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The Rana dynasty (Nepali: राणा शासन​, Rāņā shāsana) ruled the Kingdom of Nepal from 1846 until 1951, reducing the Shah monarch to a figurehead and making Prime Minister and other government positions hereditary. The dynasty is descended from one Bal Narsingh Kunwar of Kaski who moved to Gorkha in the early 18th century and entered the service of Raja Nara Bhupal Shah around 1740, and of Bhimsen Thapa (1775-1839 who is counted among the National heroes of Nepaland was the maternal granduncle of Jung Bahadhur and his brothers.

Janga Bahadur Kunwar (Nepali: जंग बहादुर कुँवर) began the dynasty. He came to power through the 1846 Kot massacre (Nepali: कोत पर्व, Kot Parwa) where 36 members of the palace court including the Prime Minister and a relative of the King Chautariya Fate Janga Shah were murdered on the orders of the ambitious junior Queen. These were unstable times and Janga Bahadur brought stability to the country by putting himself firmly in control something even the junior Queen had not anticipated. He took the title Rana ("king"), the honorific Shrī Tīn (Nepali: श्री ३) meaning his name was preceded by Shrī-Shrī-Shrī, and was accorded 19-gun salutes by the British Raj. However Shah kings were Shrī Pānch (Nepali: श्री ५) -- Shrī-Shrī-Shrī-Shrī-Shrī—called Maharājdhirāj (Nepali: महाराजाधिराज), "king of kings", and given 21-gun salutes. Junga Bahadur's sons and brothers inherited the title Rana and took it as their family name instead of Kunwar.

After Junga Bahadur's death his brother Ranodip Singh Rana took the Prime Ministership and title of Maharaja as per Junga's established wishes, which unlike the Kingship where the eldest son was to inherit the throne,the Rana dynasty was to be firmly established with the eldest male member of the Rana family at the helm and not the eldest son. This Jung and his brothers thought was the best way to secure a long reign as they had seen too much instability with the different queens trying to influence the King into making their sons the next King. IN his seminal book and doning the cap of a third party observer and interpreter William Digby, a British Writer chronicles the brutal killing of Ranodip Singh by his ignominous brothers Bir Shamshere etc.and the British policy of Divide and Rule^[1]in the most insightful manner. It depicts the treachery of Ranodip's trusted lieutenant Bir Shamshere and his stab in the back. Its a true account of what transpired and how the events changed the history of Nepal. Therefore Maharaja Ranodip and Jagat Jung, known as "Mukhiya Jarnel" both were murdered by Bir Shamshere and his brothers in order to usurp the throne of Nepal. It was one of the most brutal depiction of the inhuman killings and subsequent refusal by the british to help the General's family whose patriarch was once the most trusted and obedient supporter of the British Casuse in India thereby helping the British in dousing the flames of revolt of 1857. Presently if someone carries the name Shumshere Jang Bahadur Rana, then they come from Dhir Shumshere's lineage (Jang Bahadur's youngest brother). Two of Jung Bahadur's sons Gen. Ranabir Jung and Commander-in-Chief Gen. Padma Jung Bahadur Rana KIH Gold Medal 1877 were escorted to Allahabad. Gen. Ranabir Jung later attempted to reclaim his position, after having raised an army, but was thwarted and finally killed in battle. Ranabir Jungs descendants with the title Bir Jung Bahadur are very widespread, and live in Kathmandu, Dehra Dun, Delhi, Kolkata, Australia and The UK while Ranodip Singh's desecendents live in Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.

Many Rana daughters,were/are married to the Nepalese royal family and various Maharajas of Indian Principality States. Similarly many sons, are married to the Nepalese royal familiy and Princesses of Indian Royal Houses. Maharaja Sir Jung Bahadur Rana of Kaski & Lamjung himself started the process of marrying Rana Gentlemen and Ladies to the Indian Royal Households in mid 1800 AD. [https://www.royalark.net/Nepal/lamb3.htm Commander-in-Chief Gen. The shortest serving Rana Prime Minister was Dev Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana who ruled for two months in 1901, he was deposed by his brothers because of his reformist ideas. Known as "The Reformist" for his progressive policies, he proclaimed universal education, began to building schools, took steps to abolish slavery, and introduced several other social welfare schemes^{[citation needed]}. He also made improvements to the arsenal at Nakkhu (south of Kathmandu) and started The Gorkhapatra newspaper. Dev Shumsher felt guilty for what had transpired during the coup, also a key incident happened during the coup which affected him deeply. He was held at gunpoint by General Dhoj Narsingh Rana, but was allowed to live and forgiven. For this, he felt a lot of guilt and asked for the exiled family members to return to Nepal. This brought him to a clash with his immediate brothers.

The Ranas were acclaimed and given much prestige and a 19-gun salute by British as well. All with the exception of Deva Shamsher received knighthoods.

The Rana dynasty developed into a powerful and wealthy family clan and some Ranas are still very influential in the country today taking higher positions in Nepal Army. To keep the power and influence the Rana family formed a close alliance with the Shah dynasty via marriage.

Notable among the Rana Prime Ministers were Jung, Bir, Chandra and Juddha, who together established the first formal written laws, formal schools, hydro plant, industries and banks in Nepal.

Rana Prime Ministers [link]

Nine Rana rulers took the hereditary office of Prime Minister. All were styled self proclaimed King of Lamjung and Kaski.

1. Shree 3 Jung Bahadur Rana, GCB, GCSI (18 June 1816–25 February 1877)

   Ruled 1846 to 25 February 1877. Received the hereditary rights to the title of Rana and a salute of 19 guns from the British.

2. Shree 3 Renaudip Singh aka Ranodip Singh Rana, KCSI (3 April 1825–22 November 1885

   Ruled 25 February 1877 to 22 November 1885.

3. Shree 3 Bir Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana, GCSI (10 December 1852–5 March 1901)

   Ruled 22 November 1885 to 5 March 1901.

4. Shree 3 Dev Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana (17 July 1862–20 February 1914)

   Ruled 5 March to 27 June 1901, when as a result of his progressive nature, he was deposed by his relatives and sent into exile in India.

5. Shree 3 Chandra Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana, GCB, GCSI, GCMG, GCVO, Kaisar-i-Hind (8 July 1863–26 November 1929)

   Ruled 27 June 1901 to 26 November 1929.

6. Shree 3 Bhim Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana, GCSI, GCMG, KCVO (16 April 1865–1 September 1932)

   Ruled 26 November 1929 to 1 September 1932.

7. Shree 3 Juddha Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana, GCB, GCSI, GCIE (19 April 1875–20 November 1952)

   Ruled 1 September 1932 to 29 November 1945, whereupon he abdicated in favor of his nephew.

8. Shree 3 Padma Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana, GCSI, GBE, KCIE (5 December 1882–11 April 1961)

   Ruled 29 November 1945 to 30 April 1948, whereupon he abdicated in favor of his cousin.

9. Shree 3 Mohan Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana, GCB, GCIE, GBE (23 December 1885–6 January 1967)

   Ruled 30 April 1948 to 18 February 1951, at which date he was divested of his titles and exiled to India.

External links and Sources [link]

• ^[2] William Digby-Friend in need:1857, Friendship forgotten:1887
• Lambjang and Kaski - Brief History at Royalark.
• Old pictures of Nepal from Rana Dynasty

References [link]

See also [link]

• Shah dynasty
• History of Nepal