Nepal Praja Parishad
Nepal Praja Parishad (or simply, Praja Parishad, Popular Council) was the first attempt to form an organization to lead the revolution against the Rana dynasty in Nepal. It was founded in 1939 when they received the support of additional people including Dharma Bhakta Mathema among others. The organization's head office was kept in Dharma Bhakta Mathema's house in OmBahal.
History
Nepal Praja Parishad was proposed to be founded by Dashrath Chand and Tanka Prasad Acharya in a hotel in Bhimphedi, Makwanpur District of Nepal to lead the revolution against the Rana dynasty In Nepal. It was, however, actually founded in 1939 when they received the support of additional people including Dharma Bhakta Mathema among others. The organization's head office was kept in Dharma Bhakta Mathema's house in OmBahal.[1]
Members
Nepal Praja Parishad consisted of many Nepali revolutionaries including Dharma Bhakta Mathema, Dashrath Chand, Tanka Prasad Acharya, Gangalal Shrestha, among others. Dharma Bhakta Mathema was also the gym instructor of King Tribhuvan, and the motives of the organization were known to and also supported by the king. Other members of this organization included Chudaprasad Sharma, Govinda Prasad Upadhya(Poudyal), Puskar Nath Upreti, Mukunda Nath Rimal, Bal Bahadur Pandey, Druba Prasad Dawade, Fadindra Nath Satyal, Hari Krishna Shrestha, Chakra Bahadur Khatri, Ganesh Man Singh, Keshav Khatri, Ramji Shrestha, Chandraman Shrestha, and also King JayaPrithivi Bahadur Sing of Bajhang.[2]
Activities
Initially, Nepal Praja Parishad distributed hand-written pamphlets among the people and wrote articles against the Rana Dynasty in Nepal in an Indian socialist paper "Janata" and another paper published in Culcutta named "Advance". Later Tanka Prasad Acharya brought a Duplicating Machine from India, and the organization started to distribute pamphlets against the Rana dynasty to enlighten the people against the Rana Dynasty.
Dissolution
As the people became more and more aware of the activities of the Praja Parishad and voices were raised against the Rana Dynasty, Prime minister Juddha Shumsher and the other leading Ranas became more and more active to destroy the Praja Parishad, however, no success was made in more than 4 months. However, in 1940 July 26, a message was published in Gorkhapatra that anyone informing on the organization, its activities and whereabouts would be rewarded Rs.5000. Ramji Joshi, in the greed of the money informed about the organization to the Ranas in 1940 October 18. Most of its members were arrested. In 1941, January 19, the court of the Ranas declared Death Penalty against Shukraraj Shastri (who was not however, involved in Praja Parishad), Dharma Bhakta Mathema, GangaLal shrestha, and Dashrath Chand, who are now recognized as the martyrs of Nepal. Many others were sentenced to jail and many were exiled. Thus Nepal Praja Parishad was dissolved in January 1941.
Aftermath
Most of the remaining, surviving members of the Nepal Praja Parishad later joined the Nepali Congress, or the Nepal Communist Party. The capital punishment given to the leaders of the Praja Parishad led to massive public outrage among the general public of Nepal and ultimately the downfall of Rana regime.