Legends and Heroes,Face of Nepal

Legends and Heroes
Prithvi Narayan Shah (1723 - 1775) Nepal's most famous King who united individual states into one Kingdom of Nepal. He is regarded as the founder of the Nation, who remained a King from 1768 until his death in 1775 Shah was unlike most rulers. He believed in giving freedom to the people and he is the #1 National Hero of Nepal One of his contributions to the nation, highly recognized even-today, is his efforts to eradicate slavery in Nepal. With his help, Nepal had started eradicating slavery, while slavery was still in practice all over the world. The Royal Palace used by Prithivi King is located in the Gurkha District, which can be visited easily from Kathmandu or Pokhara.	Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev (December 28, 1945 – June 1, 2001) Regarded as the most friendly King Nepalese ever had, he died in a Royal Palace Massacre which also killed 9 of his family members including his wife, his son Dipendra - then the would be King of Nepal. Nepalese media as well as foreign news media such as BBC and CNN conclude that "Dipendra shot himself after shooting his entire family because of his parents's dislike of his choice of bride" but majority of Nepalese view Royal Massacre as the number one unsolved mystery of Nepal. King Favored Parliamentary Multi-Party Democracy. Birendra's warm and friendly personality lives in the hearts of many Nepalese.	Bisheshwor Prasad Koirala (1914-1982) Bisheshwor was the first Prime minister of Nepal. He was the leader of the First political party - the Nepali Congress. He was a charismatic political leader of Nepal His hobbies were politics and literature. He fought for Nepalese freedom and democracy. In Short, his name is written as BP Koirala. Many of today's Nepali leaders follow BP Koirala's principals of leadership and patriotism. Many buildings and places in Nepal are named after him such as BP Koirala College, BP Marg (Junction). "Koirala still has a following in Nepal and his presence in the country even in jail is a factor that the King can't ignore." -- The Washington Post, December 3, 1977	Narayan Gopal - No radio ends its daily programming without a song by Narayan Gopal. He is the "Sor Samrat" in Nepali, meaning "the King of vocal" / "The King of Singers". Narayan Gopal earned many awards including Radio Nepal's Sarbottam Awards, Ratna Recording Award, Lions Awards and Jagadamba Award. His songs have heart-touching lyrics like the one "Jharay ko pat jai bhayo.. Ujhad Mero Jindaki.." meaning "Like a dead leaf fallen from a tree, deserted my life like the leaf", a typical song for someone who is dumped by his girl friend! and equally the song for lovers and dancers the "Mohani Laglahi Gaulayko Bolilay" from the motion picture "Chino". Mr. Gopal's favorite song writer was Kali Prasad Rijal. Think of a tragic and sad songs of a broken-heart or think about the most famous Nepali singer of all time, That's him who left this earth a while back but never the hearts of Nepalese!

Ganesh Man Singh (1915 - 1997) Ganesh man was the leader of Nepali Congress Party. He was the center of the popular movement of 1990 that restored multi-party democracy in Nepal. Ganeshman did not believe in the titles such Prime Minister or Ministries, in fact he was once asked by Nepali King to take upon the title "Prime Minister", but he declined. Ganesh Man did his share of contributions to the nation building not as a political figure but as an ordinary Nepali. He is called the "Father of Democracy" in Nepal

Siddhi Charan Shrestha Known as the famous poet Yuga Kabi Siddhi Charan Shrestha. Spend 18 years in jail in times of Ranas (Royal Regimes). But nothing could him, his revolutionary poetries gained momentum and respect.

Pasang Lhamu Sherpa (1961 to 1993) In 1991, she became the first Nepali women to conquer the highest Mountain on Earth - Mount Everest. Deadly storm took her life as she was returning from the submit in 1993. She remains the number one Nepali Female Icon. She is often called the "Goddess of Courage and Determination" and she lives in Nepal forever.

Laxmi Prasad Devkota (1909 - 1959) Nepal's Greatest Poet. His work "Muna-Madan" is the most read Nepali book of all time. His lyrics "Kun Mandir ma janchau yatri, Kun samagri puja garne" (In which temple are you going, and what are you offering to the God, hey pilgrims.) remains the #1 Nepali lyrics of all time.

Tenzing Norgay In 1953, Tenzing Norgay along with this friend Sir Edmund Hillary, become the first to stood atop Everest, making Nepal known to the world and climbers. Tenzing died at the age of 71, on May 9th, 1986.

Amar Singh Thapa Commender in Chief of Nepal during Anglo-Nepalese War time. Fought and won over British India with Gurkha Army's, stones and indigenous weapons like knives, logs and stones.

Bhimsen Thapa Born in Gorkha district, Bhimsen Thapa remained the Prime minister of Nepal from 1775 to 1839. He is regarded as one of the heros of Nepal, also the first prime Minister who fought with British India regime back in 1814. Thapa's one of the contribution to the country, the military and social reforms, are remembered even Today.

Araniko Araniko was born in Patan, Nepal. Not long after he showed his pagoda style architecture skills in Nepal, he moved to China where he demonstrated his architecture skills, he died at the age of 61 in 1305. His legacy lives on; Kathmandu to Khodahari, a highway that links Nepal to China, is dedicated to his name, Arniko Rajmarg (Highway), and the oldest Nepal China Society in his name, the Nepal Arniko Society.