King Tribhuvan with the first Indian PM Jawaharlal Nehru.

Falgun 7 is one of the proudest days in the country because democracy was brought into Nepal on this day, hence liberating the country from 104 years of family rule of Ranas. The Ranas practiced "Jahannia Shashan",  i.e a political system run by one clan, the Ranas. The Shah kings were reduced to living puppets while political, social, and economic rights were vested within Rana's own family. The Rana dynasty descended from the Kunwar family, a nobility of the Gorkha Kingdom. Due to the marital lineages with the politically reigning Thapa dynasty (of Mukhtiyar Bhimsen Thapa) from the early 19th century, Ranas gained entry into central palace politics. It was Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah Dev, the ruling king, who initiated the march against the Rana Regime and was one of the key figures in bringing democracy to the country to abolish the Rana rule from Nepal. Hence King Tribhuvan is "The Father of the Nation". The historic day was Falgun 7, 74 years ago which is today celebrated as "Democracy Day".

How did Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah Dev bring Democracy to Nepal?

Did King Tribhuvan take pride in the Rana dynasty ending under his regime? Did he need to take refuge at the Indian embassy to go against the Ranas? Was it difficult for the king to fight against the Rana living in the country? Was it not cowardice for a Nation's king to seek asylum with India? King Surendra, Tribhuvan's grandfather issued a sanad- which formalized the dominance and political leadership of the Kunwar family- the family of Jung Bahadur Rana in 1956. Could the Tribhuvan not announce that the Sanad was canceled and the Ranas were deprived of Jahania rights? Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India, wrote several letters written to the Indian ambassador and senior staff to Nepal and also to senior leaders of Nepal. In a letter written to the Chief Minister of Bihar, Shri Krishna Sinha, on 28 Ashar 2006 BS,  Nehru asked him to allow the Nepalese political activists protesting against Ranas to come to Bihar. In addition, he ordered Sinha to prohibit entry of any Nepal government officials to make arrests of those politicians. But in a letter written to Prime Minister Mohan Shumsher by the Rana of Nepal on  Bhadra 3, 2006 BS, (August 19, 1949 AD) he seemed he was happy that Nepal is an independent state and there is no political problem, but political prisoners in Nepal are not treated according to international law, and requested to improve it. Also, Mohan Shumsher expressed his belief that the visit to India, which he wants to do, will further strengthen the relationship between the two countries. On the same day of sending this letter, he also wrote another letter to the Indian Ambassador, CPN Singh. In which the letter sent to the Maharaja asked to be handed over immediately, he also kept a copy of the letter sent to the Maharaja and asked him to read it as well. He also asked the Maharaja to advise him on political reform to release political prisoners and improve the facilities of the prison. On 25th Bhadra, 2006 BS, (September 10, 1949 AD)  he severely criticized the behavior of the Maharaja of Nepal to his ambassador. He expressed his anger for rejecting the suggestions given by him. But in his letter to the Maharaja a month later he expressed optimism. The Maharaja along with Nepalese politician Dilliraman Regmi, Indian Assistant Foreign Minister Dr. Regarding BV Keskar's meeting and Nehru's meeting with Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala (BP Koirala), he said that since India is a democratic country, no one can adopt a policy of not meeting them. But he said that this would not create any awkward situation in the relationship between the two countries. Similarly, speaking at the Parliament on 4th Chaitra 2006, (March 17, 1950 AD) Nehru said - The visit of the Prime Minister of Nepal to India has just ended. With this cordial meeting, it seems that the goal of both our nations is the same. You have only requested some reforms in Nepal. For this, we do not intend to pressurize or attack. But I would like to inform this House and others what should be our policy in this kind of case. Meanwhile, on the 24th Chaitra 2006 BS, (April 6, 1950 AD) the Ministry of Home Affairs of India proposed a resolution to provide an exemption for any Nepalese to work in public jobs in India. It gave the impression that an Indian provincial right was also granted to Nepal. Although Nepal and Sikkim are separate independent states, India gave this facility to both states. As it succeeded in incorporating Sikkim over time, it created a place for suspicion that India's intention towards Nepal was not the same. In the year 2007 BS (1951 AD), the movement to remove the royal regime had already started in Nepal. There were processions and attacks in different areas. Meanwhile, the Indian government was preparing for a treaty with the Rana government. The Rana regime was on the verge of collapse, so Rana Prime Minister Mohan Shumsher was ready to accept India's conditions in the hope that he could extend his power further with the help of India. At that time, China was trying to annex Tibet, therefore, China was nonchalant in the treaty between Nepal and India, therefore India prepared for an alliance. At a press conference held in Delhi on 9th Jestha 2007 BS, (March 22 1950 AD) when Nepal was preparing for the India Peace and Friendship Treaty, Nehru was asked what the future of the Gorkha soldiers in India would be like in the 1950 AD treaty. In response to this Nehru said - Although the formation of Gurkha soldiers is being continued in Britain, we will keep the condition that Gurkha