Causes of the Rise and Fall of Rana rule and Effects of the Rana Regime

Causes of the Rise and Fall of Rana rule

The Rana Prime Ministers ruled over Nepal for 104 years. They ruled in Nepal from 1903 to 2007 BS. They exercised unlimited power and ruled as the dictators. The major causes of the rise of Rana rule are as follows:

1. Political Instability

After the death of Prithvi Narayan Shah, his eldest son Pratap Singh Shah became the king of Nepal. But he died after ruling for only 33 months and his son Rana Bahadur Shah ascended the throne of Nepal. During his rule there was conflict and conspiracy in the palace which created political instability in Nepal. 

2. Weak Nature of King Rajendra Bikram

King Rajendra Bikram Shah could not destroy the groupism of courtiers due to weak nature. He even could not pacify the dispute of his two wives. Ultimately, it resulted conspiracy in the palace and massacres took place. Junga Bahadur got benefitted from it.

3. Series of Assassination

During the rule of King Rajendra Bikram Shah, his junior queen Rajya Laxmi  became the de facto ruler . She appointed Mathvar Singh Thapa as the Prime Minister. But he was assassinated soon as he denied declaring Ranendra as the heir instead of Surendra, the legitimate heir of King Rajendra. After the death of Mathvar Singh, Fattejung Chautariya became the Prime Minister. But Gagan Singh Khawas was more influential in the Nepalese Politics than Fattejung as he was the favourable person of Queen Rajya Laxmi. Gagan Singh was also assassinated on the night of 31st Bhadra, 1903 BS. All the courtiers had gathered in the court to find out the murderer of Gagan Singh, Junga Bahadur killed most of the courtiers who were his enemies. This is called the Kot Parva.

4. Three Parvas

After the Kot Parva Junga Bahadur Rana became the Commander-in-chief of Nepal. On 17th kartik, 1903 BS, Bhandarkhal Parva took place and junga Bahadur exiled Queen Rajya Laxmi. The queen went to Banaras. The king also accompanied her after appointing janga Bahadur Rana as the Prime Minister of Nepal. After the Alau Parva, King Rajendra was kept in detention on the charge of committing a crime against the throne. Junga Bahadur declared Surendra as the king of Nepal. He took all the state powers from Surendra and started to rule as the dictator. 

5. Matrimonial Relationship with Royal Family

After having all the powers of the country, Junga Bahadur kept matrimonial relation with the royal family. He married the sister of Fatte Jung Shah. He arranged marriage between King Surendra and daughter of his brother Krishna Bahadur. He married his two sons Jagat Jung and Jeet Jung with the daughter of King Surrendra. He also married away his daughter to Prince Trailokya. Such matrimonial relation increased his social prestige and made him more powerful.

7. Lalmohar (royal seal) of 24th Shrawan 1913 BS

From the Lalmohar (royal seal) of 1906 BS, Junga Bahadur got the title of Ranaji that provided the Rana family with freedom from the punishment of conferred him the title of Shree Teen Maharaja of Kaski and Lamjung by the Lalmohar of 24th Shrawan, 1913 BS.  It established the foundation of Rana rule in Nepal. He restored the political stability in Nepal. Assassination, conspiracy, and massacre ended and family rule began in Nepal.

Causes of the downfall of Rana rule 

1.Conflict in Rana family : Many efforts were made during the time of Junga Bahadur to overthrow him from power but it was not successful. After his death, two massacres took place in 1938 and 1942 BS which were called  Adtis Sal Ko Parva and Bayalis Sal ko Parva respectively. All the family members of Junga Bahadur were killed in these Parvas and sons of Dhir Shumsher came into power. They made a new role of succession.

2. Expel of 'C' class Ranas: Chandra Shumsher divided the Rana family into A,B and C classes. It created fraction among the Ranas. Juddha shumsher excluded the 'C' class Ranas and were exiled. Later on the exiled Ranas got involved in Anti-Rana movement.

