (born Shukra Raj Joshi) (1894–24 January 1941) was a Nepalese intellectual and fighter for democracy who was executed by the autocratic Rana dynasty. He is one of the four martyrs of the Nepalese revolution that toppled the Rana regime. The other three are Dashrath Chand, Dharma Bhakta Mathema and Ganga Lal Shrestha.

Shastri was also a social reformer and author who wrote a number of books in Nepali and Nepal Bhasa.

Early Life

Shastri was born in Varanasi, India where his father Madhav Raj and mother Ratna Maya Joshi were living in forced exile due to political reasons. Madhav Raj was a leader of the Arya Samaj in Nepal. The Joshis were originally from Lalitpur.

Shukra Raj was schooled in India, and he acquired the title Shastri after earning a Shastri degree from Dehradun. He became better known by this name than his actual surname Joshi.

Democracy Fighter

Returning to Nepal, Shastri joined the democracy struggle. During a demonstration organized at Indra Chok, Kathmandu by the Citizens' Rights Committee, he spoke out strongly against the Rana regime and demanded the people's rights. For this act, he was arrested and sentenced to six years' imprisonment. He was subsequently sentenced to death, and on 24 January 1941, he was hanged from a tree on the side of the road at Pachali, Teku, Kathmandu.

The Ranas were eventually overthrown in February 1951, and democracy was established in Nepal. The Rana oligarchy ruled Nepal from 1846 until 1951. During this time, the Shah king was reduced to a figurehead and the prime minister and other government positions were hereditary. Jang Bahadur Rana established the Rana dynasty in 1846 by masterminding the Kot massacre in which about 40 members of the nobility including the prime minister and a relative of the king were murdered. Tyranny, debauchery, economic exploitation and religious persecution characterized Rana rule. This 104-years of Rana regime has been called as one of the darkest periods of Nepalese history.

Writer

Shastri was one of the leaders of the Nepal Bhasa renaissance.He wrote a grammar of the language entitled Nepal Bhasa Vyakaran which was published from Kolkata in 1928. He was the first to produce children's literature. His other works include Nepal Bhasa Reader, Books 1 and 2 (1933) and Nepali Varnamala (1933).

It is believed that Shastri was executed more for his work in social reform and efforts to develop his mother tongue Nepal Bhasa than his involvement in politics. Shastri did not belong to any political party unlike the other three martyrs who were members of Nepal Praja Parishad.

Legacy

Shastri and the other martyrs are honoured on Martyrs Day which is observed annually on Magh 16 (29 or 30 January) across the country. Shukra Path, a street in downtown Kathmandu, is named after him. Shastri's statues have been erected at a number of places, and the Postal Service Department has issued commemorative postage stamps depicting his image. A monument known as Shahid Gate containing the busts of the four martyrs and King Tribhuvan was built in central Kathmandu in 1961.

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Dharma Bhakta Mathema

Dharma Bhakta Mathema (1909—1941) was a professional body builder as well as a founding member of Praja Parishad. He introduced modern body building techniques in Nepal, but had gained popularity for his contribution to the Nepalese struggle for freedom against the autocracy of the Rana dynasty. He was killed during the freedom movement, and he is duly recognized as one of the four martyrs of Nepal of the Rana era.

Early Life

Dharma Bhakta Mathema was born of a Newar family in Kathmandu in 24 September 1909 (9 Ashoj 1966 BS). His father Adi Bhakta Mathema held a government office as a Subba during the Rana rule. He often went to India to purchase things for the Ranas. He met learned men in India and understood the importance of education. He received his basic education in Sanatan Madhyamik Vidhyalaya in Darjeeling, after which he went to the Scottish Church College in Calcutta to get an Intermediate in Arts (I.A.) degree.

Bodybuilding

Dharma Bhakta's physical appearance was described as thin, unhealthy and weak during his childhood, which caused other children to tease and bully him. This harassment motivated his body-building journey, as he joined a gym while in Calcutta. Constant physical exercise rapidly improved his health. He so excelled in bodybuilding that he was announced as "Shree Bengal" (which literally means "Mr. Bengal") in an all Bengal bodybuilding contest.

