Mohan Bikram Singh

Communism in Nepal

Mohan Bikram Singh (born 1935), often referred to as MBS, party name Gharti, is a Nepalese politician. His father was a wealthy landlord in Pyuthan District who was close to King Tribhuvan. MBS however joined the opposition Nepali Congress, and took part in the 19501951 uprising for democracy.[1]

MBS joined the united Communist Party of Nepal in 1953. In 1957 he was elected to the Central Committee of the party. In 1961, when the party was divided in different tendencies, MBS rallied the leftist sections, raising the demand for a Constituent Assembly. The line of MBS found much support amongst party grassroots, but he did not get any support from fellow Central Committee members. When the party was divided in 1962, MBS sided with the more radical Communist Party led by Tulsi Lal Amatya.

In 1971 MBS was released from jail. Man Mohan Adhikari had been released in 1969. Together with Shamburam Shrestha and Nirmal Lama they formed the 'Central Nucleus', which sought to unify with Communist Party of Nepal (Pushpa Lal). That merger never took of, and the Central Nucleus was divided. In 1974 MBS and Nirmal Lama held a 'Fourth Convention' of the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN). Effectively their faction constituted a separate party, Communist Party of Nepal (Fourth Convention).

In 1983 a split surged between MBS and Nirmal Lama. MBS went on to form a separate party, Communist Party of Nepal (Masal). This party would suffer several splits. In 1987 a major split occurred, after which MBS was left with leading a minority as the majority formed Communist Party of Nepal (Mashal).

During the Panchayat regime, MBS was based in Gorakhpur, India.

At the time of the 1990 popular uprising against the autocratic regime, MBS disagreed with the United Left Front in cooperating the Nepali Congress against the regime. He demanded a Constituent Assembly and advocated that armed struggle was necessary to fight the royal rule over the country. Communist Party of Nepal (Masal), Communist Party of Nepal (Mashal) and Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist-Leninist-Maoist) formed the United National People's Movement.


In 2002 CPN (Masal) merged with Communist Party of Nepal (Unity Centre), and formed Communist Party of Nepal (Unity Centre-Masal). MBS became the general secretary of the new party.

After the royal coup d'état on February 1, 2005 MBS went underground. Following the restoration of democratic rule, CPN(UC-M) was divided on issues like whether the party should join the coalition government. The party was divided into two, with the group led by MBS leaving the Seven Party Alliance and staying outside of the government.[1] Singh's faction renamed itself as the Communist Party of Nepal (Masal).[2]

Singh renewed his citizen certificate only in 2007, at the age of 72.[1]

See also

Cailmail, Benoît. Autumn 2008 – Spring 2009. "Mohan Bikram Singh and the History of Nepalese Maoism". European Bulletin of Himalayan Research. n° 33-34, pp. 11-38.

References

Related links


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