Tribhuvan University’s Land: A Legacy Under Siege

Kaji Hanshaman Singh’s recently published book “Lost Pages of History: The Story of Tribhuvan University’s Establishment” uncovers the heartfelt commitment behind Nepal’s first university.

In its pages, we witness how King Tribhuvan, Queens Kanti and Ishwari, and later King Mahendra—right after democracy was established—trusted education as a national priority, personally funding land purchase and initial construction.

This unique book –a memoir sort of—uncovers a small part of history of Kaji Tulsīman Singh and his son,  Hanshaman Singh, in regards to envisioning a world class University and securing its endorsement by the royal family readily. It begins by detailing how Tulsīman Singh who happened to teach Rana Prime Minister and King Tribhuvan separately, received a university education in Varanasi and dreamt of having one similar in Nepal.  He initially planned to pursue higher studies abroad, but Prime Minister Chandra Shumsher  persuaded him to get back to  Nepal  and do what he could do his best in his own country.

He  began teaching the Ranas and was also  assigned  to tutor  King Tribhuvan who ascended the throne at five, replacing a Bengali tutor.

Over the years, the association and trust grew deeper,  Singh’s son Hansman returns to Nepal  from Benares Hindu University giving up his Ph.D studies , and joins as the King’s secretary replacing India’s top civil servant Govind Narayan Singh  who was dispatched to Nepal to assist  the King in administrative matter after the Delhi agreement of 1951.

Senior Singh’s health was failing , but as a Guru to King Tribhuvan, he smuggled many books on world affairs, including on French Revolution,  The Count of Monte Cristo, Shakespeare, Alexandre Dumas, and Victor Hugo etc . Tulsīman Singh  believed that through education and one strong, enlightened leader, true national transformation was possible . Along with that, setting up a world class university for the people and posterity was his dream . All these, the book recounts, was an antidote to the Ranas pushing the King into a different life style–imported alcohol, distractions, and women—to keep them subdued.

Tulsīman singh ’s mission was to mold King Tribhuvan into a visionary, disciplined, fearless figure. As time passed, he also taught Tribhuvan’s  two wives—kanti and Ishwari—sons  Mahendra,
Himalaya, and Basundhara.  Fully aware how much a ‘Guru’s’ word counted during that period ,  the last request before he took leave from the Palace service on Health Ground, was the establishment of the University.

Like Tulsi Man Singh’s , King Tribhuvan’s Health was also failing , needing regular medical assistance abroad, engaging Crown Prince Mahendra into the state affairs.  Hansman Singh , on the instruction of his father , had brought silver jubilee brochure and other literature from BHU , as a ‘Model’ for the University in Nepal . King Tribhuvan’s death in Falgun 2011 put the agenda on back burner for some time , but now Queen Mothers—Kanti and Ishwari—took it up more relentlessly.

One day, the new King—Mahendra –asked Hansaman Singh  about late king’s desire for University  and  asked for the book that was brought from Benares.  : “You know what a university should look like—having studied there. Choose the land now’ . That is how the new King assigned the job to Hansman.

Marking the first death anniversary of Late King Tribhuvan, University commission had formed. On that committee, as a members there were; Khadga Narsingh Rana, Historian Bhairav Bahadur, Hanshaman Singh and Dr. P N Suwal as a Member Secretary of the commission along with a Director of Education Department as a member. Not to forget, When K I Singh became Prime Minister after  Tanka Prasad Acharya, as Acharya  was too liberal and couldn’t handle the dispute well, K I Singh formed his cabinet of ministers. While the dispute with farmers were ongoing to take over the land for university, Laxmi Prasad Devkota was appointed as an Education Minister.

” In 2012 BS, the Tribhuvan University Committee was officially constituted. The royal family underwent careful deliberation and site selection was naturally the first big issue.  Suggestions ranged from Palung to Panauti, but  as the two sisters were returning from Dakshnikali, their eyes on fell on the plains of Kiritipur.  King Mahendra promptly endorsed two mothers’  will .

But the vision was not welcomed easily. The farmers of Kirtipur , backed by some political leaders, resisted.  Protest , agitation . processions, and petitions to the palace  followed. People feared
displacement  although the state had promised compensation throughout.

Two eminent educationists—Dr Shankar Raj Pathak and Kedar Bhakta Mathema—eulogized the role of Tulisman Singh and Hansman Singh for their role in envisioning University , were however, sad over the decline of education quality and political  interference presently, as they commented on the book on July 10 when it was launched.  Not only that the land acquired have been usurped by various groups for profit and non-academic purposes.

Hansman Singh describes that  Kanti and Ishwari sold their personal jewelry to fund compensation and initial construction works . The book  recounts how Singh tried to argue, convince , cajole and at times mete out threat to those misleading farmers .  His standard response was once a University comes up,  it  would bring roads, development, electricity, and education opportunities for their children. While hementions Basu Pasa, a communist leader as opposing the project, healso recalls with praise the role of Hirananda Joshi, a Kirtipur resident, for  persuading  farmers to contribute land.

As Prime Minister, Dr K I Singh, says the book,  once took out his revolver from his pocket, and pointing to a leader protesting ,warned, ‘any one obstructing the university’s construction would be
dealt with .” It  worked like a magic, and then work proceeded without much hindrance for some months.

 Royal Contribution undermined in Republic

Queen Mother Kanti chaired the University Commission in 1956, with Queen Mother Ishwari—who served as vice chair—alongside her.

Together, they laid the foundation stone on 25 June 1958, personally donating 375 ropanis of their widowhood estate to the university project. Their active involvement showcased a belief not just in a university—but in the transformative promise of education.

In a striking display of commitment, the two queens  even sold their own jewelry to finance TU’s establishment, ensuring that the university would  be founded on Nepal’s own will and resources—rather than external aid.

A Legacy Betrayed 

Years later, the same land is being eaten away—not by insiders. Former TU officials, government employees, and politically affiliated individuals have reportedly distributed and utilized  nearly one fourth of around 3,700 ropanis land for personal or organizational gain.

A committee led by former Secretary Sharada Prasad Trital has already submitted a detailed report—six months of investigation, with recommendations for criminal and administrative action—against the land usurpers of T U . Yet the government’s response has been minimal, if not reluctant,  as T U is mostly governed and controlled by Three major political parties  appointing their loyalists on key position.  Bidhya Bhattarai,  as Education Minister had promised to implement the recommendations for action, but she herself bowed out of office , shortly after that.

Dr Pathak complained that he faced political interference with the Prime Minister of the day asking to make permanent all teachers appointed on political basis  without their having to face the University commission. ‘In fact, I chose to quit as that was something I would not have been able to do,’