Kathmandu, 8 May: Dr. Gopal Gurung (1940–2016) was a prominent leader, writer, journalist, and human rights activist known for his strong advocacy for identity and existence. He consistently raised his voice for the rights, recognition, and identity of Nepal’s indigenous Mongol communities. He is regarded as one of the visionary pioneers of the “Mulbasi Movement.”
Here is some key information about Dr. Gopal Gurung:
Born in 1940 in Armale, Kaski, to Bhim Bahadur Gurung and Dhan Kumari Gurung, Dr. Gopal Gurung completed his childhood and secondary education in Pokhara before pursuing higher studies in India. During his time in India, he developed a strong command of the English language and cultivated a deep interest in journalism.
Dr. Gurung worked as a journalist for a period, using his platform to raise awareness among the Mongoloid communities of Nepal. His writings often criticized Nepal’s social, ethnic, and political structures, aiming to awaken consciousness and advocate for change.
By writing books such as Hidden Facts in Nepali Politics, Dr. Gopal Gurung discussed issues such as ethnic discrimination, governmental injustices, and the conflict between majority and minority groups in Nepali society. When Nepal’s political leaders continued to ignore the concerns of the indigenous Mongol communities, he ultimately established an identity-based political party named the Mongol National Organisation (MNO).
The primary objective of this party was to advocate for the rights, recognition, and identity of Nepal’s indigenous Mongol population.
According to Dr. Gurung, the dominance of so-called Hindu elites in Nepal had led to the oppression of other ethnic groups and marginalized communities. To end this, his core agendas included the establishment of federalism, secularism, and the guarantee of rights based on the existence and identity of the indigenous Mongol people.
Gopal Gurung identified himself as “Mongol” and founded the Mongol National Organisation (MNO) to unite many of Nepal’s indigenous people of Mongol origin under one banner. He was repeatedly imprisoned for speaking out against the Panchayat regime and advocating for democracy.
To some, his ideas were seen as highly progressive, while others considered him an extremist. His bold and open stance on issues of religion and caste brought a new direction to public discourse in Nepal.
However, Nepal’s governance system, rooted in the Hindu Varna-ashrama hierarchy, dismissed Dr. Gopal Gurung’s vision and plans. His ideas were never allowed to take root within the country, and in 2016, this great thinker, Dr. Gopal Gurung, passed away without seeing his vision realized.
After the death of Gopal Gurung, some individuals within the MNO (Mongol National Organisation) acted out of self-interest and, aligning with the existing electoral regulations, included members from the dominant Khas Arya group, transforming MNO into a political party and participating in electoral politics. In response, a faction opposed this direction and split from the original organization, continuing their activism under the name MNO-DGG (Mongol National Organisation – Dr. Gopal Gurung), which to this day operates in a semi-underground manner, advocating for the rights of the Mongol people.
Even from MNO-DGG, another splinter group emerged, creating yet another faction. Ultimately, whether it is MNO, MNO-DGG, or the Mongol National Organisation (Revolutionary) formed out of dissatisfaction with the previous two, the visionary creator behind them all remains the same great human being — Dr. Gopal Gurung.
Author: Dipesh Shrestha, MD of suchanachautari.com
