Introduction
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| TANKA PRASAD ACHARYA |
Tanka Prasad Acharya was a Nepali politician who served as the 19th Prime Minister of Nepal from 1956 to 1957. He was one of the founders and the leader of the Nepal Praja Parishad, the first political party in Nepal with the goal of removing the Rana Dynasty's dictatorship.
Personal Info:
Born: 11 February 1912
Died: 23 April 1992 (aged 80)
Nationality: Nepali
Political parties: Nepal Praja Parishad, Nepali Congress
Spouse: Rewanta Kumari Acharya
Children: 5
Formation of Praja Parishad
Tanka Prasad was born in 1912 to Tika Prasad and Tika Devi Acharya. Acharya met several other intellectuals, including Dashrath Chand, who were seeking to destabilize the Rana dictatorship. In a guesthouse in Bhimphedi, Makwanpur District, Acharya and Chand conceptualized the Nepal Praja Parishad (Nepal People's Council). They founded the organization in 1936 with the help of other pro-democracy intellectuals such as Dharma Bhakta Mathema and Gangalal Shrestha. Acharya was chosen to lead the organization. Dharma Bhakta Mathema also taught fitness lessons to King Tribhuvan, who formally sponsored the organization.
The Nepal Praja Parishad was involved in a number of anti-Rana operations. Initially, they distributed handwritten leaflets to Nepalis and published articles in several Indian newspapers. Acharya eventually imported a printing machine from India to Nepal, which allowed them to print and distribute more booklets. As time passed, the gang became more violent, and in 1940, they plotted the killing of several Rana government officials. They were uncovered, however, after someone told the government of their intentions. Many members of the group were sentenced to death, but Acharya was spared execution because he was a Brahmin, and killing Brahmins was illegal under Nepali law at the time.
Acharya, on the other hand, was sentenced to life in jail.Nepal Praja Parishad was practically defunct. In 1947, while in prison, the Nepali National Congress was created, and Acharya was chosen president. However, because he was imprisoned and unable to connect with the Nepali Congress, this was simply a symbolic step, and B.P. Koirala took over as acting president.
Career in Politics after the Revolution
Following the 1951 Revolution, King Tribhuvan released Acharya from prison and pardoned him. For a few years, he was a senior member of the Nepali Congress; but, after conflicts with the Nepali Congress leadership, he split off with Bhadrakali Mishra, another senior Nepali Congress politician, and reconstituted the Nepal Praja Parishad. In 1953, Acharya and the Nepal Praja Parishad were part of Matrika Prasad Koirala's administration, yet they remained in opposition to the ruling Nepali Congress.
Premiership
Acharya was appointed Prime Minister by King Mahendra in 1956. During his tenure as Prime Minister, the first 5-year plan was implemented, the Nepal Rastra Bank was established, and the Supreme Court was constituted. Acharya's tenure was also seen as a golden age for Nepal's foreign relations, with the country establishing diplomatic relations with many countries and working closely with the Chinese government, as evidenced by the signing of the Economic Assistance Agreement on October 7, 1956, with China pledging Rs 60 million to the Nepali government for development. In July 1957, Acharya resigned as Prime Minister.
Post-premiership
By the 1959 Nepali elections, there had been a schism in the Nepal Praja Parishad, causing Acharya and Mishra to compete individually. Acharya's Nepal Praja Parishad group got two seats, while Mishra's won one. Acharya was arrested and imprisoned following King Mahendra's 1960 coup, during which he instituted the Panchayat system. He was released the next year, although he had little political impact. Tanka Prasad Acharya died on April 23, 1992, at the age of 80, from kidney issues.
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