Mathabar Singh Thapa

Mathabar Singh Thapa (1798 – 17 May 1845), was a Nepalese statesman, administrator, and Commander-in-Chief who served as Mukhtiyar of the Kingdom of Nepal from 25 December 1843 to 1 January 1845. He later abolished the position of Mukhtiyar and established the office of Prime Minister, serving in that role from 1 January 1845 until his assassination on 17 May 1845. He also served as Commander-in-Chief of the Nepali Army throughout his tenure. He belonged to the noble Thapa family and was assassinated by his own nephew, Jung Bahadur Rana, through multiple gunshots while he was asleep.

Mathbar Singh Thapa was the nephew of Mukhtiyar Bhimsen Thapa, who was imprisoned on a false accusation of killing King Rajendra Bikram Shah’s six-month-old son. After Bhimsen Thapa's imprisonment on 18 May 1839, Mathabar Singh Thapa fled to Shimla to avoid possible execution due to his family ties.

Four years later, Queen Rajya Lakshmi Devi, the second wife of King Rajendra Bikram Shah, called him back and appointed him Mukhtiyar, paving the way for him to later assume the title of Prime Minister.

However, Mathabar Singh Thapa angered the queen by refusing to support her son Ranendra Bir Bikram Shah's claim to the throne. In response, the queen conspired against him, and he was assassinated by his own nephew, Jung Bahadur Rana, effectively marking the decline of the Thapa dynasty.

Birth

Not much is known of Mathabar Singh Thapa's childhood. He was born in Borlang, Gorkha. He was the son of Kaji Nayan Singh Thapa who was killed in the war against the Kingdom of Kangra. He was a nephew of Bhimsen Thapa and also the maternal uncle of Jang Bahadur Rana. Through his mother's side, he was the grandson of Kaji Ranajit Pande, who was the son of Kaji Tularam Pande. Mathawar Singh living in a public rest house, constantly urged that he would not enter his residence in Kathmandu until the framed charges against his family be released. In July 1843, the case was re-discussed at the Bharadari Sabha (Council) in front of King Rajendra and Queen Rajya Laxmi, where Thapa family were declared innocent and their confiscated properties were restored. It was also declared that the poisoning case was framed by the Kala Pandes. Mathawar Singh poisoned the already insane Rana Jang Pande after publicly disgracing him. He also ordered the death penalty to two brothers of Rana Jang and four other persons which included Devi Bahadur Kunwar. In the event, Kulachandra Shah was banished while Krishna Ram Mishra was exiled. The properties the above-mentioned persons together with other 40 persons who fled the event were confiscated. In November 1843, Mathabar Singh became Mukhtiyar as well as Minister and Commander-In-Chief of the Nepalese Army by the second queen of Rajendra, Queen Rajya Laxmi who had ambitions of making her own son, Prince Ranendra as the king of Nepal, with Mathabar Singh's help. Though he was declared Mukhtiyar and as well as Minister and Commander-In-Chief in November 1843, his appointment letter was issued only on Aswin Badi 7, 1901 (i.e. September 1844):

Consolidation of Power

Before he was made the Minister and the Commander-In-Chief, he had led to the murder of almost all of his enemies and political adversaries. Having seen the fall of Bhimsen Thapa, he believed that having a personal army would prevent his own downfall; so he founded three regiments dedicated to him and only him. He built army barracks around his house for his personal protection. For this, he used the army like slaves, prompting the British Resident Minister Sir Henry Lawrence to advise him not to do so. However, too over-confident in his power, Mathabar Singh Thapa ignored him. He even claimed that he would be the first prime minister since the time of Prithvi Narayan Shah to die of old age and not out of the conspiracy. In 1845 January 4, he declared himself as the "Prime Minister of Nepal". This was the first time anyone had been titled "Prime Minister" in the history of Nepal. All the others before him were either titled as Mukhtiyar or Mul Kajis. It is believed that at that time he had become even more powerful than the King of Nepal. His power and over-influence in the Nepalese politics and even in the personal life of the monarchy itself led to the eclipse of his power and his downfall by the hands of Jang Bahadur Rana.

Downfall When Mathabar Singh Thapa declined the Queen's request to help her make her own son king, the Queen joined those against him and plotted his downfall. But just to appease him, he was provided the title of "Prime Minister" while conspiracy to murder him was going on behind. Finally, when all the preparations for his murder were made, he was called to the Royal Palace at night, informing him incorrectly, that the Queen had been ill from some disease. Though he was warned by his own son, and his mother, he went to the palace. When he was sleeping Jang Bahadur was hiding under his bed. He was shot multiple times on his back from under the bed by Jang Bahadur Rana where he immediately died. The next day King Rajendra declared that he had himself killed Mathabar Singh Thapa accusing him of several activities that he had done to undermine his own (Rajendra's) power. Ultimately, the extreme power of Gagan Singh led to him being assassinated by King Rajendra and Prime Minister Fatte Jungh Shah in 1846 September 14 at 10 P.M.. The assassination of Gagan Singh led to the Kot massacre and ultimately, the rise of Jung Bahadur Rana.

Legacy Mathabarsingh Thapa was the first prime minister of Nepal to wear a crown. The 104 year-ruling Rana Dynasty was also related to him.

Family He had following sons as per various sources: Ranojjwal Singh Thapa Col. Amar Singh Thapa Rana Abal Singh Thapa Ransor Singh Thapa (Not to be confused with son of Amar Singh Thapa - Ranajor Singh Thapa)

Land Grants The land grants received by Mathbar Singh Thapa on various dates were:

Ancestry

Gallery