Jaya Prithvi Bahadur Singh’s 147th birth anniversary marked

By Shailendra Rokaya,Bajhang/Dhangadhi, Aug. 25: The 147th birth anniversary of the late Jaya Prithvi Bahadur Singh was marked in different parts of the country on Thursday. 

Late Singh, who is the founder and first editor of Gorkhapatra, was remembered at the programmes organised in Bajhang, Dhangadhi and Kathmandu. 

Organising a programme in Dhangadhi, Sudurpaschim Province Chief Devraj Joshi said in the Kali Yuga, kings and rulers like the late Singh are hardly found. 

Stating that he had made considerable efforts to drive social reforms, Province Chief Joshi said late Singh had done a lot of social  work in a scientific manner. 

"I find myself lacking the capacity to discuss his thoughts, reputation, skills, and personality," he added. 

He also praised the idea of the late Singh to abandon palace comforts and reside in India. "There, he played a vital role in founding the Gorkhapatra, aiming to awaken public awareness, advocate for humanism, and boldly oppose the Rana regime – all while having familial ties as the Rana ruler's nephew and son-in-law."

Meanwhile, the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) Bajhang chapter honoured three journalists and two media houses on the occasion of the 147th birth anniversary of the late Singh. 

Amid a function organised in Bajhang, journalist DB Bista was honoured with Jai Prithivi Journalism Fellowship while Bajhang FM and Nepalangle.com, an online news portal, given Jai Prithivi Journalism Award.

Likewise, journalists Pratap Oli and Pradip Malasi were honoured with Naresh Smriti Journalism Governance Award, established in the memory of late Naresh Khadka, the former secretary of Nepali Journalist Federation, Bajhang branch. During the programme, various speakers highlighted the significant contributions made by the late Singh towards the institutional development of journalism in Nepal.

Laxman Prasad Upadhyay, who is well-known about the life of the late Singh, said everyone should embrace the noble and humanitarian ideology of the late Singh, as a guiding principle. 

Similarly, Jaya Prithvi Municipality also organised a seminar and marked the birth anniversary of the late Singh. 

Chetraj Bajal, Mayor of the municipality, highlighted the contributions of late Singh and encouraged all to follow his path. 

Born on the Nepali date of Bhadra 7, 1934 BS (August 23, 1877 AD) in Chainpur, Bajhang, Singh was a humanitarian leader, peace advocate, writer and social activist and an instrumental figure in assisting Rana Prime Minister Dev Shumsher to establish Gorkhapatra more than a century ago. 

Singh was born as the eldest son of Bikram Bahadur Singh, who was the nominal king of Bajhang, under the Kingdom of Nepal. 

He was born in a relatively rich family and had had a chance to attend the Durbar High School. Singh pursued his higher education in India and graduated in law from the University of Calcutta in 1906.

Despite being the son-in-law of Prime Minister Chandra Shumsher, Singh was despised by the ruling class for his work in writing educational books and spreading awareness among the common citizens. As a result, he was exiled in 1891 and died in Bangalore, India in 1940.

Singh spread his humanist vision to different countries of the world and made Nepal known in the international arena.