Sukraraj Shastri
Encyclopedia
Sukraraj Shastri (1894—January 23, 1941) was a pre-eminent Nepal
ese intellectual and opposition leader who died as a martyr
.
in Kathmandu. Earning the academic title of Shastri, he waged a life-long struggle to awaken Nepal from the Dark Ages of the oppressive Rana regime
which was autocratic, corrupt and incompetent. He was the founding member of Praja Parishad (Peoples' Council)—the then-underground political party backed by King Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah Dev
of Nepal to terminate the rule of the Ranas, who had rendered the Shah
monarchs of Nepal powerless.
especially in the field of grammar. He wrote and published the first grammar book in Nepal bhasa (in N.S.
1048, Kaulaathwa 10) called "Nepalbhasa byakaran". He also wrote and published the first Nepal Bhasa reader as well as children's story book.
misrule, Sukraraj Shastri was seized by the regime's enforcers and executed by hanging on Teku Road in Pachali, Kathmandu. The tree from which he was hanged, now revered as the Sukraraj tree, is the focal point of Kathmandu's and Nepal's Martyr Week, as inhabitants gather from all parts of the country to have tilaka
applied to their foreheads and lay flowers to commemorate Shastri and other leaders of the struggle.
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
ese intellectual and opposition leader who died as a martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
.
Political
The future statesman was born Sukraraj JoshiJoshi
Joshi is a family name common in India and Nepal. Whereas the Joshi's of India are of Brahmin origin, the Joshi's of Nepal are either Newars or Khas-Brahmin...
in Kathmandu. Earning the academic title of Shastri, he waged a life-long struggle to awaken Nepal from the Dark Ages of the oppressive Rana regime
Rana dynasty
The Rana dynasty ruled the Kingdom of Nepal from 1846 until 1953, reducing the Shah monarch to a figurehead and making Prime Minister and other government positions hereditary...
which was autocratic, corrupt and incompetent. He was the founding member of Praja Parishad (Peoples' Council)—the then-underground political party backed by King Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah Dev
Tribhuvan of Nepal
King Tribhuhvan Bir Bikram Shah , King of Nepal was King of Nepal from 11 December 1911 until his death...
of Nepal to terminate the rule of the Ranas, who had rendered the Shah
Nepalese monarchy
The Kingdom of Nepal , also referred to as the Gorkha Kingdom, was formed in 1768 by the unification of Nepal. Founded by Prithvi Narayan Shah The Kingdom of Nepal , also referred to as the Gorkha Kingdom, was formed in 1768 by the unification of Nepal. Founded by Prithvi Narayan Shah The Kingdom...
monarchs of Nepal powerless.
Language
Sukraraj Shastri is also renowned for his contribution to the development of Nepal BhasaNepal Bhasa
Nepal Bhasa is one of the major languages of Nepal, and is also spoken in India, particularly in Sikkim where it is one of the 11 official languages. Nepal Bhasa is the mother tongue of about 3% of the people in Nepal . It is spoken mainly by the Newars, who chiefly inhabit the towns of the...
especially in the field of grammar. He wrote and published the first grammar book in Nepal bhasa (in N.S.
Nepal Sambat
Nepal Sambat is the national lunar calendar of Nepal. It was used throughout Medieval Nepal, and into early modern Nepal, until Chandra Sumsher decided to remove it in BS 1960. It was started in 880 AD during the reign of King Raghav Dev to commemorate the payment of all the debts of Nepalese...
1048, Kaulaathwa 10) called "Nepalbhasa byakaran". He also wrote and published the first Nepal Bhasa reader as well as children's story book.
Martyrdom and legacy
In January 1941, after giving an impassioned speech to a mass gathering in Indrachowk, condemning the RanaRana dynasty
The Rana dynasty ruled the Kingdom of Nepal from 1846 until 1953, reducing the Shah monarch to a figurehead and making Prime Minister and other government positions hereditary...
misrule, Sukraraj Shastri was seized by the regime's enforcers and executed by hanging on Teku Road in Pachali, Kathmandu. The tree from which he was hanged, now revered as the Sukraraj tree, is the focal point of Kathmandu's and Nepal's Martyr Week, as inhabitants gather from all parts of the country to have tilaka
Tilaka
200px|thumb|right|Indian woman with tilaka and [[Bindi |bindi]]In Hinduism, the tilaka or tika or tilak is a mark worn on the forehead and other parts of the body...
applied to their foreheads and lay flowers to commemorate Shastri and other leaders of the struggle.