Mathabar Singh Thapa, crowned Mukhtiyar (1843 to 1845 A.D.) of noble Khas Rajput Thapa dynasty.
Thapa dynasty or Thapa noble family (Nepali: थापा वंश/थापा काजी खलक[t̪ʰapabʌŋsʌ]) also known as Dynasty of Borlang[note 1] was a Chhetri political family[4] that handled Nepali administration affairs from 1806 to 1837 A.D. and 1843 to 1845 A.D.[5] as Mukhtiyar (Prime Minister). This was one of the four noble families to be involved in the active politics of the Kingdom of Nepal, along with the Shah dynasty, Basnyat family, and the Pande dynasty before the rise of the Rana dynasty[4]or Kunwar family. At the end of 18th century, Thapas had extreme dominance over Nepalese Darbar politics alternatively contesting for central power against the Pande family.[6]Bir Bhadra Thapa was a Thapa of Chhetri group[3] and leading Bharadar during Unification of Nepal.[2] His grandson Bhimsen Thapa became Mukhtiyar of Nepal[2] and established Thapa dynasty to the dominating position of central court politics of Nepal.[7]
The family became prominent during the rule of King Prithvi Narayan Shah and were established as a dominant faction during the reign of King Rana Bahadur Shah.[10] After the assassination of King Rana Bahadur Shah, Bhimsen Thapa rose to the event killing all enemies and proving the strength and presence of the Thapa family in the Royal Court of Nepal.[11] He went on to become the second Prime Minister of Nepal[2] and thus founded the Thapa family in the political context of Nepal.[11] Afterwards, the Thapas took the stronghold of the military power with an absolute order, which leads to a rivalry among other nobles.[12]
Thapas on power (1806–1837)
Portrait of Queen Tripurasundari of Nepal
Tripurasundari was the daughter of Bhimsen's brother, Kazi Nain Singh Thapa.[13] After the chaos that followed King Rana Bahadur's murder, Bhimsen became the Mukhtiyar and his niece Tripurasundari was given the title Lalita Tripurasundari and declared regent and Queen Mother of Nepal.[14] The Thapa family remained in power continuously even after the death of King Girvan Yuddha Bikram Shah and even after the peace deal (Treaty of Sugauli) with the British East India Company done between the then ruling prime minister Bhimsen Thapa representative of Nepal and British.[15] The modernization of the Nepalese Army was done to keep things in control[16] while convincing the suspicious British of no intention to use. Bhimsen increased his family members in court and military and also transferred other aristocratic families away from the capital.[17] Bhimsen instated his youngest brother, General Ranabir Singh Thapa, in the royal palace as chief palace authority.[18] Any meetings between the royal family and commoners or Bhardars were done under his permission and observation.[18]
Thapas remained on political power from the military domination by Bhimsen Thapa. It was no secret that Bhimsen was able to maintain his supremacy due to the large standing army under his and his family's command.[19] Thus, King Rajendra of Nepal feared the Thapa faction as
"...a race of men who for the last fifty-five years have dragged the country and its princes at the wheels of military car."[20]
The downfall of Thapas (1837–1839)
Portrait of King Rajendra Bikram Shah, a supporter of the anti-Thapa factionRana Jang Pande, the leader of Pande family
Bhimsen had committed atrocities against the Pande family by being involved in the execution of Nepalese Chief Kazi Damodar Pande. Rana Jang Pande, the youngest son of Damodar Pande, was a supporter of Senior Queen Samrajya Laxmi and had planned for the downfall of the 31-year Thapa rule.[21] In the Nepalese court, the rivalry between the two queens rose where the Senior Queen supported the Pandes, while the Junior Queen supported the Thapas.[22] Bhimsen went to his ancestral home in Gorkha for some time, making Ranabir Singh Thapa as Acting Mukhtiyar.[23]Rana Jang Pande, the leading member of Pande aristocratic family and his brother, Ranadal Pande, was elevated in the Nepal Darbar.[24]
