Mulkaji

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Mulkaji
मूलकाजी
One of the most influential Mulkaji
Damodar Pande
Government of Nepal
StyleShri Mulkaji Saa'b
StatusHead of government
Reports to
Residence
See list

    • various
SeatHanuman Dhoka
AppointerKing of Nepal
Term lengthNo fixed term; served at the pleasure of the King or the Regents
PrecursorDewan Kaji
Formationc. 1785; 241 years ago
First holderAbhiman Singh Basnyat
Final holderRanajit Pande
Abolished1804 (1804)
SuccessionMukhtiyar

The Mulkaji (Nepali: मूलकाजी) was a powerful office in the 18th and early 19th-century Kingdom of Nepal, equivalent to prime minister and second only to Shah monarchs and Mul-Chautariyas (regents) in authority. Serving as the highest executive position from c. 1785 to 1804, the Mulkaji effectively controlled the administration, military, and state affairs on behalf of the monarch. A total of five individuals were appointed to the office during its existence. The office was abolished in 1804 and was succeeded by the office of Mukhtiyar.

Etymology

Mulkaji (मूलकाजी) is composed of two words: Mul (मूल) and Kaji (काजी). Mul means chief, key, or fundamental,[1] while Kaji is derived from the Sanskrit word Kāryi (कार्यिन्), meaning official.[2]

Together, the term Mulkaji can be understood to mean Chief official or Executive Head of State.

History

Abhiman Singh Basnyat

Dewan Kaji Bamsa Raj Pande was beheaded in March 1785 on the conspiracy of Queen Rajendra Laxmi with the help of supporters including senior Kaji Swaroop Singh Karki.[3][4] On 2 July 1785, Prince Regent Bahadur Shah of Nepal was arrested and on the eleventh day of imprisonment on 13 July, Queen Rajendra Laxmi died.[3][4] Then onwards, Bahadur Shah of Nepal took over the regency of his nephew King Rana Bahadur Shah[5] and the position of Chautariya while Abhiman Singh Basnyat was elected Mulkaji (Chief Kaji).

Kirtiman Singh Basnyat

In 1794, King Rana Bahadur Shah came of age and appointed Kirtiman Singh Basnyat as Chief (Mul) Kaji among the newly appointed four Kajis though Damodar Pande was the most influential Kaji.[6] Kirtiman had succeeded Abhiman Singh Basnyat as Chief Kaji.[7]

Bakhtawar Singh Basnyat

Kirtiman was secretly assassinated on 28 September 1801, by the supporters of Raj Rajeshwari Devi[8] and his brother Bakhtawar Singh Basnyat, was then given the post of Chief (Mul) Kaji.[9]

Damodar Pande

Later Damodar Pande was appointed by Queen Rajrajeshwari as Chief Kaji.[10]

Ranajit Pande

After the execution of Mulkaji Damodar Pande in March 1804, Ranajit Pande was appointed as Mulkaji (Chief Kaji) along with Bhimsen Thapa as second Kaji, Sher Bahadur Shah as Mul Chautariya and Ranganath Paudel as Raj Guru (Royal Preceptor).[11][12]

Later King Rana Bahadur Shah created the title of Mukhtiyar and assume full executive power of the state.[13]

Controversial

Historian Dilli Raman Regmi suggest that Sarbajit Rana Magar was appointed as a Kaji functionary of the government. [14]

Historian Rishikesh Shah states that Sarbajit Rana Magar was appointed only as a Kaji rather than Mulkaji, and that he briefly served as the head of the government in 1778.[15][16]

List of Mulkajis

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)		 Term of office
Took office Left office
1 Abhiman Singh Basnyat
(1744–1800)		 1785 1794
2 Kirtiman Singh Basnyat
(??–1801)		 1794 28 September 1801
3 Bakhtawar Singh Basnyat 1801 February 1803
4 Damodar Pande
(1752–1804)		 February 1803 March 1804
5 Ranajit Pande 1804 1804

See also

References

  1. "English Translation of "मूल" - Collins Hindi-English Dictionary". www.collinsdictionary.com. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  2. Regmi 1979, p. 43.
  3. Karmacharya 2005, p. 46.
  4. Shaha 2001, p. 62.
  5. Pradhan 2012, p. 10.
  6. Pradhan 2012, p. 12.
  7. Karmacharya 2005, p. 56.
  8. Acharya 2012, p. 34.
  9. Acharya 2012, p. 35.
  10. Pradhan 2012, p. 14.
  11. Nepal 2007, p. 58.
  12. Acharya 2012, p. 55.
  13. Nepal 2007, pp. 60–61.
  14. D.R. Regmi 1975, p. 285. sfn error: no target: CITEREFD.R._Regmi1975 (help)
  15. Shaha 1990, p. 46. sfn error: no target: CITEREFShaha1990 (help)
  16. Shaha 2001, p. 21.

Bibliography