Kirtiman Singh Basnet

Introduction to Kirtiman Singh Basnet

Kirtiman Singh Basnet was a bold Kaji, politician, and administrator who was born into the Basnet-Pande family. He was the son of Keharsingh Basnyat and Chitradevi Pandey Basnyat, daughter of Kalu Pandey. He served as an influential Mulkazi in Nepal and was known for his bravery in the Nepal-Tibet War. He fought as a commander and general of the Nepalese army. He was assassinated in 1801 A.D.

Life of Kirtiman Singh Basnet

Rise of Kirtiman Singh Basnet

Kirtimansingh Basnet served in the Nepali army with Amar Singh Thapa and The Pandey Family under the command of Balabhadrashah. Kirtimansingh Basnyat later became Nepal’s Chief Minister and Prime Minister. His Maternal Grand Father was Kalu Pande, one of the greatest Military Strategist during the Unification of Nepal.

When Rana Bahadur Shah removed his Uncle Bahadur Shah from Power, he fell in love with a Widow named Kantimati. He started to distance himself from the Administration. He even removed the Crown Prince and made Girvan Yuddha Bikram Shah the King of Nepal.

After the death of Kantimati, he turned mad for a temporary period. Kirtiman Singh Basnet realized that Nepal could be in grave danger during this situation and decided to take matters into his own hands.

He managed to sneak out Queen Suvarnaprabha and Infant King Girvan to Nuwakot. Then, he started running a new administration from Nuwakot and releasing Official Orders from Nuwakot. Rana Bahadur Shah was forced to exile and Queen Suvarnaprabha began her Regency. During the regency of Queen Suvarnaprabha (Second Wife of Rana Bahadur Shah), Kirtimansingh Basnyat took over the reins of administration.

The Opponents of Kirtiman Singh Basnet spread a rumor that Queen Suvarnapabha was having an improper relationship with him. Therefore, he was killed and Rana Bahadur Shah returned to Nepal.

The Assassination of Kirtiman Singh Basnet

The circumstances behind Kirtimansingh Basnet’s murder are unknown. During Queen Suvarnaprabha’s reign, a Bhardari Sabha Basali was constituted to discover the perpetrators of his killing.

As a result, Sardar Pratiman Rana, Khajanchi Garbh Khawas, and Sardar Indrasingh Khawas were executed for the crime, while Devdutt Thapa’s eyes were closed. Kirtimansingh’s brother Bakhtawarsingh Basnyat was appointed as Chief Kazi, and Amar Singh Thapa became Kazi after his murder.

As Kirtimansingh Basnet’s political authority grew, his detractors propagated rumours of an illicit connection between him and Queen Suvarnaprabha.

In October 1801 A.D., Kirtimansingh Basnet was assassinated by Kanchan Khawas and Shyam Dutt Shah, who charged him with using the power of Maharani Suvarnaprabha to hide his return home from Hattisar. Around 80 people were arrested, including supporters of the Eldest Queen.

The murder of Bhardar Kirtimansingh Basnet is still a source of contention. Damodar Pandey has been implicated as the killer by some, while others have pointed fingers at Srikrishna Shah or Vakhtawar Singh Basnet.

Damodar Pandey was suspected due to his involvement in the murder, while Kirtimansingh Basnet’s brother Bakhtawarsingh Basnet succeeded him after the tragedy.

The murder of Kirtimansingh Basnet created an atmosphere of suspicion and fear among the Bhardars. It increased animosity between the Pande and Basnet families. It led to an unstable political environment in Nepal. This instability remained until the rise of the Rana regime created by Jung Bahadur Rana.

The Eyes of Devdatt Thapa were destroyed, The Khawas Family was also killed and one of the Rana was also killed. His Brother, Bakhtawar Singh Basnet, was made the Mulkazi of Nepal after his death.

Legacy of Kirtiman Singh Basnet

He became the victim of conspiracy and Court Politics that continued till the Rana Regime. Although he was assassinated, he is considered to be a Brave Politician by large part of Historians.

Conclusion

Kirtiman Singh Basnet was a Mulkazi, Commander and General of the Unified Nepalese Army.

He became the victim of conspiracy and Court Politics that continued till the Rana Regime. Although he was assassinated, he is considered to be a Brave Politician by large part of Historians.

He rose to become the Chief Minister and Prime Minister of Nepal. He took charge of the administration during the unstable political situation when Rana Bahadur Shah fell in love with a widow and distanced himself from the administration.

References