Marich Man Singh Shrestha

Marich Man Singh Shrestha (Nepali: मरिचमान सिंह श्रेष्ठ; 1 January 1942 – 15 August 2013) was a Nepali politician and former Prime Minister of Nepal. He was born in 1942 in Khalanga Bazar, Salyan, Nepal. He served as the Prime Minister of Nepal from 15 June 1986 to 6 April 1990, and is remembered as the last Prime Minister of the Panchayat period and the Prime Minister during the 1989 Indian economic blockade on Nepal. Prior to that, he was the speaker of the Rastriya Panchayat from 1981 to 1985. He is one of the only two non-Khas Prime Ministers of Nepal, both the exceptions having been Newar Shresthas. He is the first Newar to have assumed the full title of the Prime Minister of Nepal, second if we count Gehendra Bahadur Rajbhandari who was acknowledged as an Acting Prime Minister.[1]

Marich Man Singh Shrestha
मरिचमान सिंह श्रेष्ठ
28th Prime Minister of Nepal
In office
15 June 1986 – 6 April 1990
MonarchKing Birendra
Preceded byNagendra Prasad Rijal
Succeeded byLokendra Bahadur Chand
Personal details
Born(1942-01-01)1 January 1942
Khalanga Bazar, Salyan District, Nepal
Died15 August 2013(2013-08-15) (aged 71)
Kathmandu, Nepal
Political partyIndependent
SpouseBishnu Devi Shrestha
ChildrenAnil, Sanjaya, Rashmi, Ranjan

Political career

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In his office, he braved the sixteen months long ordeal of economic blockade (March 23, 1989) imposed on Nepal by India. When this blockade caused immense fuel scarcity in the country, he is credited for not bowing to foreign power by bringing in fuel to support the entire country via aeroplanes and delivering it to individual households. He was responsible for the mass suppression of democratic forces during the Mass Movement of 2046 BS (1989 AD) and this act highly degraded his status. He was dismissed by the King Birendra during political tensions in which protestors called for multiparty elections.[2] Subsequently, a draft constitution was introduced which allowed for direct elections to a bicameral parliament.[3][4]

Death

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Shrestha was brought to the Kathmandu from New Delhi-based Medicity Hospital, where he had been undergoing treatment and was on ventilator support.[5] He told family members that he wished to die in his own country and was air lifted to Kathmandu. Shrestha died of lung cancer[6] at 3:00 on 15 August 2013 at Norvic Hospital, Kathmandu.[7][8]

References

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  1. ^ Nepal Who's who - Google Books. 2008-06-04. Retrieved 2013-08-15.
  2. ^ "Former Nepal PM Marich Man Singh Shrestha dies". BBC. 15 August 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  3. ^ Taylor & Francis Group (2004). Europa World Year Book 2. Taylor & Francis. p. 3042. ISBN 1-85743-255-X.
  4. ^ "Nepal Information". Archived from the original on 14 June 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  5. ^ "Former Nepal Prime Minister Shrestha passes away". The Hindu. August 15, 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  6. ^ "Former PM Marich Man diagnosed with lung cancer - Detail News : Nepal News Portal". The Himalayan Times. 2013-07-12. Archived from the original on 2013-10-20. Retrieved 2013-08-15.
  7. ^ "Nepal's No. 1 News Portal". ekantipur.com. Archived from the original on 2013-08-18. Retrieved 2013-08-15.
  8. ^ "MYREPUBLICA.com - News in English from Nepal: Fast, Full & Factual News". Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
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Political offices
Preceded by Prime Minister of Nepal
1986 – 1990
Succeeded by
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Chairperson of SAARC
1987
Succeeded by