After graduating with an I.A. degree from Scottish Church College, he married Uttara Devi from Biratnagar. He returned to Kathmandu and established a gym at his aunt Yamkumari Ray's house. Many youths of Kathmandu were attracted by the novelty of the gym. The gym attracted not only the commoners but also the Rana family and the police forces too. Once a troop of German soldiers had come to Nepal for a visit. He showed his body building tricks and exercises to them in the presence of Juddha Shumsher.

Once during the Ghode Jatra festival, he showed his bodybuilding prowess to the people in the presence of King Tribhuvan and the Rana family in Tundikhel. He made different bodybuilding poses and performed many test of strength. An instance of such, was when he put a long rod on his back and told three to four persons on each side of the rod to hang. He was then jumping and lifting with those people. In another instance, he lied down on the ground and told a person to hammer his chest with a hammer. People were amazed that he was unharmed. People could not believe that a man could be so strong. King Tribhuvan was also greatly impressed by his feat, so much that he was appointed as his physical instructor.

Political Activity

Besides bodybuilding, he was actively interested in politics. At that time the struggle for the independence from the British Raj was gaining momentum in India. While in India Dharma Bhakta had met Chittaranjan Das and had joined in the struggle for Indian independence. He wanted to establish a political party and settle in India itself. But for some reason he dropped that plan and returned to Kathmandu with an ardent desire for freedom from the Rana regime. Tyranny, debauchery, economic exploitation and religious persecution characterized Rana rule.

In those days, Juddha Shamsher was the prime minister of Nepal, who ruled with an iron fist. All political parties were banned. Dharma Bhakta met Dashrath Chand in Kathmandu in 1990 BS and in 1936 AD, a political party Praja Parishad was founded in the house of Dharma Bhakta. The founders were Tanka Prasad Acharya, Jiwan Raj Sharma, Ramhari Sharma, Dharma Bhakta and Dashrath Chand. His connection with King Tribhuwan as a physical instructor allowed him to act as a go-between the king and the Praja Parishad. He conveyed every activity of the Praja parishad to the King. However discovery of his political activities prompted Juddha Shamsher to exile his father Adi Bhakta Mathema.

Death

One day, a secret meeting of Praja Parishad was held in Lainchaur which was also attended by King Tribhuwan. The information of this meeting reached Juddha Shamsher, which led to the arrest of many of the members of Praja Parishad including, Dharma Bhakta. Since three of the founding members of Praja Parishad were of Brahmin caste, and hence were exempt from death penalty, they were duly humiliated and exiled. As for Dashrath Chand and Dharma Bhakta, their caste could not provide a shield against the ruthlessness of a tyrant. Both of them were given death penalty. On 24 January 1941 (12 Magh 1997 BS), Dharma Bhakta was hanged to death at Sifal, Kathmandu, at midnight.

Legacy

His statue is erected, along with other three martyrs, in the Martyr's Gate (Shahid Gate) memorial in Kathmandu. Shahid Dharma Bhakta School (SDB), a school was established on his name in Nakkhu, Lalitpur, Nepal by his daughter Renu Devi.

One of the major country-level bodybuilding competition in Nepal is named after Mathema as Dharmashree Nationwide Bodybuilding Championship.

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Dashrath Chand

Dasharath Chand (1903 - 28 January 1941) was a martyr of the Nepalese Democratic Movement and a politician of Nepal who was active in starting a political revolution in Nepal during Rana rule. He was born at Baskot of Baitadi district of Nepal in 1903 AD as a son of Sher Bahadur Chand.

Education

He received his education at different places of Kumaon like Almora, Nainital, etc. Finally, he went to Banaras, where he completed an Intermediate education. In Banaras he worked for Kashi Nagari Pracharini Sabha

Political Career

The Indian people were trying to free India from British rule. He was impressed by the freedom movement in India and involved in that movement. At the same time, he remembered the miserable condition of the general public of Nepal. The public was suffering from poverty, illiteracy, and ignorance. They were being exploited by the ruling class who had no law to obey and who lived in luxury. Tyranny, debauchery, economic exploitation, and religious persecution characterized Rana's rule. This 104-year of Rana regime has been called one of the darkest periods of Nepalese history. Dasharath Chand could not resist protesting the rulers. He was determined to end the Rana rule. He began to write articles against the Ranas in the Janata published from Patna in India, under the pseudonym of Sewasingh.

