Tanka Prasad Acharya

Tanka Prasad Acharya टंक प्रसाद आचार्य
Tanka Prasad Acharya (left) visiting China
19th Prime Minister of Nepal
In office 27 January 1956 – 26 July 1957
Monarch	Mahendra
Preceded by	Direct rule by King Mahendra
Succeeded by	Kunwar Inderjit Singh
Personal details
Born	1912
Died	April 1992 (aged 79–80)

Tanka Prasad Acharya (Nepali: टंक प्रसाद आचार्य; 1912 – 23 April 1992) was the Prime Minister of Nepal from 27 January 1956 to 26 July 1957 and the founding leader of Nepal Praja Parishad (Nepal People's Council). He was the son of Tika Prasad Acharya and Tika Devi Acharya.

Tanka Prasad Acharya was an anti-Rana, pro-democracy politician. Under the influence of freedom movement in India, five men—Acharya, Dharma Bhakta Mathema, Dashrath Chand, Sukra Raj Shastri, Gangalal Shrestha founded the Nepal Praja Parishad in the late 1930s, with Acharya as the chairman. Their motive was to overthrow the Rana regime and establish a democratic government in Nepal. Tyranny, debauchery, economic exploitation and religious persecution characterized Rana rule.

Acharya was the first person to bring the printing machine into Nepal. He brought it from Banaras to publish four leaflets advocating overthrow of the Rana empire. He along with other four activists were captured for opposition and sentenced to death by the Rana's in 1940; but Acharya was never executed as the then Nepali law (influenced by Hinduism) forbade the killing of Brahmins. The movement later led to the overthrow of the Rana oligarchy. Acharya was released from the captivity in 1951 when King Tribhuvan came back to power. He went on to become the Prime Minister in 1956. During his premiership, the first 5-year plan was started, Nepal Rastra Bank was established and the Supreme Court was also established. Acharya resigned on Ashadh 31, 2014 (17 October 1957).