Kathmandu : Leftist leader Mohan Chandra Adhikari has stated that the Nepali people overthrew the Rana regime by standing on their own feet.
In an interview with Gorkhapatra Online on the occasion of Democracy Day, Adhikari emphasized that the people of Nepal fought bravely to end Rana rule during a period when the country was under an oppressive system.
“A system of slavery had ended before, but not in the way it should have,” he said. “The people’s movement achieved victory in 1951 (2007 BS). Nepal was under a colonial-style rule, but the Nepali people fought to stand on their own and overthrew the Rana regime. I have deep respect for those brave fighters.”
Forced to Live in India
Adhikari recalled that his family had to move to India due to their involvement in politics.
“I was very young then—just 13 years old. I witnessed the 1951 movement firsthand. We had to live in India for some time because my ancestors were politically active. Our house was even confiscated by the government, and we never got it back after the revolution.”
Tribute to Martyrs
He paid tribute to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for democracy.
“Shahid Gangalal, Dashrath Chand, Dharma Bhakta, and Shukraraj Shastri gave their lives for democracy. Their sacrifice sparked a movement. The 1951 revolution saw many more martyrs, and I pay heartfelt tribute to them.”
The Birth of the Communist Party
Adhikari highlighted that Pushpa Lal Shrestha founded the Nepal Communist Party in 1949 (2006 BS).
“The revolution brought key rights—organizing, human rights, literacy, and freedom of expression. During the autocratic Rana regime, people were considered ‘subjects.’ But from 1951 onwards, we became ‘citizens.'”
