Nagendra Prasad Rijal
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Nagendra Prasad Rijal was the Prime Minister of Nepal from July 16, 1973 to December 1, 1975, and from March 21 1986 until June 18'th 1986.
In his two terms in the capacity as the Prime Minister he has contributed significantly to the upliftment of the working and impoverished peasants. In his first tenure there was a fire at the Singha Durbar (the present seat of parliament) in 1973 and he is the man whose able management saved a significant part of the palace, a national treasure for generations to come. His contributions for the country need not be mentioned, for most who know him, know him as a kind and just man. He has been decorated with many national honors.
He is one of the oldest Franchise seeker of Nepal. He introduced " Druk industries" of Bhutan to the country. The industry first named "Rijal canning" stands in about 2500 Acres of land. Now the canning industry is known as " Rijal Tashi industries".
Nepal remains divided by an entrenched caste system with an educated, wealthy elite owning most of the land and little opportunity available to peasants. "Bahun", "Kshetris" and "Newar" community form the elite castes in Nepal. Nepal's land reform iniatives have been a failure and poor Peasants have been victimized by it. Owing to which a large part of land at the "Rijal Tashi industries" complex have benn occupied by the poor peasants from the impoverished mountain side of Nepal and a sizeable number of Bhutanese refugees. The occupants of the land have not been removed by the Government in lieu of replacements else where. This replacement has been made more difficult by the "Maoist" insurgency.
Nagendra Prasad Rijal is the man who recognized Nepal to the world as the " only Hindu Kingdom" in the world. He was the president of the "World Hindu Federation" and served diligently to make his country proud. He has presided over various projects and worked for local developments. The people reap the benefits of which till this day.
His associations are varid and diverse. He is survived by his wife "Asalata Devi Rijal", his mother, seven children, grand children and great-grand children.