Gehendra Shumsher (Nepali: गेहेन्द्र शमशेर, 1871–1906) was a Nepali innovator, firearm designer, and general in the then Nepali Army. He was the eldest son of Bir Shumsher, the third prime minister of the Rana dynasty.[1] He is generally regarded as the first scientist of Nepal.
Gehendra was born in Poush, 1928 BS (1871 CE).[2][a] He was born in Nepal where his father was sent to serve as the Nepali representative to India. Born in a noble Rana family, he had the rare privilege to study. Apart from being privately tutored within the palace in English, he later also attended Durbar High School – the oldest modern school of Nepal. With the enrollment in Durbar High School, his interests were kindled, now that he was trying his hand at sports and music as well.[3] However, past Durbar High School, not much is known about his academic part of life. While some references suggest he was sent to Japan along with 5 others to pursue engineering studies, his precise academic qualification remains unknown.[2][4]
As a kid, Gehendra was intimately drawn to mechanics and ammunition. After the murder of Ranodip Singh Kunwar in 1942 BS, his father, Bir Shumsher, became the nation's prime minister, and opportunities popped up for him. At a tender age of 14 years, he was appointed to take care of the ammunition department in the Royal Nepal Army. This early exposure gutted in him a lifelong fascination for arms, ammunition, and the like.[3]
Career
King Prithvi bir vikram shah Dev (left) with Gehendra Shumsher Rana. Gehendra Shumsher is believed to be the first scientist of Nepal.
At some point, Gehendra Shumsher worked as a spy chief and the head of police, but his interests were largely confined to the manufacture and design of firearms. As opposed to importing arms and ammunition from other countries, he wanted to manufacture them within the country, especially by exploiting locally available raw materials like iron and coal. So, after a considerable study of British catalogues, he set up manufacturing factories at Jamal (Seto Durbar), Sundarijal, Balaju, and Megchan (Bhojpur) with a view of doing just that.[2]
Towards the end of 1956 BS, Gehendra Shumsher imported a motor car from Ford Motor Company. He tried to make a new motor car himself by disassembling and studying every part in every detail. Besides, he set up a seven boiler rice mill and wind motor to draw underground water at Seto Durbar, the residential palace he inherited from his father. He was the first man in Nepal to produce electricity in Nepal. He demonstrated how electricity could be produced with the help of water. In addition, he also set up a leather tanning factory in Balaju.[2]
Gehendra Shamsher is credited for modernization of Nepal Army. He was able to make his own mechanical machine gun similar to Gardner gun and named it Bir gun after his father. He is also credited for modifying Martini–Henry into new gun Gahendra Martini and Ge-rifle, a double-barrelled machine gun. Besides, he also developed a new model of canon Dhir-Gun, named in honour of his grandfather, Dhir Shumsher.[5]
Later life
After the demise of Bir Shumsher, Dev Shumsher ascended to the throne. Dev and Gehendra Shumsher shared an amicable relationship, so Gehendra had an important position in the palace. He was appointed as the spy chief and head of police. Later, upon the request of Dev Shumsher, he went to Japan to study the Japanese technology, especially with regard to the manufacturing of firearms.[3]
Gehendra Shumsher died a mysterious death at the age of 35.[2] However, it is believed that during initial years of Chandra Shumsher's premiership, Gehendra Shumsher was murdered at his residence in Seto Durbar as Chandra was scared of his political and military influence.[1]
^Since the Vikram Samvat calendar is 56.7 years ahead (in count) of Gregorian calendar, the CE year can be approximated by subtracting 56.7 from the BS year and rounding it down to the nearest integral value.
References
^ abJBR, PurushottamShamsher (1990). Shree Teen Haruko Tathya Britanta (in Nepali). Bhotahity, Kathmandu: Vidarthi Pustak Bhandar. ISBN99933-39-91-1.
^ abcdeKoselee's Social Studies and Population Studies, Grade 7 (Revised ed.). Koselee Prakashan. 2014. pp. 43–44. ISBN978-99946-50-87-3.
^ abc"नेपालकै पहिलो वैज्ञानिक यस्ता थिए- रोचक तथ्य" [Interesting facts about Nepal's first scientist]. nepaliheadlines.com (in Nepali). Retrieved 17 August 2016.
^"History of IOE". ioe.edu.np. Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University. Retrieved 17 August 2016. As a result of this, his son, Gehendra Shamsher, along with other 5 students were sent to Japan for higher engineering study.
^Walters, John (2005). Guns of the Gurkhas. Tharston Press. ISBN978-0946696451.
