Surya Bahadur Thapa facts for kids
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Surya Bahadur Thapa
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सूर्य बहादुर थापा
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Surya Bahadur Thapa at his residence in 2005.
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| 24th Prime Minister of Nepal | |
| In office June 5, 2003 – June 4, 2004 |
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| Monarch | King Gyanendra |
| Preceded by | Lokendra Bahadur Chand |
| Succeeded by | Sher Bahadur Deuba |
| In office October 7, 1997 – April 15, 1998 |
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| Monarch | King Birendra |
| Preceded by | Lokendra Bahadur Chand |
| Succeeded by | Girija Prasad Koirala |
| In office May 30, 1979 – July 12, 1983 |
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| Monarch | King Birendra |
| Preceded by | Kirti Nidhi Bista |
| Succeeded by | Lokendra Bahadur Chand |
| In office January 26, 1965 – April 7, 1969 |
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| Monarch | King Mahendra |
| Preceded by | Tulsi Giri |
| Succeeded by | Kirti Nidhi Bista |
| In office December 23, 1963 – February 26, 1964 |
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| Monarch | King Mahendra |
| Preceded by | Tulsi Giri |
| Succeeded by | Tulsi Giri |
| In office 11 April 1955 – 14 April 1955 |
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| Monarch | King Tribhuvan |
| Preceded by | Matrika Prasad Koirala |
| Succeeded by | Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah |
| 3rd Speaker of the Pratinidhi Sabha | |
| In office 1962–1963 |
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| Monarch | King Birendra |
| Preceded by | Bal Chandra Sharma |
| Succeeded by | Bishwa Bandhu Thapa |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 21 March 1928 Muga, Kingdom of Nepal |
| Died | 15 April 2015 (aged 87) Delhi, India |
| Political party | Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Rastriya Janashakti Party |
| Alma mater | Ewing Christian College, Allahabad University |
Surya Bahadur Thapa (Nepali: सूर्य बहादुर थापा; March 21, 1928 – April 15, 2015) was an important Nepali politician. He served as the Prime Minister of Nepal five times. His political career lasted over 50 years, and he worked under three different kings.
Thapa first joined an advisory council in 1958 and became its chairperson. In 1959, he was appointed to the Upper House of parliament. He then became the head of the Council of Ministers from 1963 to 1964. He served as Prime Minister four more times: 1965–69, 1979–83, 1997–98, and 2003–04.
Surya Bahadur Thapa was the first Prime Minister under Nepal's Panchayat System. Later in his life, he led the Rastriya Janashakti Party. He passed away on April 15, 2015, in Delhi, India, after surgery.
Contents
Early Life and Political Start
Surya Bahadur Thapa was born on March 21, 1928, in Muga village, Dhankuta district. He started his political journey in 1950, joining a secret student movement. In November 1958, he was chosen to be part of the national assembly. He quickly became the Chairman of the Advisory Council.
In 1959, Thapa was elected to the Upper House. He was then appointed as the Minister of Agriculture, Forest, and Industry. This happened under the new Panchayat system. He also served as a member of the National Legislature and as the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs.
Becoming Prime Minister
First Term as Prime Minister
Even though he didn't run in the 1963 election, King Mahendra chose Thapa for the National Panchayat. He was then made the head of the Council of Ministers. He also became the Minister of Finance, Law, Justice, and General Administration.
During this time, Thapa helped end the "Land-Birta-System." This system allowed people to own land without paying taxes. He also started plans to improve land ownership for farmers. Thapa was also important in creating the "Muluki-Ain" law. This law aimed to stop the practice of treating some groups as "untouchable." It also worked to give women the right to vote and supported other social improvements.
Second Term as Prime Minister
In 1966, Thapa was again appointed Prime Minister. This happened under a changed version of Nepal's Constitution. He helped make the 1962 constitution better and more focused on the people. In 1967, Thapa resigned. He believed that one prime minister staying in power for too long was not good for the country's development.
Third Term as Prime Minister
In October 1972, Thapa was arrested and put in Nakhhu Jail. This happened after he gave a public speech asking for political changes. His speech suggested 13 points for reform. These included making the Constitution more democratic and giving people more rights through elections. In March 1974, he went on a 21-day hunger strike. He was demanding big political changes for Nepal.
After protests for democracy in 1979, Nepalis voted to keep the Panchayat system in 1980. King Birendra then appointed Thapa as Prime Minister on June 1, 1980. Many political prisoners were set free around this time. Thapa remained Prime Minister after a parliamentary election in 1981. He resigned in 1983 after his government lost a vote of no confidence.
