1979 Nepalese student protests
Encyclopedia
The 1979 student protests in Nepal (Nepali
: 2036 Saal ko Aandolan (२०३६ सालको आन्दोलन)) were a series of protest
s amongst the student community in Nepal
during the months of April and May 1979 (2036 B.S.). The clashes that occurred had a significant historical impact, as it forced the monarchy
to concede to holding a referendum
on the possibility of a multiparty system in the country. Official figures stated that 11 persons were killed during the agitation, and 164 wounded.
, former Prime Minister of Pakistan
. As the manifestation came nearer the Pakistani embassy, the student procession was stopped by police at Lainchour. Reportedly, the police blocked the students as King Birendra
's vehicle was travelling nearby. Clashes between students and riot police occurred.
between April 13 and April 21.
On April 9 a three-member Student Action Committee was formed, consisting of Bal Bahadur K.C. of Nepal Students Union (connected to Nepali Congress
), Kailash Karki of the Nepal National Students Federation (connected to the pro-Soviet
Communist Party
) and Tanka Karki of the All Nepal National Free Students Union
(connected to the pro-Chinese
communist stream).
Following the Amrit Science College clashes, the authorities took a decision that would essentially turn local student unrest in the capital into a national rebellion. They decided to close the campuses and student hostels; students were given 24 hours to clear their rooms. Students from remote areas left the capital to return to their family residences. To their villages and hometowns they brought news about the brutality of the state forces, and soon protests began to appear around the country.
sparked protests by the local population. Demonstrators held the minister incommunicado for ten hours. The crowd was broken up by police firing. Official records say that three demonstrators were killed, but opposition sources claimed that the death toll could have reached 17. The morning after, the state forces clamped down on known opposition leaders in the capital, arresting several prominent figures. Former Prime Minister B.P. Koirala was placed under house arrest.
The unrest then gained momentum and spread throughout the country. Protests occurred in Bhaktapur
, Patan, Bharatpur
, Birganj
, Kalaiya
, Janakpur, Biratnagar, Rajbirah, Siraha
, Sarlahi, Pokhara
and Syangja
. In total, clashes occurred in 37 out of 75 districts of Nepal
. The education minister, Pashupati Shamsher Rana, resigned.
The Student Action Committee was able to reach an agreement with the royal commission, including abolishing the 1972 new education policy, scrapping entrance exams for universities, giving the right to form independent student unions and abolishing the Mandales. The Student Action Committee on their behalf urged fellow students to return to the campuses.
, charged that the Student Action Committee had sold out to the regime. Bal Bahadur K.C. and Saran Malla of the pro-Congress Nepal Students Union got their faces covered in black paint and were forced to wear garlands of shoes (Shai Lal Karki, also singled out as a traitor by the radical students, was absent at the occasion). Then they were put on a push-cart, and pulled around the city streets in humiliation. As the students paraded the streets of the capital, shouting slogans demanding direct dialogue with the king (instead of dialogue via the royal commission), bystanders joined the procession. At its peak, the crowd counted 20-30 000. It sacked offices of government newspapers and set fire to vehicles of Royal Nepal Airlines
. The situation turned violent, as police tried to rescue the two student leaders from the crowd. Army forces were called in to disperse the crowds, as riot police in capital had been seriously weakened as large numbers of policemen had been transferred to quell the uprising in the districts. The army opened fire on the demonstrators. Government sources later claimed that whilst five demonstrators had been injured, forty policemen had been injured. One of them later died.
Nepali language
Nepali or Nepalese is a language in the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family.It is the official language and de facto lingua franca of Nepal and is also spoken in Bhutan, parts of India and parts of Myanmar...
: 2036 Saal ko Aandolan (२०३६ सालको आन्दोलन)) were a series of protest
Protest
A protest is an expression of objection, by words or by actions, to particular events, policies or situations. Protests can take many different forms, from individual statements to mass demonstrations...
s amongst the student community in Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
during the months of April and May 1979 (2036 B.S.). The clashes that occurred had a significant historical impact, as it forced the monarchy
Nepalese monarchy
The Kingdom of Nepal , also referred to as the Gorkha Kingdom, was formed in 1768 by the unification of Nepal. Founded by Prithvi Narayan Shah The Kingdom of Nepal , also referred to as the Gorkha Kingdom, was formed in 1768 by the unification of Nepal. Founded by Prithvi Narayan Shah The Kingdom...
to concede to holding a referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
on the possibility of a multiparty system in the country. Official figures stated that 11 persons were killed during the agitation, and 164 wounded.
