Rana Dynasty : Part 2

Rana Dynasty

The Rana Regime

The Rana regime started when Jung Bahadur Rana became the Prime Minister in 1846. This regime lasted for over 100 years, until 1951. The Ranas made many rules to keep their family in power. They controlled the government, the army, and even the king. The Shah kings were still on the throne, but they did not have any real power. The Ranas made sure that their family members were in all the important positions in the government.


Jung Bahadur Rana

The Ranas lived in big palaces, wore expensive clothes, and enjoyed many luxuries. They had a lot of wealth and did not share it with the people of Nepal. Most Nepali people were very poor, and the Ranas did not do much to help them. They did not build schools or hospitals for the common people. Instead, they focused on making themselves richer and more powerful.


During the Rana regime, only the Ranas and a few other families had access to education. They believed that if people became educated, they would start questioning the Ranas' power. So, the Ranas kept most of the population uneducated. This made it easier for them to rule without opposition. The common people had to follow the rules set by the Ranas, and they had no say in how the country was run.

The Rana brothers


The Ranas also controlled the country's economy. They took most of the money for themselves and did not spend it on public works. There were very few roads, schools, or hospitals built during the Rana regime. The Ranas lived a life of luxury, while the common people struggled to make a living. This created a big gap between the rich and the poor.


One of the Rana families enjoying wealth


The Ranas were also very strict with their rules. They did not allow people to speak against them. If anyone tried to protest or oppose their rule, they were punished severely. This made the people afraid to speak up. The Ranas used the army and the police to keep control over the people. They wanted to make sure that no one could challenge their authority.


Despite their harsh rule, the Ranas did make some changes in Nepal. They modernised the army and built some infrastructure like roads and bridges. Jung Bahadur Rana himself was interested in learning from the Western world. He visited Europe and brought back some ideas for modernising Nepal. However, these changes were mostly for their benefit and not for the common people.


A bridge in Thapathali

This was a dark period in Nepal’s history, but it also set the stage for change. As time went on, people started to get tired of the Ranas' harsh rule. They wanted freedom and a better life. This desire for change eventually led to protests and movements that would challenge the Ranas' power and bring about the end of their regime.

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