Fourth Term as Prime Minister
In 1990, a big movement called the People's Movement led to a new system of government. Nepal became a constitutional democracy with many political parties. Thapa started the Rastriya Prajantra Party (RPP) and became its chairman four years later.
His party did not win the elections in 1991 or 1994. However, after two governments failed quickly, King Birendra asked Thapa to form a new government on October 7, 1997. Thapa's government survived a no-confidence vote in February 1998. After this, Thapa gave the prime ministership to Girija Prasad Koirala, who was his partner in the government.
Fifth and Final Term as Prime Minister
In 2002, Thapa led the Third National Convention of RPP in Pokhara. This meeting helped new leaders emerge in the RPP Party. In June 2003, he was appointed Prime Minister of Nepal for the sixth time. During this term, he also served as the Defense Minister.
Under Thapa's leadership, the government made important changes. For the first time, women were given special reservations and quotas in government jobs. These quotas were also provided for higher education to disadvantaged groups like Dalits and Janajatis.
During his time, the government offered a 75-point plan for social, economic, and political reforms to the Maoists during peace talks. However, these talks did not succeed. To fight against attacks on the police, army, and civilians, Thapa created the Unified Command. This program made the police, army, and security forces work together to fight terrorism. Thapa also got weapons and aircraft for the army from other countries like India, USA, and Great Britain. He made sure that no one took commissions (extra money) on these arms deals, unlike some leaders before him. All weapons bought during this time were given as aid.
In November 2003, Thapa, as the Chairman of SAARC (a group of South Asian countries), encouraged the Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pakistani President Zafarullah Khan Jamali to attend the SAARC Summit in Islamabad. His efforts brought these two nuclear countries together for talks. Thapa also became the first Nepali Prime Minister to visit the Druk Kingdom of Bhutan. Several agreements were made with SAARC countries during this important visit.
Resignation and Later Years
Resignation from Office
On May 7, 2004, Thapa resigned from his position. This happened after street protests by a group of five political parties. In his speech, he said he would keep working to bring national agreement. Thapa led a temporary government for 25 days because the parties could not agree on a new prime minister. He officially stepped down on June 2.
In August 2004, Thapa asked his party leaders to hold a special meeting. This meeting never happened. Thapa then suggested a bigger political meeting for all democratic parties. He wanted to create a new democratic force against the Maoist government.
The Rastriya Janshakti Party was formed when Thapa left the Rastriya Prajatantra Party on November 4, 2004. On November 19, 2004, Thapa and his supporters opened an office in Kathmandu. They wanted to organize a "broad political conference" and start a new party. The RJP was officially founded on March 13, 2005. However, the political conference was delayed because King Gyanendra declared a state of emergency on February 1, 2005.
The RJP disagreed with King Gyanendra after his actions on February 1, 2005. The party said the King was removing groups that supported a constitutional monarchy. The RJP tried to be a middle-ground party, not supporting direct rule by the king or a republic. During the Loktantra Andolan (democracy movement), the RJP suggested that King Gyanendra should talk with democratic groups. When the King lost his political powers, the RJP did not object. In November 2006, another party, the Prajatantrik Nepal Party, joined the RJP.
Before the Constituent Assembly election, the RJP suggested a mixed election system. This system would have 75 district representatives and 230 members chosen by proportional representation. The party also proposed creating an "Ethnic Assembly" as the upper house of parliament.
Final Years and Passing
On February 6, 2008, Thapa began talks with Pashupati Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana, the leader of RPP. In a joint press conference, both Thapa and Rana agreed to unite their parties, RJP and RPP, into one. On March 6, Thapa stated that his party was not against the monarchy but would accept what the voters decided. RJP members had previously not voted in the interim parliament on making Nepal a republic. Thapa had called that vote "an attack on the basic rules of democracy."
Surya Bahadur Thapa passed away on April 15, 2015, at the age of 87. He died in Delhi, India, from respiratory failure during surgery. He is survived by his three daughters and one son, Sunil Bahadur Thapa, who also became a minister.
Awards and Honors
National Awards
- Nepal Shreepada, First Class
- Order of Tri Shakti Patta (Three Divine Powers), Member First Class, 1963
- Order of Gorkha Dakshina Bahu (Gurkha Right Hand), Member First Class, 1965
- Vishesh Sewa Padak
- Daibi-Prakob Piditoddar Padak, 1968
- Subha-Rajya-Vishek Padak, 1975
- Order of Om Rama Patta 1980
- Birendra-Aishwarya Sewa Padak, 2002
International Awards