On 24 July 1837, King Rajendra Bikram Shah's infant son, Devendra Bikram Shah, died.[24][25] Bhimsen and members of the Thapa faction were blamed and conspired against.[25][26][27] On this charge, Bhimsen and whole the Thapa family, the court physicians, Ekdev and Eksurya Upadhyay, and his deputy Bhajuman Baidya, with relatives of the Thapas were incarcerated, proclaimed outcasts, and their properties confiscated.[25][26][28][29]
Fatte Jang Shah, Rangnath Poudel, and the Junior Queen Rajya Laxmi Devi, the anti-Pande faction, obtained from the King the liberation of Bhimsen, Mathabar, and the rest of the party, about eight months after they were incarcerated for the poisoning case.[30][31][32] Confiscation of some properties was pardoned. The pro-Thapa soldiers rallied to Bhimsen, Mathabar Singh, and Sherjung Thapa's houses.[33] Mathabar Singh fled to India while pretending to go on a hunting trip; Ranbir Singh gave up all his property and became a sanyasi, titling himself Swami Abhayananda; but Bhimsen Thapa preferred to remain in his old home in Gorkha.[32][34]
The final chapter of Thapas (1843–1845)
The resurrection of Thapa
Portrait of Mathabar Singh Thapa in National Museum of Nepal, Chhauni
Mathabarsingh Thapa fled to India when Bhimsen Thapa and Thapa courtiers were punished.[32][35] Sher Jung Thapa and other jailed Thapa members were pardoned on the request of Junior Queen after the death of Senior Queen.[36] Mathabar, the most senior Thapa, was requested to return to Nepal by then ruling Junior Queen Rajya Laxmi after six years of exile.[37]Mathabarsingh Thapa arrived in Kathmandu Valley on 17 April 1843 where he was greeted with state honors.[38] He then re-opened the murder case of his uncle and godfather Bhimsen Thapa, and members of Pande faction and their supporters were executed.[39]
Thapathali Durbar from opposite side of Bagmati River
Bagh Durbar, which literally means The Tiger's Mansion, was built in 1805 A.D. by PM Bhimsen Thapa. It had a spacious Janarala Bagh (General's Garden), a pond and many temples glorifying the Mukhtiyar General. When Thapa rule was revived, PM Mathabarsingh Thapa recaptured the lost palace and resided there for two years.[42]
Dharahara tower, Ram Chandra Temple and Bag DarbarNational Museum of Nepal at Chhauni, Former Residence of Thapa Mukhtiyar Bhimsen Thapa
Portrait of Ranabir Singh Thapa as Swami Abhayananda
Bhimsen Thapa,
General Ranabir Singh Thapa's letter signed by his private black seal sent to Mukhtiyar (PM) Bhimsen Thapa and 2nd Kazi (Deputy PM) Ranadhoj Thapa
Letter sent to PM Bhimsen Thapa and Kazi Ranadhoj Thapa by (Pvt. seal L to R) Bakhat Singh Sardar, Dalbhanjan Pande (Pande Kazi), Ranabir Singh Thapa, Kaji Narsingh Thapa (Elder Amar Singh Thapa's another son) and sundry captains
Letter sent to PM Bhimsen Thapa and Kazi Ranadhoj Thapa by then Colonel Mathabar Singh Thapa
^The family had their origins in Borlang village of Gorkha region to differentiate from another related Bagale Thapa family of Badakaji Amar Singh Thapa known as "Dynasty of Sirhanchowk" as originated from Sirhanchowk village in Gorkha region.
Whelpton, John (2004), "The Political Role of Brian Hodgson", in Waterhouse, David (ed.), Origins of Himalayan Studies: Brian Houghton Hodgson in Nepal and Darjeeling, Royal Asiatic Society Books (1 ed.), Taylor & Francis, p. 320, ISBN9781134383634
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