Good People of Nepal – The Top Ten Countdown

Good people are those whose actions serve the society.

Evil people are the ones who make our lives a hell.

In our earlier post, we dealt with some of the most evil people from Nepal. That countdown was based on their actions which had profound negative impacts on the lives of most Nepali people. This post gives you the list of all-time good people of Nepal, some dead and some living.

Each good people mentioned here has done something that has benefited the country. Their good deeds have made our lives easier. They are the people we can draw our inspirations from.

The countdown of good people is totally based on my own musings and a bit of research. My consideration on their contributions has been the sole judge in ranking them. I was surprised to find that good people outnumber the evil ones in Nepal. While creating the evil list, it was very hard for me to remember and research on the really evil ones!

But the good ones were (and are) so plenty that I know I have missed many of them. Then there is work for you too! You can always express your opinions through the comment form and make this post as authentic as possible.

Here we go with the list of the really good people (my choice!).

           11. Birendra Bir Bikram Shah (28Dec 1945 – 1June 2001)

Considered as the most liberal king from the Shah monarchy, he announced the referendum to decide between the non-party and the multi-party system in 1980.

As a prince he traveled throughout Nepal, incognito, like in some fairy tale. Eight years after his ascension to the throne (1972), he tried loosening political restraints. After the People’s Movement in 1990, he agreed to remain as a constitutional monarch, respecting the people’s choice.

10. Ramesh Kharel ( The Incorruptible Cop)

Currently the Senior Superintendent of Police in Nepal Police, this man is the rare clean cop. He cracks down on crime, loathes  criminal gang activities, puts the dons on strait-jackets and fires his corrupt subordinates.

When most of the cops are bowing down before the political gods, he is the only cop known to raid illegal brothels, register murder charge on Prabhu Shah (minister) and cultivate a sense of patriotism and duty on his juniors.

            9. Mahabir Pun

Mahabir Pun has connected his village and the surrounding villages to the global village with his innovative wireless technology.

Born in Myagdi district and educated in the USA, he has been helping the villagers of western Nepal with his genuine idea of providing computers and internet for every school and medical diagnosis in the remotest areas through tele-medicine.

Around 35 villages in Myagdi, Kaski, Parbat, Makwanpur and Palpa are benefited from his wireless network. He has been honored with the Ramon Magsaysay Award.

             8. Dev Shamsher (17July 1862 – 20Feb 1914)

Considered as the one and only liberal Prime Minister from the lineage of the Rana dynasty, Dev Shamsher started building schools, took steps to abolish slavery, opened Durbar High School for common people.

Gorkhapatra, the oldest newspaper of Nepal, was given the green signal by this man, in the time when most Ranas thought educating people was like hitting one’s foot with an axe.

He planned to send youths to study in Japan and implement the Japanese technologies in Nepal. Due to his progressive attitude, the other Ranas overthrew him and exiled him.

              7. Bhimsen Thapa (1775 -28July 1839)

Nepal is proud of her sovereignty mainly because of      Bhimsen Thapa’s diplomatic skills and skillful administration while he was the Prime Minister from 1806 to 1837 AD.

If it had not been for him and his brave soldiers, Nepal would have been annexed into the British Empire. He administered the Nepali troops during the Anglo-Nepalese War (1814-1816). Though it was a bitter loss for Nepal, the defeat didn’t hit Nepal so hard because of Bhimsen Thapa.

History has openly praised his diplomatic skills. He modernized the army, brought unused lands into cultivation, updated the administration of the country along with a lot of other reforms.

Later, he fell victim to the conspiracies of rival courtiers, was imprisoned and cut his throat upon the inciting of his enemies. They had spread the rumor that his wife was to be moved around the city, stark naked. He died a painful death; nine days after he had cut open his throat.

             6. Sanduk Ruit (1955 – _______ )

Born in the remote village of Olangchung Gola (mountain pass in the Himalayas), this eye surgeon received his education in Darjeeling, USA, Austrailia and other European countries.

Dr. Sanduk Ruit innovated an inexpensive form of cataract surgery and hence helped the poor patients from all around the globe when the contemporary form of  surgery used to cost about $100.

He is the founder of Tilganga Eye Hospital. Feels honored to say that he had spent much of his childhood in Hile which lies 5 km east of Pakhribas.

              5. Anuradha Gurung (14April 1949 – _____ )

This strong heart woman is the founder director of Maiti Nepal. She with her organisation has been helping the victims of sex-trafficking. Maiti Nepal is a home for the women rescued from the brothels in India.

She has helped to reunite families. Her organisation patrols the border along with the security forces to recognize and apprehend the innocent girls being led into India by the cunning girl-traffickers.

Her service has been recognized throughout the world as she has been honored with awards like the CNN Hero of the Year (2010) and Courage of Conscience Award (Massachusetts, 2006).

               4. Jhamak  Ghimire (July 1980 – ____ )

The girl with cerebral palsy, who has stunned the world with her Madan Puraskar winning autobiography “flower in the midst of thorns” and various other literary works.

Jhamak can’t speak nor walk, and the only external organs she has under her control are the three toes on her left foot. She writes stories and poems holding a pen with them.

She is an inspiration to everyone, whether disabled or able-bodied. In her autobiography, she writes about how she learnt to read and write and how with her sheer determination she transformed from a vegetable to an award-winning writer. Jhamak is also known as the Helen Keller of Nepal.

                 3. Ketul  Shah ( 1723 – 1775)

Looks like Prithvi Narayan Shah with his famous finger pose!? Surprised to see him on the second spot? Yeah, me too! But it seems that sometimes some people can have both the qualities and they can be judged either ways, as good people or bad people.

Ketul Shah (that’s his formal name) was in the top place in our evil people's list. I looked around a lot for somebody who was worthy enough for the second person on this list but found none. Though Ketul was harsh on his enemies, without him there would not be any Nepal!

If Ketul hadn’t been here, we would have been still fighting with each other and there would be a country just some metres away from your house. That was the state of Nepal when Ketul was the king of Gorkha, so he decided that if all the always-at-war-countries were not united into a whole, the other invader (East India Company) would eventually conquer all and suck the juice out of every kings, courtiers and his men.

So what he did was the best that any king has done in the history of Nepal. He conquered all the warring tribes and gave birth to a new country.

                  2. Siddhartha Gautama (death between 411 and 400BC)

I am unworthy to speak about him for he has said:

“Do not speak – unless it improves on silence.”

                    1. Me (unborn)

Another surprise?!? I’m talking about you, not me.  Yes, the Me when you read it refers to You when you look at the image.  Realise your capacity of being another Buddha, Ketul, Jhamak, Anuradha, Sanduk, Bhimsen, Dev, Mahabir or Ramesh! They were normal people like us!

Hey don’t forget to add your opinions on the comment box below! Your comments will enliven this post with some fresh insights, you know that!