| Nepalese politician, Prime Minister of Nepal from 30 November 1994 to 12 September 1995 Date of Birth: 20.06.1920 Country: Nepal |
Man Mohan Adhikari was born in 1920 in Lazimpat village, Kathmandu Valley. He grew up in Biratnagar and left for Varanasi, British India, in 1938 to pursue his education. During his studies in 1942, Adhikari participated in the "Quit India" movement and was arrested by British colonial authorities. He spent a total of 17 years in various prisons for political reasons throughout his life.
While in India, Adhikari became involved in the communist movement and joined the Communist Party of India. Upon returning to Nepal, he emerged as a labor leader in Biratnagar. In 1948, he was arrested and sentenced to three years in prison for organizing a strike in a jute mill. He was also instrumental in the establishment of the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) in 1949.
Adhikari assumed the position of General Secretary of the CPN in 1951, succeeding Pushpa Lal. Under his leadership, the party adopted a document titled "The Path to New Democracy for the Nepalese People" in 1951, prioritizing armed revolutionary struggle. Adhikari's election as General Secretary was confirmed at the first party congress in 1953. He later spent time in the People's Republic of China for medical treatment of a skin condition.
Following general elections in November 1994, no party gained a majority government. A minority government was formed with Man Mohan Adhikari as Prime Minister. The communists held 88 seats in the 205-member parliament. This created a unique political situation of a communist government under a theocratic monarchy, Nepal being one of the few countries recognizing Hinduism as the state religion. The government lasted from December 1994 to September 1995, when it faced a vote of no confidence.
On April 19, 1999, Adhikari collapsed into a coma after returning from a rally. He was rushed to the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital. His brain, heart, lungs, and kidneys failed, and he was placed on life support. He passed away on April 26, 1999, at the age of 79. Doctors attributed his death to hypoxia, which led to multiple organ failure.
Man Mohan Adhikari is remembered as one of the few communists to have led a government in a monarchical state. He is a noteworthy historical figure in Nepal, known for his leadership within the communist movement and his brief tenure as Prime Minister.