Deva Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana

Sri Teen Maharaja, Prime Minister Deva Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana was born on July 17 1862 A.D. (1919 Shrawan 4 B.S). He was born to the Chief of the Army Dhir Shamsher Rana (a younger brother of Jang Bahadur) and Rani Nanda Kumari. He became the Sri Teen Maharaja, Prime Minister of Nepal at the age 37 yrs 7 month old on March 5 1901 (1957 Falgun 15). He claimed his heredity from his late brother Sri Teen Maharaja, Prime Minister Bir Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana, and got the ‘Laal Mohur’ (Official Stamp of the King of Nepal) from then King Sri Panch Maharajdiraj Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah.

According to the traditions of the Rana;
* Chandra Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana became Chief of the Army
* Bhim Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana became Western Commanding General
* Fathe Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana became Eastern Commanding General
* Jeet Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana became Southern Commanding General
* Juddha Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana became Northern Commanding General

Sri Teen Maharaja Deva Shamsher kept his brother Fathe Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana as Hujuriya General (Chief of the Prime Minister’s body guard) and his nephew General Gehendra Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana in his post of spy-chief and head of police. Gahendra Shamsher was one of the most powerful people at this time. He had placed his allies in all the high positions of the police force since the time of his father Sri Teen Maharaja, Prime Minister Bir Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana. Deva Shamsher appointed his brother Sheer Shamsher as the Chief of Staff to then King Sri Panch Maharajdiraj Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah and even built a palace for him. And in the same year 1901 A.D. Sheer Shamsher was appointed as the first director of Nepal’s first national Newspaper "Gorkha Patra".

Sri Teen Maharaja Deva Shamsher was known as "The Reformist" for his progressive policies, he proclaimed universal education, began to build schools, took steps to abolish slavery, and introduced several other social welfare schemesFact|date=September 2007. He also made improvements to the arsenal at Nakkhu (south of Kathmandu). A democratic person, he took the advice of his nephew General Gahendra Shamsher and decided to establish a parliament and built a big hall in his Thapathali durbar like his uncle Sri Teen Maharaja, Prime Minister and Chief of the Army (Marshal) Jang Bahadur.

Deva Shamsher was also responsible for introducing a campaign in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan to fight corruption, as well as introducing a cannon shot at midday to let the people know the time. He organized a ladies court like his late uncle Jang Bahadur. He was the first person to introduce the newspaper to Nepal, which is still the national daily. He made his ‘Sindure Yatra’ royal proclamation 8 times in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Nagarkot, Kakani etc. Sources claim that his lifestyle was lavish. In his short 4-month regime, he introduced gambling for 2 months, along with bhajan from 3-5 p.m. and silent movies from 8-10 p.m.

He was deposed by his brothers and sent into exile in India. He was succeeded by his brother Sri Teen Maharaja Sir Chandra Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana.

Source

"Shree Teen haru ko tathya Britanta" By Purshotam Shamsher JB Rana