soldiers will not be used against India. In that press conference, they were asked not only about the Gorkha soldiers but also about Nepal's politics and India's relationship with the parties. In it, it was said that even if permission is given to stay in India and fight against the government of Nepal, it will not be allowed to carry out violent protests. India had no intention of provoking the Rana government when preparations were being made for the treaty of 1950 AD Therefore, it tried to show that it has a friendly relationship with Nepal. The 1950 treaty was called an unequal treaty because the signatories were not of equal status. The Prime Minister of Nepal is in no way the same as the Ambassador of India. This treaty would have been parallel only if the Prime Minister of India had signed it. Even according to international law, this treaty cannot be valid. When Mohan Shumsher II's 104-year-long reign was on the verge of collapse, Nehru made preparations for the Koshi Barrage. The agreement was made only with Matrikaprasad's government. But it was prepared 20 days before the Nepal-India Treaty of 1950. On 27th Ashad 2007 BS, (July 11, 1950 AD) Nehru wrote a letter to Vihar Chief Minister Shri Krishna Sinha. This letter was a reply to Sinha's that had arrived two days ago. Nehru asked the Vihar government not to monitor Nepali political activists and not to provide their information to Nepali officers. But he asked to ban violent protests. He also asked Nepali officers and police not to enter Vihar to arrest any kind of political criminals. Finally, on 16th Shrawan 2007 BS, (July 17, 1950 AD) the Nepal-India Peace and Friendship Treaty was signed. Immediately after the treaty, the Indian ambassador sent a letter to the Prime Minister of Nepal Mohan Shumsher and the Prime Minister of Nepal also sent a letter to the Indian ambassador. 5 points seem to be exchanged with each other through letters. A week after the Nepal-India Treaty, two politicians representing Nepal's Terai, Bhadrakali Mishra, and Vindeshwari Prasad Mishra, reached Delhi secretly and succeeded in meeting Indian President Rajendra Prasad. These two informed the Indian President that they are social activists but have nothing to do with Nepal's politics. They also informed the President that Congress does not have a deep impression in Nepal and as most of its workers live in India, it is not a strong party. Perhaps it is for this reason that Mohan Shumsher and BP Koirala were forced to include Bhadrakali Mishra in the cabinet under Nehru's pressure after democracy came to the country. When Mohan Shumsher was ready to put the point we wanted in the Nepal-India Treaty, perhaps Nehru had assured us that the Rana regime would continue for some time. However, after the agreement, the government of Nepal continued to protest against the abuse and harsh treatment of political prisoners. On the other hand, King Tribhuvan managed to send a secret message to Nehru by meeting the Indian ambassador CPN Singh. King informed Nehru that he could take refuge in the Indian embassy. In response to this, Nehru said, "As informed by the Ambassador, I am sorry to hear about the relationship between you and your Prime Minister and your security. I would like to fully assure you that our embassy will provide the security and shelter we can according to the value and recognition of international law." According to the letter sent by Nehru to CPN Singh on 12th Kartik 2007 BS, (October 28, 1950 AD), he was asked to inform him that he was sad that the relationship between the King of Nepal and the Prime Minister was deteriorating, and he was asked to inform the King that he should take refuge in the embassy in the name of security and make arrangements to board a ship from the embassy to Delhi. Needless to say, King Tribhuvan, with the help and advice of the Indian ambassador 21st Kartik 2007 BS, (November 06, 1950 AD) reached the Indian Embassy at Shital Niwas building to seek refuge. The information about this was immediately given to Nehru by the CPN Singh and Nehru wrote a letter to the Indian President Rajendra Prasad the very next day. In the letter sent to the President, Nehru wrote - "Arrived in Delhi this evening on a visit to Bombay (now Mumbai) and Poona (now Pune). Meanwhile, in my absence, important events have taken place in Nepal". On 22nd Kartik 2007 BS, Nehru sent a telegram to CP Singh asking him to talk about something. Nehru has asked the ambassador to meet the king and make preparations to come to India. He also stated that he was ready to send the ship immediately. On 23rd Kartik 2007 BS, Nehru informed CPN Singh that he would not be able to land the plane due to the treaty between India and Nepal, and that he would find a solution soon. Nehru noted in the diary page on 27th Kartik 2007 BS, "The situation in Nepal is deteriorating day by day and Nepali Ambassador Vijay Shumsher had written that he had received information that he wants to come to India for talks soon". It was seen that the general Nepalese people were in favor of King Tribhuvan and were following the Nepali Congress. Therefore, it was assumed that now everything was focused on the role of the Nepali Army. He had written that the protest had intensified in Birgunj city and the Chief Minister of Vihar had also been told not to allow Nepali protestors and Nepali soldiers to enter Indian soil. According to the letter written by Deputy Prime Minister Ballabhai Patel to Nehru on 28th Kartik 2007 BS, it seemed that Patel didn’t like the Nepali Congress that much. On the same day, Director of Intelligence Bureau BN Mallik gave details of the activities of the rebels of the Nepali Congress in Terai of Nepal to Indian Prime Minister Nehru. The information was;

