14-year-old Rakshya B.K. explores some of the most significant men and women in Nepal’s history
30th anniversary of Pasang Lhamu Sherpa’s summit of Everest, 23 April 2023, Pasang Memorial Park, Chuchchepati, Nepal.
January 16, 2025
Meet some of the ‘national heroes’ of Nepal
Nepal may be a small landlocked country between two growing economic giants, China and India, but it is also an unusually diverse country, with contributions from a long line of “national heroes, personalities and luminaries”.
Here are a few of these important personages, presented in chronological order.
King Janak
In the seventh century BCE, King Janak was the ruler of the Videha kingdom and lived in the capital, Mithila (present-day Janakpur in southern Nepal).
Under his rule, there was harmony between the king and the people, and among the people themselves.
A sage and philosophical ruler, he was also father of the goddess Sita, who later married Lord Rama and was depicted in the Hindu sacred text, the Ramayana.
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Sita
Lithograph of Sita, based on a painting by Raja Ravi Varma from the early 20th century.
The goddess Sita was the daughter of King Janak. According to Hindu scripture, she was not born but found when the king ploughed a field in present-day Janakpur. Sita was a disciplined woman of strong character.
She was married to Lord Rama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. According to the Ramayana, she was abducted by the demon king Ravana, when Lord Rama, alongside Sita and his brother Laxman, was in exile for 14 years due to internal family conflicts.
She is seen as an ideal representative of all Nepali women and worshipped in the Ram Janaki temple in Janakpur. She is also known as Janaki.
Gautam Buddha
Born in Lumbini in the fifth or sixth century BCE, Gautam Buddha, usually known as just the Buddha (meaning ‘enlightened one’), was the founder of Buddhism. He was born from the womb of his mother Mayadevi on the full moon day of Baisakh shukla, according to the lunar calendar. His father was Shuddhodhan.
Since his childhood, Gautam Buddha was of a good nature. However, at the age of 29, he left his parents’ palace in pursuit of enlightenment.
He preached not to steal, not to tell lies, not to take drugs, not to do violence. We should also follow the teachings of the Buddha.
Amshuverma
Amshuverma was king during the Licchavi period (605–621 CE), which is considered a golden era in Nepal.
A mighty and skilful king, he opened a school for people to study and to make it easy for his citizens.
He was also an art lover, who built the architecturally acclaimed Kailashkut Palace. He was a king who felt the happiness and sorrow of the people. He treated all people equally.
King Ram Shah
Stamp depicting King Ram Shah.
Ram Shah was a social reformer and a liberal ruler of the Gorkha kingdom (the present-day Ghorka district) in the early 17th century.
He was famous for providing equal justice to everyone. A famous quote by him says: “If you do not get justice, come to Gorkha.”
He had a good relationship with the people, who enjoyed his reign. He introduced numerous administrative and legal reforms, as well as fixed and uniform weights and measurements, and set limits on interest rates.
Balbhadra Kunwar
Balbhadra Kunwar was born in 1775 in Bhawarkot, Panchkhal in Kavrepalanchok district in central Nepal. A captain in the Nepalese army, he was stationed at Khalanga Fort during the Anglo-Nepal war (1814–16), with 600 soldiers against the 3,500 troops of the British East India Company.
He fought bravely against the large army and modern weapons of the British army. Due to his heroism, he is considered a national hero of Nepal.
Bhimsen Thapa
Painting of Bhimsen Thapa.
Bhimsen Thapa was Nepal’s first prime minister, serving from 1806 to 1837. During his tenure, there was reform in the military, legal, social and economic sectors.
He continued the unification campaign of Nepal and expanded the country’s borders in all directions.
Due to his valour and significant contributions, he is considered a national hero of Nepal.
Motiram Bhatt
Drawing of Motiram Bhatta, 1896.
Born in the village of Bhosi in Kathmandu in 1866, Motiram Bhatt was a writer, poet, singer, biographer and critic of Nepali literature.
He also introduced ghazal poetry and song to Nepal. He was greatly inspired by the acclaimed Nepali poet Bhanubhakta Acharya, who translated the Ramayana from Sanskrit to Nepali.
Bhatt also founded the Motimandali and Bharat Jeevan Press and published Acharya’s works, introducing several of his writings to the public.
The country has honoured him as a national monument.
Pasang Lhamu Sherpa
Pasang Lhamu Sherpa was the first Nepali woman to conquer the world’s highest mountain, Mount Everest (Sagarmatha in Nepali) on 22 April 1993, on her fourth attempt. Tragically, she died in an avalanche on the descent. She was only 31 years old.
Due to her courage, the Nepal government declared her a national treasure of Nepal. She was also decorated with the Nepal Star medal following her death.
Pasang: In the Shadow of Everest, a documentary about her life, is available online.
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