Dasharath Chand met Tanka Prasad Acharya and Dharma Bhakta Mathema who were active in starting a political revolution in Nepal. A Political party called the Nepal Praja Parishad was organized in the presidency of Tanka Prasad Acharya in Nepal with the active participation of Dasharath Chand. It became active and started distributing pamphlets explaining the arbitrary Rana rule. For about 4 months, the government did not know who was doing it. At last, a reward of Rs. 5000 was announced for the revelation of the secret. The reward tempted Ramji Joshi, a member of Praja Parishad and he disclosed the secret. So arresting the leaders was begun. Gangalal Shrestha and Dasharath Chand were arrested. In prison, they were given severe torture and pain. They were asked to beg pardon but they did not do so. At last, in 1941, on January 28, Dasharath Chand and Gangalal were shot dead at Shobha Bhagawati.

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Gangalal Shrestha

Ganga Lal Shrestha (1919 – 28 January 1941) was a Nepalese revolutionary who was executed by the autocratic Rana regime. He is honoured as one of the four martyrs of the Nepalese revolution. He was a member of the clandestine political organisation named Nepal Praja Parishad that started a movement in 1939 to remove the Rana oligarchy and establish democracy in Nepal.

Early Life

Ganga Lal was born to father Bhakta Lal and mother Mohani Kumari Shrestha in a well-to-do family. His father Bhakta Lal worked for the government and was stationed in Ramechhap where he was the chief of the Revenue Office. After returning to Kathmandu, he renounced his share of the ancestral property at Chhetrapati, and bought a house in Pyaphal next to Kathmandu Durbar Square. Ganga Lal lived in this house with his family and wife Hasana Devi (1918–2011).

Ganga Lal went to Kolkata with his uncle to study. Returning to Kathmandu, he enrolled in Durbar High School. He is believed to have been an intelligent student and secured first division in the Matriculation examination. After the examination, he was admitted to Trichandra College where he studied science.

Political Career

Ganga Lal was an excellent public speaker. He was an active member of organisations that sought to oust the Ranas and establish democracy in Nepal. He had been a member of Mahabir School, whose aim was to fill the students with patriotic feelings. He was arrested briefly in 1939 for giving a lecture  in Asan, Kathmandu. After he met Dashrath Chand, he became involved in Nepal Praja Parishad and its activities.

Martyrdom

The secret Nepal Praja Parishad was exposed by Ramji Joshi in return for a cash reward of Rs. 5,000. This led to the arrest of many of its members on 18 October 1940. On 19 January 1941, the Ranas sentenced Ganga Lal, Dashrath Chand, Dharma Bhakta Mathema and Shukra Raj Shastri (although he was not involved in Praja Parishad), to death. On 28 January 1941, Ganga Lal was taken to Shobha Bhagwati on the bank of the Bishnumati River where he was shot dead along with Chand by Nara Shumsher Rana. The other two, Mathema and Shastri, were hanged.

Ganga Lal was allowed one last meeting with his family the day before he was executed. They went to the jail and he was brought out from his cell with hands and feet shackled. The emotional reunion stirred his youngest brother Pushpa Lal Shrestha to dedicate himself to fight for democracy and equality. In 1949, he founded the Communist Party of Nepal which played a key role in removing the Ranas.

The Rana dynasty was eventually overthrown in February 1951, and democracy was established in Nepal. The Ranas ruled Nepal from 1846 until 1951. During this time, the Shah king was reduced to a figurehead and the prime minister and other government positions were hereditary. Jang Bahadur Rana established the Rana dynasty in 1846 by masterminding the Kot massacre in which about 40 members of the nobility including the prime minister and a relative of the king were murdered. Tyranny, debauchery, economic exploitation and religious persecution characterised Rana rule. This 104-years of Rana regime has been called as one of the darkest periods of Nepalese history.

Legacy

Ganga Lal is remembered as one of the four martyrs of the revolution that brought down the Rana regime. Every year on 30 January (16 Magh), Nepal celebrates Martyrs' Day to honour them.

In 1965, Nepal's Postal Services Department issued a commemorative postage stamp featuring the portraits of the four martyrs. Ganga Path, a road in central Kathmandu, has been named after him. Shahid Gangalal National Heart Center is a specialist hospital in Kathmandu. Ganga Lal's statue is installed on Shahid Gate, a monument to the martyrs of Nepal.

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