April 6 rally
On April 6 a group of students demonstrated in the capital Kathmandu, protesting against the execution of Zulfikar Ali BhuttoZulfikar Ali Bhutto
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was 9th Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1973 to 1977, and prior to that, 4th President of Pakistan from 1971 to 1973. Bhutto was the founder of the Pakistan Peoples Party — the largest and most influential political party in Pakistan— and served as its chairman until his...
, former Prime Minister of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. As the manifestation came nearer the Pakistani embassy, the student procession was stopped by police at Lainchour. Reportedly, the police blocked the students as King Birendra
Birendra of Nepal
Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev was a King of Nepal. The son of King Mahendra, whom he succeeded in 1972, he reigned until his death in the 2001 Nepalese royal massacre...
's vehicle was travelling nearby. Clashes between students and riot police occurred.
Spark of protests
After the violent clashes of April 6, representatives of the student community composed a list of 22 demands to the authorities, urging an end to police repression against the student movement. A series of other protests were held by students in the days to come. In an effort to quell the dissent, the authorities decided to close the campuses in Kathmandu valleyKathmandu Valley
The Kathmandu Valley , located in Nepal, lies at the crossroads of ancient civilizations of Asia, and has at least 130 important monuments, including several places of pilgrimage for the Hindus and the Buddhists. There are seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites within this valley.-Etymology:The city of...
between April 13 and April 21.
On April 9 a three-member Student Action Committee was formed, consisting of Bal Bahadur K.C. of Nepal Students Union (connected to Nepali Congress
Nepali Congress
The Nepali Congress is a Nepalese political party. Nepali Congress led the 1950 Democratic Movement which successfully ended the Rana dynasty and allowed commoners to take part in the polity. It again led a democratic movement in 1990, in partnership with leftist forces, to end monarchy and...
), Kailash Karki of the Nepal National Students Federation (connected to the pro-Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
Communist Party
Communist Party of Nepal (Rayamjhi)
Communist Party of Nepal was a small communist party in Nepal. The group was formed by Keshar Jung Rayamajhi after he was expelled from the pro-Soviet Communist Party of Nepal in September 1983, due to his pro-monarchic actions. Rayamjhi's new party held a 'Special Congress' in March 1984. The...
) and Tanka Karki of the All Nepal National Free Students Union
All Nepal National Free Students Union
The All Nepal National Free Students Union is a student based organisation in Nepal. The ANNFSU was founded in 1965. The original ANNFSU was later divided along ideological lines, and there are several organisations that emerged out of it. The main ANNFSU grouping today is politically tied to the...
(connected to the pro-Chinese
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
communist stream).
April 23 Ascol clashes
On April 23 students of the Amrit Science College (Ascol) held a public manifestation, protesting against violence committed by the pro-government outfit Rashtravadi Swatantra Vidhyarthi Mandal (nicknamed mandales). At that manifestation, the police not only decided to break up the demonstration in the open areas of the campus, but surrounded the entire area and began violently assaulting the students. Sources from the student community claimed that two or three students were killed by the police. Police sources, on their hand, claimed that 64 amongst their ranks had been injured in the clashes.Following the Amrit Science College clashes, the authorities took a decision that would essentially turn local student unrest in the capital into a national rebellion. They decided to close the campuses and student hostels; students were given 24 hours to clear their rooms. Students from remote areas left the capital to return to their family residences. To their villages and hometowns they brought news about the brutality of the state forces, and soon protests began to appear around the country.
Nationwide Escalation
On April 27 a visit by a minister to HetaudaHetauda
Hetauda is a town in the Makwanpur District of the Narayani Zone in southern Nepal. It is also the administrative headquarters of the Makwanpur district. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 53,836 people living in 10,420 individual households...
sparked protests by the local population. Demonstrators held the minister incommunicado for ten hours. The crowd was broken up by police firing. Official records say that three demonstrators were killed, but opposition sources claimed that the death toll could have reached 17. The morning after, the state forces clamped down on known opposition leaders in the capital, arresting several prominent figures. Former Prime Minister B.P. Koirala was placed under house arrest.
The unrest then gained momentum and spread throughout the country. Protests occurred in Bhaktapur
Bhaktapur
Bhaktapur , also Bhadgaon or Khwopa is an ancient Newar town in the east corner of the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. It is located in Bhaktapur District in the Bagmati Zone...