3. Anti-Rana Movement: Anti-Rana movement began from the time of Junga Bahadur. The voices started to raise in an unorganized way after the First World War but Chandra Shumsher suppressed them. The movement like Makai Parva, and Arya Samaj too were suppressed by Chandra Shumsher. Anti-Rana movement began in an organized way after 1987 BS. The Charkha Movements against the Rana Rule. Similarly, Bhotu Singh, Lakhan Thapa also revolted against Ranarchy during Junga Bahadur's rule. 

4. Abandoning the Throne By King Tribhuvan and arm revolution: The anti-Rana movement reached its climax when King Tribhuvan left the throne and went to India to take political asylum on Kartik 21st, 2007 BS. People formed the liberation army and declared arm revolution against the Rana ruler. The Ranas could not continue their regime and after the proclamation of 7th Falgun, 2007 BS the Rana regime ended in Nepal.

5. World War II, Indian Independence and Worldwide wave of democracy: The soldiers who had participated in World War II became politically aware. When they came back to Nepal, they united the people and actively got involved in Anti-Rana movements. When the British colonial rule in India came to its end, the strong foundation Rana rule collapsed. After the Indian Independence, the Nepalese democrats, who had participated in the Indian War of Independence , came back and used their expertise in the agitation in Nepal. After the end of World War II, independence movements spread against the colonial rule and other dictatorial systems in many countries of the world. That also encouraged the Nepalese to fight for democracy.

 Negative Effects of Rana regime 

Rana rule began in Nepal in 1903 BS and ended in 2007 BS. During 104 years long Rana rule, all powers and authorities were centralized to the Rana Prime Ministers. All the high ranking post of civil and army were occupied by the Rana family. So, rana regime was also called the family rule Development process was very slow and all the state properties were misused by them for their personal benefits. The social problems and bad practices like injustice, unmatched marriage, polygamy, child marriage, untouchability, discrimination, etc. were widespread in the country. Literacy rate was only 2% till 2007 BS. Appointment and dismissal of higher level was in the hand of Rana Prime Ministers People were deprived of their basic freedom like freedom of expression, freedom to open organization, etc. The economic condition of the people was very weak whereas Ranas were rich. The century long unity among the people was divided by creating the gap between different castes. They occupied the "Divide and Rule " policy of British East India Company. 

Positive Effects made by Rana regime  

They have done some reforms in social, economic and administrative fields. Mostly their reforms were either for gaining public support for their autocratic rule or enlarging their luxury. 

Social Achievement during the Rana rule 

1. Junga Bahadur Rana, when he returned from Britain, introduced the first "Muluki Ain" in 1910 BS which brought the legal uniformity throughout the country. It provided the parental property to the daughters if they remain unmarried till 35 years old. He established Durbar High School in 1910 BS to teach English to the members of Rana family. 
2. Bir Shamsher established Bir Hospital and Bir Library. 
3. Dev Shamsher started publication of Gorkhapatra. He opened more than 100 schools throughout the country. 
4. Chandra Shamsher abolished Satee system in 1977 BS by making a law. He abolished slavery system on Mangsir, 1981 BS. He established Military Hospital, Tokha Health Centre, 12 schools in different places of the country and the Tri-Chandra College. 
5. Juddha Shamsher introduced the SLC examination board in 1990 BS. 
6. Padma Shamsher encouraged women education and opened many girls schools. 

Economic Achievement during the Rana rule 

1. Tea cultivation was started in Ilam and Soktim during the ruling period of Junga Bahadur. 
2. Pharping Hydro-electricity project was established and first big canal "Chandra Nahar" was dug during the time of Chandra Shamsher from the Trijuga river of Saptari. 
3. During the period of Juddha Shamsher, Nepal Bank was established on Kartik 7, 1994 BS. Biratnagar Jute Mill, Juddha Match Factory, agriculture school, etc. were established. 
4. During the reign of Juddha Shamsher, the first Nepal cloth industry and cottage industry, Skills Development Office was also established. 
5. The raw materials from Nepal were exported to Europe via port of Kolkatta. Nepal was in trade surplus. 
6. Notes of Rs. 100, Rs. 10 and Rs. 5 were also introduced during this period.