1. At 8 o'clock in the night on 25th Kartik, Nepali Congress distributed leaflets with Mahavir Shumsher's Himalayan Aviation. For this, the ship was flown from Patna, India.
2. About 200 armed fighters of the Nepali Congress who came from Calcutta were brought to Muzaffarpur, India. These fighters were brought from Muzaffarpur to Raxaul (India) in a truck. Arms and ammunition were also brought from Calcutta.
3. The Ward Hakim of Birgunj was caught and imprisoned in the Dak bungalow in front of the Raxaul police station. The armed fighters were kept under security because the Congress could run away. Later, the Vihar government took it from Raxaul to Muzaffarpur.
4. 46 Nepali soldiers who were captured from Nepal were captured and kept at Raxaul police station. Although they have been pressured to work as rebel soldiers for the Nepali Congress for the past 24 hours, preparations are being made to leave the police station after they do not want to work for the Congress.
5. Nepali Congress looted 2.6 million in cash from Sadar Muluki Khana in Birgunj. Similarly, three boxes of gold bars and two boxes of gold coins were also stolen. Suvarna Shumsher, BP Koirala, and Tej Bahadur Amatya had established offices in Nepal. He also lived in the government residence in Raxaul. It was suspected that they had hidden the looted money in this residence.
6. The situation in Birgunj is getting worse. In addition, the people have started fleeing because of the fear of the attack of the government forces. The Nepali Congress has also banned the sale of property. The Marwaris living in Birganj doing business have also started fleeing to Raxaul.
7. 200 Nepali Congress soldiers have reached North Amlekhganj from Birganj. There, other 1200 insurgents are hiding and preparing for an attack on the suspicion that the Nepalese army is coming from Kathmandu. There is a possibility that there will be a fierce war between Bhimfedi and Amlekhganj.
8. Common people are starting to think that India has support and cooperation in this kind of war. Newspapers also seem to have the same intention.

After receiving this kind of information from the Director of the Indian Intelligence Bureau, BN Mallik, Nehru sent a telegram to the Chief Minister of Vihar, Shri Krishna Sinha, informing him that the Indian land cannot be used by the Government of Nepal and the rebel Nepali Congress and that if they come with weapons, they will be allowed to enter. On the same day, Indian Prime Minister Nehru sent information to British Prime Minister C. R. Attlee that rebel soldiers supported by the Nepali Congress had attacked the office of the Chief Minister in Birgunj. He also wrote, "Nepali Congress is not allowed to use Indian land in any way". In this way, Nehru seems to have tricked the British Prime Minister.