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Jang Bahadur Rana

Shree Teen
Janga Bahadur Rana
श्री ३
जङ्ग बहादुर कुँवर राणाजी
JungBahadur-gr.jpg
Jang Bahadur Rana
Eighth Prime Minister of Nepal
Sri 3 Maharaj of Kaski and Lamjung
In office
31 years
Preceded by Fateh Jung Shah
Succeeded by Ranodip Singh Kunwar
Personal details
Born 18 June 1817
Died 25 February 1877(1877-02-25) (aged 59)
Patharghat
Citizenship Nepalese
Nationality Nepali
Children
  • Maharajkumar General Jagat Jung Bahadur Rana
  • Maharajkumar General Jit Jung Bahadur Rana
  • Maharajkumar General Padma Jung Bahadur Rana
  • Maharajkumar General Ranabir Jung Rana
  • Maharajkumari Badan Kumari Rana
Parents Father Bal Narsingh Kunwar
Relatives Uncle Mathabarsingh Thapa
Known for First Rana Prime Minister of Nepal
Religion Hinduism

Maharaja Junga Bahadur Rana (Nepali: जङ्ग बहादुर राणा) (or Junga Bahadur Kunwar (Nepali: जङ्ग बहादुर कुँवर), GCB, GCSI, 18 June 1817, Kathmandu, Nepal – 25 February 1877, Borlang, Gorkha ) was a ruler of Nepal and founder of the Rana Dynasty of Nepal. His real name was Bir Narsingh Kunwar but he became famous by the name Junga Bahadur, given to him by Mathabarsingh Thapa, his maternal uncle.

His mother was daughter of Kaji Nayan Singh Thapa, brother of PM Bhimsen Thapa. His maternal uncle was PM Mathabarsingh Thapa. Through the influence of his maternal side, he enjoyed privileges. During his lifetime, he eliminated the factional fighting at the court, removed his family rivals such as Pandes and Basnyaats and paved way for the finding of Rana Dynasty, introduced innovations into the bureaucracy and the judiciary, and made efforts to "modernize" Nepal. He remains one of the most important figures in Nepalese history, though modern historians have also blamed Junga Bahadur for setting up the dictatorship that repressed the nation for 104 years from 1846 to 1951 and left it in a primitive economic condition. Others exclusively blame his nephews, the Shumsher Ranas, for Nepal's dark period of history. Rana rule was marked by tyranny, debauchery, economic exploitation and religious persecution.

His father, Bal Narsingh Kunwar (aka Bala Narsingh Kunwar), was in court the day Rana Bahadur Shah was murdered by his own half-brother Sher Bahadur Shah; as a retaliation Bal Narsingh killed him on the spot. For this action, he was rewarded with the position of Kaji, which was made hereditary in his family, also he was the only person allowed to carry weapons inside the court. He was great grandson of Ram Krishna Kunwar, a great military leader at the times of King Prithvi Narayan Shah. Through his mother Ganesh Kumari, he was related to the Thapa family of PM Bhimsen Thapa, which helped him enter the royal court at a young age. Through his maternal grandmother he was related to the Pande family as his maternal grandmother Rana Kumari was the daughter of Kaji Ranajit Pande, an influential royal courtier.


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