Social Reforms of Rana Prime Ministers

Jung BahadurRana, one of the great power seekers, founded over a century long (1903-2007 BS.) autocratic Rana regime in Nepal. He was able to do so after the kotParva in 1903 BS. In the kotParva, he killed most of his opponents and became the Prime Minister of Nepal. He imprisoned King RajendraBikram Shah and seized all the state power from king SurendraBikram Shah. He made premiership a hereditary post with the roll of succession. All the high ranking posts of administration were reserved for Ranas. Thus, the posts of prime Ministers and army general passed to the Ranas on the basis of their seniority by birth.

During the 104 years Ranarchy, discounting Bam Bahadur’s tenure, nine Rana Prime Ministers ruled over Nepal. The Nepalese society during the Rana family rule was based on the traditional customs and culture. The social evils like child marriage, unequal marriage, polygamy, caste discrimination, untouchabilityetc, were prevailing in the Nepalese Society. However, some social reforms were made by the Rana Prime Ministers.