KATHMANDU : The 23rd death anniversary of Ganeshman Singh, the supreme commander of the 1990 People’s Movement, which waged for the reinstatement of democracy, is being marked today through several organized programmes.
Veteran democratic leader Siingh had become an epitome of political honesty for his courage, dedication and untiring struggle for people’s freedom. He had demonstrated a higher sense of renunciation in politics by offering the prime minister’s post to his contemporary leader Krishna Prasad Bhattarai following the success of the 1990 People’s Movement.
Singh who was born to a well-off family in Kathmandu had waged his struggle against the Rana oligarchy as a member of Praja Parishad, the very first political party established in the country in 1940. The then ruler had jailed him after his active engagement in his campaign to abolish the Rana regime.
As a leader of the country’s popular democratic movement in 1950, Ganeshman Singh had led the armed struggle against the Ranas from Birgunj. Principally, he was one of the staunch supporters and followers of BP Koirala. He also became a senior minister in the Nepali Congress-led government in 1958.
He had served a jail term of eight years following the takeover of democracy by the then monarch in 1960. He then returned to Nepal with BP, adopting the principle of national unity and reconciliation while remaining active against the Panchayati System.
Singh had also played a lead role in the popular student movement of 1979 as well as the referendum in their campaign for reinstating democracy and civic freedom in Nepal. Following the demise of BP Koirala, Singh took the leadership of the peaceful movement (Satyagraha) in 1985.
His substantial contribution was visible in the 1990 when the entire country joined in the national movement against the Panchayat system. Leading the movement as a supreme commander, he was the one who brought the communists to the democratic movement.
The 23rd memorial day of the supreme commander of the people’s movement is being marked across the country today. Nepali Congress Central Department of Information and Communications, BP Koirala Youth Leadership Forum and other sister wings of the Nepali Congress are marking the day by organizing various programmes. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, most of the commemorative programmes are being organized through zoom, shared the NC central office.
