Prime ministers of Nepal before Bhimsen Thapa

The Unexplored Part of History

Nepal as a country existed long before 1768 A.D when King Prithivi Narayan Shah of Gorkha led the unification campaign. There has been mentions about Nepal even in various ancient Tibetan scriptures and also in "Arthasastra" of Kautilya which is more 5000 years old. There are also mentions in a Sanskrit inscription of 512 CE found in Tistung, around west of Kathmandu Valley. But in public way we consider existence of Nepal after unification of Kantipur (now Kathmandu) into Gorkha empire in 25th September 1768 A.D.

For those who must be wondering why Nepal got its official existence from 1768 AD but Bhimsen Thapa who became prime minister in 1806 A.D is considered as the first prime minister and none before that. There are many people in Nepali history who have served in capacity of Prime minister even before Bhimsen Thapa. Prime minister or "Pradhan Mantri" in Nepali history were known with different names. For example earlier Prime ministers were simply called "Kaji". In later years prime ministers were called "Mul Kaji" or "Pratham Kaji" and also in some instances "Dewan", which was an Persian title for ministers. "Mukhtiyar" was a title created by Prince Bahadur Shah for himself who was the chief administrator under the King. Bhimsen Thapa was the first person outside the royal family to adopt the title "Mukhtiyar" in 1806 A.D even though some historians also consider Damodar Pande to be the first in 1799 A.D. Mathbar Singh Thapa was the first to be called "Prime minster" in 1843 A.D.

Coming down the lane in history upto Pushpa Kamal Dahal who is serving his second office as a prime minister of Nepal from 4th August 2016 after resignation of KP Sharma Oli, 38 person have hold the post of Prime minister after Bhimsen Thapa in a time expanding 210 years.

Some of the unmentioned Persons who have served in capacity of Prime minister before Bhimsen Thapa are:

1. Kaji Abhiman Singh Basnyat: He was the son of Kaji Shivaram Singh Basnyat. He became the Kaji during the unification campaign after the death of Kaji Kalu Pande. He also became Mul Kaji after the killing of Prince Bahadur Shah until he was replaced with his nephew Kaji Kirtiman Singh Basnyat in 1798 A.D. 

   

   Kaji Abhiman Singh Basnyat

2. Kaji Sarwajit Rana Magar: He belonged from the Magar nobility and was appointed as a Mul Kaji by Regent Queen Rajendra Laxmi after death of King Pratap Singha Shah in 1777 A.D. He was killed in a palace conspiracy.
3. Dewan Kaji Bansaraj Pande: He was the eldest son of Kaji Kalu Pande. He was given the title of Dewan by King Pratap Singha Shah in 1775 A.D. He served  as the chief administrator and the general of the army but was soon removed by Regent Queen Rajendra Laxmi and later killed in an palace conspiracy.

   

   Dewan Kaji Bansaraj Pande

4. Kaji Swaroop Singh Karki: He also served as a Mul Kaji briefly during the period of rule of Regent Queen Rajendra Laxmi. He was killed in a palace conspiracy.
5. Prince Bahadur Shah: Prince Bahadur Shah himself took the title of Mukhtiyar and served as the chief administrator from 1785 A.D to 1794 A.D. He was killed in a palace conspiracy.

   

   Prince Bahadur Shah

6. Kaji Kirtiman Singh Basnyat: He was the son of Kaji Kehar Singh Bansyat and the grandson of Kaji Shivaram Singh Basnyat. From his mother's side he was the grandson of Kaji Kalu Pandey. He was made the Mul Kaji during the regency of Queen Raj Rajeswori between 1798 A.D to 1799 A.D. He was killed in a palace conspiracy.

   

   Kaji Kirtiman Singh Basnyat

7. Kaji Bakhtwar Singh Basnyat: He soon replaced his older brother Kaji Kritiman Singh Bansyat as Mul kaji after his death in a palace conspiracy in 1799 A.D. He served briefly as Mul Kaji as during the regency of Queen Subarnaprabha and was repalced by his maternal uncle Kaji Damodar Pande.
8. Kaji Damodar Pande: Kaji Damodar Pande was the youngest son of Kaji Kalu Pande. He became Mul Kaji under the regency of Queen Subarnaprabha and later under Queen Raj Rajeswori from 1799 A.D. He along with other palace courtiers was successful in sending the troubled King Rana Bahadur Shah in exile to Benaras, India. Kaji Damodar Pande also brielfy shifted the capital to Nuwakot and rule under infant King Girwan Yuddha Bikram Shah, mainly to be away from the trobuled Rana Bahadur Shah. Rana Bahadur Shah was considered as a mad King in Nepali history who created hard time for his courtiers to administer the country. Kaji Damodar Pande was the most powerful Prime minister after Prince Bahadur Shah who stood in office until 1804 A.D. After return of Rana Bahadur Shah from Benaras in 1804 A.D, Kaji Damodar Pande beheaded in Bhadrakali Temple which was instigated by Bhimsen Thapa.
9. Dewan Kaji Ranajit Pande: Dewan Ranajit Pande was a son of Kaji Tularam Pandey. Kaji Tularam Pande and Kaji Kalu Pande were cousins having common grandfather Kaji Birudatta Pande of Gorkha. Dewan Ranajit's daughter Rana Kumari was married to Kaji Nain Singh Thapa (younger brother of Bhimsen Thapa) making Ranajit Pande and Bhimsen Thapa relatives. Ranajit Pande and Bhimsen Thapa were together with Rana Bahadur Shah in Benaras during their period in exile. After the killing of Kaji Damodar Pande in 1804 A.D., Dewan Ranajit briefly became the Mul Kaji.

   

   Dewan Kaji Ranjit Pande

10. King Rana Bahadur Shah: King Rana Bahadur Shah stepped from his throne and made his infant son Girwan Yuddha King in 1798 A.D. After return from his exile in 1804 A.D, he took over the post of Mukhtiyar and acted as the Prime minister until he was killed by his own half brother Sher Bahadur Shah in 1806 A.D with a sword. Bhimsen Thapa then took the post of Mukhtiyar and ruled for next 31 years until 1837 A.D.  

Mulkaji Senapati Damodar Pande. Influential Kaji from 1794 AD to 1804 AD.

Even though most part of Nepali history differs from historian to historian and books to books, I have extracted these information after going through various writers.