Bir Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana

Maharaja Sir Bir Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana, GCSI, (10 December 1855 March 1901), was the 17th Prime Minister of Nepal. He was born to the Chief of the Army Dhir Shamsher Rana (a younger brother of Jang Bahadur). He then served from 1885 to 1901 and was invested as Tung-ling-ping-ma-kuo-kang-wang in 1889. During his tenure, he received both Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and the ill-fated Archduke Franz Ferdinand. His successor for three months, at his death in 1901, was his progressive brother Deva Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana. There were many reforms during Bir Sumshere’s time. Water pipes were laid, English was taught in schools and hospitals were made. He reorganized land tax and created a better administrative body. He sent large number of troops to the British. The British gave him the title of Knight Grand Commander of the Star of India on Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee. He was an earnest ruler, a great builder and a lover of music, he started a new line of succession to the Prime Ministership of Nepal, excluding all others except the legitimate sons of Dhir Shumsher. He established Durbar High School, Bir Hospital, Bir Tower (Ghanta Ghar), Pathshala (School) and a sanitary system. He also provided a good supply of drinking water to the towns of Kathmandu in 1891 and Bhadgaon in 1895. He established the Bir Library for the collection and preservation of valuable books and manuscripts, the postal system was reformed, the Narayanhity Palace was built with a modern design and many roads of Kathmandu were broadened. Maharaja Bir Sumshere Jung Bahadur Rana died on 1900. He ruled the country for 15 years. He is among the great rulers of the country.

From : www.wikipedia.org