Lakhan Thapa Magar (1835–1877) was a Nepali revolutionary and local leader in Bungkot, Gorkha District who led a rebellion against Jung Bahadur Rana's authority and the overall rule of the Rana dynasty. The Nepalese government considers him as "the First Martyr of Nepal."
Kot Massacre of 1846 The Kot Massacre, an internal revolt which occurred on 14 September 1846, led to the death of the king and queen and the establishment of Rana rule in Nepal for over a century. The reigning queen initiated an investigation into the assassination of General Gagan Singh Bhandari. General Abhiman Singh Rana Magar, the first Commander-in-Chief of the Nepali Army, knew the assassin's identity. However, before he could reveal it, Junga Bahadur Rana fatally shot him in an effort to consolidate power. The general, as he died, revealed the assassin's name, and Jung Bahadur Rana subsequently eliminated numerous nobles and political figures, including Lakhan Thapa Magar, to secure his authority.
Resistance Following the Rana takeover, Lakhan Thapa Magar mobilized local youths and former military personnel to oppose the government. He gathered resources, including weapons and supplies, to initiate an armed rebellion, prompting the Rana administration to deploy troops to Gorkha. Junga Bahadur Rana ordered the capture and execution of Thapa Magar and his supporters. On 14 February 1877, Lakhan Thapa Magar was hanged in front of his residence in Bungkot. Seven of his associates were also executed near the Manakamana Temple."आठ पहरिया दलले ती सबै ब्यक्ति र सामान समेत जंग बहादुर लाइ ल्यायर बुझायो | जंगबहादुरलाई शस्त्रास्त्र समेतको संगठन देखेर निक्कै आश्चर्य लाग्यो | उनले यस संगठनलाई जरैदेखि निर्मूल पार्ने विचार गरे | निर्मूल पार्ने सबभन्दा सजिलो उपाय थियो संगठन्कर्तालाई निर्मूल पार्नु | त्यस कारण जंगबहादुरले लखन थापा र उनका ७ जान साथीलाई फासीको सजाय सुनाए र उनीहरुलाई फैसला सुनाएको निक्कै समय पछी लखन थापालाई आफ्नै मठमा र अरु ७ जनालाई मनकामनामा लगेर झुन्द्याइयो | लखन थापाको मठको विशाल भाग्नावासेश अद्यापि बुग्कोटबाट नाम्जुंग जाने बाटामा अवस्थित छ र त्यहाका स्थानीय जनताले बिर्सेका छैनन् |"
Lakhan Thapa Dwitiyako Parva: Janak Lal Sharma 2020 – Page 91
Thapa Magar's status as a martyrdom remains a subject of historical debate." जंगको हत्या गर्न भनि लखन थापा को दलले गोरखामा षड्यन्त्र रच्यो |लखन थापा प्रथम पटक पक्राऊ परे | केरकार गर्दा हात जोडी "फगत् प्राण पाल्नका निमित्त औतारी बनि टोपलेको हुँ" भन्ने बयान गरेकाले केहिदिन कैदमा राखी छोडियो |" Puroshottam Sumshwer JB Rana " Shri Teenharku Tathya Britant" PP 51 A descendant of Jung Bahadur Rana has contested the claim, but many Nepali historians assert that Thapa Magar was executed for his resistance.
Legacy Lakhan Thapa Magar's historical significance was reexamined in the 1990s, during which his image underwent rehabilitation. Historian Janak Lal Sharma, a former Director General of Nepal's Department of Archaeology, argued that the oppressive rule of Jung Bahadur Rana made rebellion inevitable.Janak Lal Sharma – a renowned archaeologist, writer, and director general, a recipient of Sajha Prize for his book -हाम्रो समाज: एक अध्ययन – Hamro Samaj: Ek Adhyayan – 2036 Some historians have compared Thapa Magar to Indian revolutionary Bhagat Singh, as both are considered political martyrs in their respective countries.
Family tree Ram Thapa Magar (elder brother) Dhana Mala (sister)
Notes
References Baidhya, Tulsiram, Vijay Kumar Manandhar and Premsingh Basnyat. 2009. Military History of Nepal (Part 2). Kathmandu: Army Headquarters. Bhandari, Dhundi Raj: नेपालको आलोचनात्मक इतिहास Nepalko Aalochanatmak Itihas (A Critical History of Nepal) Gurung, Hark – 1998: Nepal : Social Demography and Expression. Lecomte-Tilouine, Marie – Oxford University Press – 2008: Hindu Kingship, Ethnic Revival and Maoist Rebellion in Nepal Lecomte-Tilouine, Marie: Utopia and Ideology among the Magars: Lakhan Thapa versus Mao Dzedong? Rana, B. K. 2003: संक्षिप्त मगर इतिहास Sanchhipta Magar Itihas (A Concise History of Magars) Rana, B. K. 2012 : Martyr Lakhan Thapa of Nepal: From a Native Perspective Rana, Pudma Jung Bahadur – 1909: Life of Maharaja Sir Jung Bahadur of Nepal. The Pioneer Press Allahbad Rana, Promod Sumsher – 1978 : Rana Nepal – An Insider's View Sharma, Bal Chandra : नेपालको ऐतिहासिक रुपरेखा Nepalko Aitihasik Ruprekha (Glimpses of Nepalese History) Sharma, Janak Lal −1964 : जोसमनी सन्त-परम्परा र साहित्य – २०२० -Josmani Sanit-Parampara Ra Sahitya 1964 – Josmani Saint Tradition and Literature – 1964. Singh, Bhim Bhaktaman – 2005: Nepal
External links Magar MorchaMartyr Lakhan Thapa of Nepal: From a Native Perspective Celebration of Martyrs' Day In Nepal Martyrs, Martyrdom and Martyr Lakhan Thapa Martyrs, Freedom Fighters and Brave Children of Nepal Even today, Lakhan Thapa is remembered as the first Nepali martyr Martyrs, Martyrdom and Martyr Lakhan Thapa Bagchi-Levi in Nepal A Glimpse of the Rana Rule in Nepal, Manindra Bhushan Bhaduri The Calcutta Review July 1962