Kaji Sarbajit Rana Magar (Nepali: सर्वजीत राना मगर) or simply Sarbajit Rana was a Nepalese politician, minister and courtier in the Kingdom of Nepal. He became a prominent minister during the regency of Queen Rajendra Laxmi and was a significant personality in central politics in the Kingdom of Nepal. He was assassinated by opponents of Rajendra Laxmi on the charges of having illicit relationship with the Queen.
Kaji Sarbajit Rana Magar | |
|---|---|
| श्री काजी सर्वजीत राना मगर | |
| Kaji | |
| In office 1777-1778 | |
| Preceded by | Swarup Singh Karki |
| Succeeded by | Vamsharaj Pande |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1750 Gulmi, Nepal |
| Died | March 10, 1778 (aged 27) A.D. (before Bhadra 1835 B.S.) Kathmandu, Nepal |
| Relatives | Kaji Bandhu Rana Magar (brother) |
| Military service | |
| Rank | Kaji |
Personal life
editSarbajit belonged to Gulmi in Western Nepal, which was a parental home of the Queen Rajendra Laxmi.[1] He belonged to Magar ethnicity.[1] He had a brother who was also a Kaji during the regency of Queen Rajendra Laxmi.[2] Sarbajit was considered to be the Regent Queen's right-hand man.[3]
Court Politics
edit
King Pratap Singh Shah died on 22 November 1777 A.D.[4] leaving his infant son Rana Bahadur Shah as the King of Nepal.[5] Sarbajit was made a Kaji along with Balbhadra Shah and Vamsharaj Pande[3] while Daljit Shah was chosen as Chief Chautariya.[5][3] Historian Dilli Raman Regmi asserts that Sarbajit was chosen as Chief Kazi (equivalent to Prime Minister of Nepal).[5] Historian Rishikesh Shah asserts that Sarbajit was the head of the Nepalese government for a short period in 1778.[6] Afterwards, rivalry arose between Prince Bahadur Shah of Nepal and Queen Rajendra Laxmi. In the rivalry, Sarbajit led the followers of the Queen opposed to Sriharsh Pant who led the followers of Bahadur Shah.[7] The group of Bharadars (officers) led by Sarbajit poisoned the ears of Rajendra Laxmi against Bahadur Shah.[8] Rajendra Laxmi succeeded in the confinement of Prince Bahadur Shah with the help of her new minister Sarbajit.[9] Guru Gajraj Mishra came to rescue Bahadur Shah on the condition that Bahadur Shah should leave the country.[9][10] Also, his rival Sriharsh Pant was branded outcast and expelled instead of execution which was prohibited for Brahmins.[7]
Prince Bahadur confined his sister-in-law Queen Rajendra Laxmi on the charge of having illicit relation with Sarbajit[11] on 31 August 1778.[4][12][13] Subsequently, Sarbajit was executed inside the palace by Prince Bahadur Shah[11][14] with the help of male servants of the royal palace.[11] Historian Bhadra Ratna Bajracharya asserts that it was actually Chautariya Daljit Shah who led the opposing group against Sarbajit Rana and Rajendra Laxmi.[15] The letter dated B.S. 1835 Bhadra Sudi 11 Roj 4 (1778 A.D.) to Narayan Malla and Vrajabasi Pande asserts the death of Sarbajit under misconduct and the appointment of Bahadur Shah as regent.[4] The death of Sarbajit Rana Magar is considered to have marked the initiation of court conspiracies and massacres in the newly unified Kingdom of Nepal.[10] Historian Baburam Acharya points that the sanctions against Queen Rajendra Laxmi under moral misconduct was a mistake of Bahadur Shah. Similarly, the murder of Sarbajit was condemned by many historians as an act of injustice.[16]
References
edit- ^ a b Shaha 1990, p. 210.
- ^ Regmi 1995, p. 44.
- ^ a b c Shaha 1990, p. 46.
- ^ a b c Karmacharya 2005, p. 36.
- ^ a b c D.R. Regmi 1975, p. 285.
- ^ Shaha 2001, p. 21.
- ^ a b "Journal" (PDF). himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk.
- ^ Rana 1978, p. 6.
- ^ a b Acharya 1975, p. 214.
- ^ a b T.U. History Association 1977, p. 5.
- ^ a b c Acharya 1975, p. 215.
- ^ D.R. Regmi 1975, p. 294.
- ^ Bajracharya 1992, p. 21.
- ^ Vaidya & Vajracharya 1991, p. 76.
- ^ Bajracharya 1992, pp. 21–22.
- ^ Bajracharya 1992, p. 22.
Sources
edit- Acharya, Baburam (1 November 1975) [1966], "Some Confusions" (PDF), Regmi Research Series, 7 (11), Regmi Research Centre: 210–215
- Karmacharya, Ganga (2005), Queens in Nepalese Politics: an account of roles of Nepalese queens in state affairs, 1775-1846, Nepal: Educational Publishing House, ISBN 9789994633937
- Bajracharya, Bhadra Ratna (1992), Bahadur Shah, the regent of Nepal, 1785 - 1794 A.D., Nepal: Anmol Publications, ISBN 9788170416432
- Regmi, Mahesh Chandra (1995), Kings and political leaders of the Gorkhali Empire, 1768–1814, Orient Longman, ISBN 9788125005117
- Vaidya, Tulsi Ram (1993), Prithvinaryan Shah, the founder of Nepal, Anmol Publications, ISBN 9788170417019
- Rana, Pramode S.J.B. (1978), Rana Nepal: An Insider's View, R. Rana
- Khatri, Shiva Ram (1999), Nepal Army Chiefs:Short Biographical Sketches, University of Michigan: Sira Khatri
- D.R. Regmi (1975), Modern Nepal, vol. 1, Firma K.L. Mukhopadhyay, ISBN 0883864916
- Shaha, Rishikesh (1990), Modern Nepal 1769–1885, Riverdale Company, ISBN 0-913215-64-3
- Singh, Nagendra Kr (1997). Nepal: Refugee to Ruler: A Militant Race of Nepal. APH Publishing. p. 125. ISBN 9788170248477. Retrieved November 7, 2012.
- Shaha, Rishikesh (2001), An Introduction of Nepal, Kathmandu: Ratna Pustak Bhandar
- Hamal, Lakshman B. (1995), Military history of Nepal, Sharda Pustak Mandir, p. 125, OCLC 32779233
- Vaidya, T.R.; Vajracharya, B.R. (1991). "The Role of Swarup Singh Karki During The Second Half of the 18th century Nepal" (PDF). Ancient Nepal. 121-122 December 1990 – March 1991. Department of Archaeology (Nepal).
- T.U. History Association (1977), Voice of History, vol. 3, Tribhuwan University History Association
- Mainali, Pramod (2006), Milestones of history, vol. 2, Pramod Mainali, ISBN 9789994696048