, Patan, Bharatpur
Bharatpur, Nepal
Bharatpur is a city in the central-southern part of Nepal. Located in Chitwan Valley, Bharatpur is the district headquarters of the Chitwan District, as well as a separate Municipal authority, and is the seventh largest city of Nepal with the population of 89,323 . The estimated population for...
, Birganj
Birganj
Birganj is a sub-metropolitan municipality and border town in Parsa District in the Narayani Zone of southern Nepal. It lies 283 km south of the capital Kathmandu, 3 km north of the border of the Indian state of Bihar. As an entry point to Nepal from Patna and Calcutta it is also known...
, Kalaiya
Kalaiya
Kalaiya is a town and capital of Bara District in the Narayani Zone of south-eastern Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 18,498 persons residing in 3010 individual households....
, Janakpur, Biratnagar, Rajbirah, Siraha
Siraha
Siraha Nepal is the headquarters of Siraha District, a part of Sagarmatha Zone, Nepal. The town is located at an altitude of 64 metres .It has the population of 572,399 according to the statistics of 2001.It is not event the town or the cities,a small BAZAAR.The political condition is not well of...
, Sarlahi, Pokhara
Pokhara
Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan City is the second largest city of Nepal. Pokhara is city of close to 350,000 inhabitants in central Nepal located at 28.25°N, 83.99°E, which is the centre of the country from east to west or from north to south, 198 km west of Kathmandu or 90 km west of Mugling, and...
and Syangja
Syangja
Syangja is the headquarters of Syangja District in the Gandaki Zone of Nepal. It is located at 28°4'60N 83°52'0E with an altitude of 1088 metres .At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 8914 people residing in 1884 individual households. -External links:**...
. In total, clashes occurred in 37 out of 75 districts of Nepal
Districts of Nepal
Nepal's 14 administrative zones are subdivided into 75 districts . These districts are listed below, by zone...
. The education minister, Pashupati Shamsher Rana, resigned.
Royal commission and negotiations
On May 2 King Birendra, in response to the protests, formed a five-member commission to present a report on how to deal with student movement. On May 2–3, 160 students arrested during the protests were released. The royal commission suggested giving in to the students' demands concerning academic issues, and on May 9 the 64 remaining arrested students were released alongside political opposition leaders.The Student Action Committee was able to reach an agreement with the royal commission, including abolishing the 1972 new education policy, scrapping entrance exams for universities, giving the right to form independent student unions and abolishing the Mandales. The Student Action Committee on their behalf urged fellow students to return to the campuses.
May 22 Ascol rally
On May 22 some 3000 students gather at Amrit Science College to hear the outcomes of the negotiations between the Student Action Committee and the authorities. At the meeting members of more radical sector of the students movement, the All Nepal National Free Students UnionAll Nepal National Free Students Union
The All Nepal National Free Students Union is a student based organisation in Nepal. The ANNFSU was founded in 1965. The original ANNFSU was later divided along ideological lines, and there are several organisations that emerged out of it. The main ANNFSU grouping today is politically tied to the...
, charged that the Student Action Committee had sold out to the regime. Bal Bahadur K.C. and Saran Malla of the pro-Congress Nepal Students Union got their faces covered in black paint and were forced to wear garlands of shoes (Shai Lal Karki, also singled out as a traitor by the radical students, was absent at the occasion). Then they were put on a push-cart, and pulled around the city streets in humiliation. As the students paraded the streets of the capital, shouting slogans demanding direct dialogue with the king (instead of dialogue via the royal commission), bystanders joined the procession. At its peak, the crowd counted 20-30 000. It sacked offices of government newspapers and set fire to vehicles of Royal Nepal Airlines
Royal Nepal Airlines
Nepal Airlines is the flag carrier of Nepal. Its main base is Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu. The airline was established in July 1958 as Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation . The airlines first aircraft was a single Douglas DC-3, used to serve domestic routes and a handful of...
. The situation turned violent, as police tried to rescue the two student leaders from the crowd. Army forces were called in to disperse the crowds, as riot police in capital had been seriously weakened as large numbers of policemen had been transferred to quell the uprising in the districts. The army opened fire on the demonstrators. Government sources later claimed that whilst five demonstrators had been injured, forty policemen had been injured. One of them later died.