Emboldened with the IC 8,000 he received for sharing his escape story, Ganesh Man Singh is charged with excitement – he decides to share his story in areas with significant Nepali speaking population, mainly Darjeeling, Sikkim, Assam, Dehradun and Bhaksu.

He started with Darjeeling.

Determined not to spend a single rupee from the 8,000 for his personal expenses, he reached out to Puwa Newa in Darjeeling. Puwa Newa was sentenced along with the members of Praja Parishad in 1940, for ‘talking about revolution’. However, he was later granted clemency by the Rana government – for a fine of Rs. 50 and four paisa. After his release, he left Nepal and settled in Darjeeling.

At Darjeeling, Singh spoke to a crowd of Nepalis, mostly students from Nepal, and many from families who were acquainted with the Ranas. The students collected Rs. 800, and Singh narrated his escape story.

Singh’s intention was to reorganize the Praja Parishad, and launch a revolution in Nepal. Meanwhile, different thoughts would enter his head – several of them questioning his own ability to execute it.

“I took a bold initiative of starting a revolution, however I had no detailed format of its modalities”, Singh would tell Mathbar Singh later.

Meanwhile, continuing his cause, Singh reached Banares. He was staying with Devshanker Lal Shrestha, and was introduced to Iswar Baral. Baral informed Singh that Nepali students in Banaras had formed an organisation called Nepali Chhatra Sangha (Nepali Students Association), Baral was its General Secretary, and Krishna Prasad Bhattarai its Vice President. Baral arranged for Singh to speak in front of its members – Singh was to be introduced as Krishna Bahadur Pradhan (as Ranas had informants in Banares too).

The night before the speech, Singh was unable to sleep.

“Though I had suffered in innumerable ways owing to politics, a sense of political understanding and culture was yet to develop within me. My own ego prevented me from learning politics from Gangalal, and even in jail I was too arrogant to read.

What was I going to tell the students? I had no idea about an alternative state system for Nepal – I had no clear concept about the nature of democracy”. Such was my dilemma then, Singh shared with Mathbar Singh.

Singh’s first speech and his ego

Nevertheless Singh spoke – to an audience full of students.

“It was a long time ago, and I do not remember the details, but I remember speaking about inequality and the need for a revolution. I remember talking about the Praja Parishad and reminding the students that Dharma Bhakta Mathema, Shukra Raj Shastri, Gangalal Shresth, and Dashrath Chand’s sacrifice should not go in vain”, Singh tells Mathbar Singh.

Singh also remembers being interrupted – the forum could not be used for political speeches, something Singh was unaware about. Singh continued despite the protest – finished his speech, his life’s first speech.

Later after the speech, Singh and Krishna Prasad Bhattarai got to catch up – Singh reveals his real identity and Bhattarai agrees to help Singh’s cause.

Meanwhile, Singh returns to Kalimpong. One day he receives a letter from Devshankerlal, and with it a newspaper clipping. The newspaper clipping was an appeal by Bishweshwor Prasad Koirala emphasizing upon the need for an organisation to establish democracy in Nepal. A hand-written letter by Devshankerlal suggested Singh meet B P Koirala in Patna.

Singh was furious – his ego was bruised. He wrote back to Devshankerlal in rebuking terms:

“You are perhaps redeeming yourself for the things you have done for me via this letter, however how dare you tell me to go and meet B P Koirala? The letter should have been addressed to B P Koirala, telling him that a great revolutionary like Ganesh Man is living in such and such place, and although he does not meet everyone, you could make an arrangement to meet him. To say that I should meet him is belittling”.

Singh gets a response from Devshanker, a letter which tells Singh that he has cow-dung in his head instead of a brain, and if he had any sense, he should immediately go to Calcutta to meet Koirala.

Singh goes to Banares instead – to meet Devshanker.

In the meeting, Devshanker explains to Singh that things like ego and pride should be kept aside while doing politics.

Singh gives it a thought, but his arrogance does not let him accept it.

The argument continues – and a determined Devshankerlal convinces Singh.

Thus, he heads to Calcutta, to meet B P Koirala.