August 24, 2023
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Gehendra Shumsher Nepali ग ह न द र शमश र 1871 1906 was a Nepali innovator firearm designer and general in the then Nepali Army He was the eldest son of Bir Shumsher the third prime minister of the Rana dynasty 1 He is generally regarded as the first scientist of Nepal GeneralGehendra ShumsherJung Bahadur Rana JBR ग ह न द र शमश रShumsher with his wifeBorn1871Died1906NationalityNepaliKnown forGahendra MartiniParentBir Shumsher father Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Later life 4 See also 5 Notes 6 ReferencesEarly life EditGehendra was born in Poush 1928 BS 1871 CE 2 a He was born in Nepal where his father was sent to serve as the Nepali representative to India Born in a noble Rana family he had the rare privilege to study Apart from being privately tutored within the palace in English he later also attended Durbar High School the oldest modern school of Nepal With the enrollment in Durbar High School his interests were kindled now that he was trying his hand at sports and music as well 3 However past Durbar High School not much is known about his academic part of life While some references suggest he was sent to Japan along with 5 others to pursue engineering studies his precise academic qualification remains unknown 2 4 As a kid Gehendra was intimately drawn to mechanics and ammunition After the murder of Ranodip Singh Kunwar in 1942 BS his father Bir Shumsher became the nation s prime minister and opportunities popped up for him At a tender age of 14 years he was appointed to take care of the ammunition department in the Royal Nepal Army This early exposure gutted in him a lifelong fascination for arms ammunition and the like 3 Career Edit King Prithvi bir vikram shah Dev left with Gehendra Shumsher Rana Gehendra Shumsher is believed to be the first scientist of Nepal At some point Gehendra Shumsher worked as a spy chief and the head of police but his interests were largely confined to the manufacture and design of firearms As opposed to importing arms and ammunition from other countries he wanted to manufacture them within the country especially by exploiting locally available raw materials like iron and coal So after a considerable study of British catalogues he set up manufacturing factories at Jamal Seto Durbar Sundarijal Balaju and Megchan Bhojpur with a view of doing just that 2 Towards the end of 1956 BS Gehendra Shumsher imported a motor car from Ford Motor Company He tried to make a new motor car himself by disassembling and studying every part in every detail Besides he set up a seven boiler rice mill and wind motor to draw underground water at Seto Durbar the residential palace he inherited from his father He was the first man in Nepal to produce electricity in Nepal He demonstrated how electricity could be produced with the help of water In addition he also set up a leather tanning factory in Balaju 2 Gehendra Shamsher is credited for modernization of Nepal Army He was able to make his own mechanical machine gun similar to Gardner gun and named it Bir gun after his father He is also credited for modifying Martini Henry into new gun Gahendra Martini and Ge rifle a double barrelled machine gun Besides he also developed a new model of canon Dhir Gun named in honour of his grandfather Dhir Shumsher 5 Later life EditAfter the demise of Bir Shumsher Dev Shumsher ascended to the throne Dev and Gehendra Shumsher shared an amicable relationship so Gehendra had an important position in the palace He was appointed as the spy chief and head of police Later upon the request of Dev Shumsher he went to Japan to study the Japanese technology especially with regard to the manufacturing of firearms 3 Gehendra Shumsher died a mysterious death at the age of 35 2 However it is believed that during initial years of Chandra Shumsher s premiership Gehendra Shumsher was murdered at his residence in Seto Durbar as Chandra was scared of his political and military influence 1 See also EditAchyutananda Inventor another inventor and friendNotes Edit Since the Vikram Samvat calendar is 56 7 years ahead in count of Gregorian calendar the CE year can be approximated by subtracting 56 7 from the BS year and rounding it down to the nearest integral value References Edit a b JBR PurushottamShamsher 1990 Shree Teen Haruko Tathya Britanta in Nepali Bhotahity Kathmandu Vidarthi Pustak Bhandar ISBN 99933 39 91 1 a b c d e Koselee s Social Studies and Population Studies Grade 7 Revised ed Koselee Prakashan 2014 pp 43 44 ISBN 978 99946 50 87 3 a b c न प लक पह ल व ज ञ न क यस त थ ए र चक तथ य Interesting facts about Nepal s first scientist nepaliheadlines com in Nepali Retrieved 17 August 2016 History of IOE ioe edu np Institute of Engineering Tribhuvan University Retrieved 17 August 2016 As a result of this his son Gehendra Shamsher along with other 5 students were sent to Japan for higher engineering study Walters John 2005 Guns of the Gurkhas Tharston Press ISBN 978 0946696451 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gehendra Shumsher amp oldid 1156407084, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
