Democracy Series

Early years: Dashain and Tihar festivities of 1982 B.S. (1925 A.D) had just concluded. Kathmandu residents were preparing themselves for a long and cold winter season. On that year, on Mangshir 25, I was born to mother Purna Devi Shrestha. Born to a large family, and one of the first grandchildren, my arrival was met […]

Struggles towards women’s rights: Mangala Devi Singh (The following chapters of Democracy Series have been translated from Mangala Devi Singh’s book: ‘Nari Sangarshaka Pailaharu’, and is being published with the support of Ganesh Man Singh Foundation) Historical Background – I (Kathmandu Valley): This is a story from a valley surrounded by green hills, fields, temples,

After 100 weeks (2 years) of remembering Ganesh Man Singh’s contributions to modern day Nepal, reflecting upon his life and values in two phases divided between two major movements for democracy in Nepal, one against the Rana regime and the second against the partyless Panchayat System, the Ganesh Man Singh Foundation in its third phase

Residents pour onto the streets to celebrate their victory: The next day, on 9th April, 1990, at 6:30 a.m. Radio Nepal announced the government’s decision to remove the curfew orders. By 7:00 a.m, it seemed as if entire Kathmandu was out on the streets celebrating. Residents took out huge processions to mark the end of

A meeting with Ganesh Man Singh: The next day, then Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand reached Bir Hospital again – to discuss with Ganesh Man Singh. PM Chand proposed a dialogue with the government. To which Singh replied: “Our protest is not against the government. Our protest is against the king”. To which PM Chand

Ganesh Man Singh’s Resolutions: In the months of February and March of 1990 AD, the People’s Movement in Nepal had spread across the nation like wildfire. Planned in three phases, the movement was successful in bringing the government’s attention towards the demands of the people. In April, 1990, towards the end of the revolution, Ganesh

Spreading a rumour to cripple state finances: Around the end of the third phase of the People’s Revolution, Sharachchandra Osti, a reporter working with Gorkhapatra, Nepal’s national daily came upon an idea – a strategy to cripple the state’s financial position. He shared the idea with Supreme Leader Ganesh Man Singh, and after his approval,

People’s Movement progresses towards its third phase With more people pouring into the streets in the second phase than the first, and lesser arrests in the second phase emboldened leaders. Singh was convinced the movement was making an impact – first, more people were becoming a part of the historic movement, and second, authorities were

People’s Movement amplifies: 19th February, 1990: The next day, the People’s Movement had planned for a nationwide strike. Perhaps emboldened by their victory of the previous day, the public joined hands in making the movement a success, and contributed to the strike. It was as if the nation had come to a standstill. In the

18th February, 1990: Dawn On the morning of 18th February, 1990, Singh was restless, jubilant, euphoric, and ecstatic at the same time. The historic day had finally arrived. Years of struggle, planning and strategizing would show results in these final days. He felt as if he was at the final steps of climbing Mt Everest