father of the nation

Born on June 23, 1906, the late King TribhuwanBir Bikram ShahDev, King of Nepal, is also called the ‘father of the nation’ as he was one of the key figure in bringing democracy to the country and abolishing the Rana rule. He ascended the throne at the age of five, after the death of his father Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah Dev, in the year 1913. The coronation had taken place in Nasal Chowkin Hanuman Dhoka Palace in Kathmandu, as was the tradition. Although there were kings, the power lay in the hands of the hereditary Rana Prime Ministers.

During the World War I, the Ranas wanted to join the war in support of Britain and sent troops to go to the war. However, by the mid-1930s, Praja Parishad was established by those anti-Ranas in Nepal and the King himself worked together with it until the Ranas banned the liberal movements and executed their leadership. The King worked closely with Praja Parishad to abolish the Rana rule because of which, he went into exile in India in an attempt to bring down the regime. He left with his sonMahendra and his eldest grandson Birendra leaving behind one of his grandsons Gyanendra, however, in response to his act, the Ranas made Gyanendra the king of Nepal which led to huge mass demonstrations in the country compelling the last RanaPrime Minister Mohan Sumsher to come into negotiations with King Tribhuvan and the Nepali Congress.

The King returned as a monarch from India on February 18, 1951 and three days after his return, he formally declared the end of the Rana rule and established democratic system, however, Mohan Sumsher continued as a Prime Minister for few more months.

On March 13, 1955, late King Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah Devdied in Zurich, Switzerland under mysterious circumstances at the age of eighty four leaving his eldest son Mahendra as his successor. King Tribhuvan is regarded as the ‘father of the nation’ for his contributions and active participation in abolishing the century old familial Rana rule and establishing democracy in Nepal. There are many places and institutions named after him like the only international airport in Kathmandu, TribhuvanInternational Airport, a city in Dang named Tribhuvan Nagar and the country’s largest university, Tribhuvan University.

He had also received Grand Cordon of the Order of the Supreme Sun of the Kingdom of Afganistan (1950), Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy (1954) and Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor of France (1954).