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Destroyed Statue of Nepal’s First Martyr Lakhan Thapa to Be Restored

Kathmandu/Pokhara, July 12, 2008- The destroyed statue of Lakhan Thapa Magar, the first martyr of Nepal will be restored soon, a press release from Nepal Magar Association (NMA), Pokhara states.

The first martyr’s statue in Pokhara was damaged on June 30 in the program organized by Young Communist League (YCL) and All Nepal Transport Worker’s Association (ANTWA) to show the Indian thieves who were caught by them in Damauli, Tanahu District. The unfortunate incident took place during the program when the mob gathered there.

Portrait of Martyr Lakhan Thapa Magar by Tekbir Mukhiya for Laaphaa Cultural Magazine

This irresponsible action raised a huge protest and condemnation from the Magar community, indigenous organizations, Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities and from all over the country. Youths from different indigenous communities came into the streets in Dharan, Surkhet, Butwal, Pokhara, Mahendra Nagar and Nawalparasi to protest the action and demanding the restoration of the statue by the involved groups.

Destroyed statue of Lakhan Thapa in Pokhara. Photo: Smita

A committee was formed to investigate the incident. As the incident had taken place during the program organized by YCL and ANTWA, the committee came to the decision that YCL and ANTWA had to take moral responsibility as the incident was unintentional. Accepting the committee’s decision YCL and ANTWA have assumed the moral responsibility and have declared their plan to restore the statue within weeks.

“As the incident was unintentional, we reached an understanding after they took the moral responsibility and formally declared plans to restore the statue,” said Jhak Thapa Magar, President of NMA Central Executive Committee. But, he warned, if they fail to restore the statue in the given time then we will launch protest programs.

The statue of Lakhan Thapa Magar was established there in Chaitra 15 (March 28) by Magar Association and other indigenous nationalities after getting permission from political parties. The statue was put at then known Prithvi Chock where late King Prithvi’s statue had been. The late King’s statue was destroyed during Jana-Andolan 2063 by protestors and then named it as Lakhan Chok soon after the movement’s success.

Statue of Martyr Lakhan Thapa Magar in Butwal. Photo: Paras Gurung

Celebrating 131st Anniversary of Lakhan’s martyrdom on Phalgun 2 (February 13), his another statue was established in Chauraha, Butwal. On the same day, the plan was announced to establish the statue of martyr Magar in Prithvi Chok in Pokhara. A foundation stone was laid (shilanyas) in Palpa District as well.

NMA and its other sister organizations, along with support from indigenous nationalities organizations, are raising their voices to declare Lakhan Thapa Magar as the first martyr of the country. Lakhan Thapa was the first person who opposed the Rana regime and was killed by hanging by the Ranas as punishment in 1877 (1933 B.S.)

-Smita Magar in Kathmandu

Statue of Martyr Lakhan Thapa Magar in Butwal. Photo: Paras Gurung

तपाईंको भनाइ लेखी छाड्‍न र अरुको भनाइ पढ्न यहाँ क्लिक गर्नुहोस्
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