FIRST SCIENTIST OF NEPAL " GEHENDRA SHUMSHER JUNG BAHADUR RANA "

Gehendra Shumsher JBR is rightly regarded as the first scientist of Nepal. Born as the son of Shree Teen Maharaj Bir Shumsher JBR, he was interested in mechanics and ammunition since childhood. He was born on Poush 1928 BS in the Indian city of Kolkata (Calcutta)  as his father was the Nepalese Consul to India at that time. Gehendra Shumsher received formal schooling at Durbar High School. 

Original Painting of Gehendra Shumsher posing in front of his newly invented guns. This painting is more than 100 years old.

After the parva of 1942 BS, the Shumshers rose into power and Gehendra Shumsher also became powerful as he became the head of the Police Department. It was then that his gun making skills were bettered. He made various guns like Bir Gun, Dhir Gun, Ge-rifle, etc. The Bir gun had a double barrel system which was probably the first of its kind.

Bir Gun, which is on display in the Military museum at Chhauni

Gun Making Machine of Gehendra Shumsher, which is on display on Chhauni Military Museum

Ge- rifle, which is on display on Military Museum at Chhauni

In 1956, Dev Shumsher imported a Ford car from Great Britain for his father. He dissected its parts and knew a lot about automobiles. Similarly, he used to brings guns and their catalogues, and made guns according to those catalogues.

Gehendra Shumsher JBR producing guns at his laboratory at Jamal

Gehendra Shumsher also had a major role in a plot spearheaded by Chandra Shumsher JBR, which resulted in the banishing of Dev Shumsher JBR from Kathmandu to Dhankuta.

During the Dashain festival during Chandra Shumsher's premiership, Gehendra Shumsher went to receive Tika from his uncle. While bowing down, his gun ,which he had brought to show to his uncle, fell down and his uncle became suspicious ,which resulted in the formation of a plot to eradicate him. One night, as he was drinking with his friends, he ate a boiled egg and started choking and died later. Some say that the egg was poisoned on Chandra Shumsher's orders. This was the end of the first scientist of Nepal.