Ram Krishna Kunwar

He was born to Ahiram Kunwar.[1][2] He had only a son named Ranajit Kunwar and three grandsons; Bal Narsingh Kunwar, Balram Kunwar and Rewant Kunwar.[1]

King Prithvi Narayan sent Kaji Vamsharaj Pande, Naahar Singh Basnyat, Jeeva Shah, Ram Krishna Kunwar and others to defeat the forces of Gurgin Khan at Makwanpur.[3][4] Ram Krishna was ordered by the King to organize the army at Makwanpur under his control.[3] In a letter to Ramkrishna, King Prithvi Narayan Shah was unhappy at the death of Kaji Kalu Pande and thought it was impossible to conquer Kathmandu valley after the death of Kalu Pande.[5] After the annexation of Kathmandu valley, King Prithvi Narayan Shah praised in his letter about valour and wisdom shown by Ramkrishna in annexation of Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur (i.e. Nepal valley at the time) on 1768-69 A.D.[6] The letter sent by King Prithvi Narayan Shah to Ramkrishna Kunwar on Ashwin Badi 5 of unknown Vikram Year[note 1] has been mentioned by historian Baburam Acharya

When Kalu Pande was killed in Kirtipur, I had felt disheartened, thinking that I had not been able to conquer the three towns of Nepal. This has now been accomplished through the force of your wisdom and your sword. Were I to give you anything for this achievement, not even half of this Kingdom would be sufficient. I hereby grant you Simbhu and the adjoining areas, as well as Dhulikhel to be enjoyed from generation to generation. I felt very grieved when your younger brother was killed in Timal. I now depend upon you to invade the Kirat region.

— King Prithvi Narayan Shah's Letters to Ramakrishna Kunwar by Baburam Acharya[7]

The Gorkhali monarch also expresses condolence in that letter over the death of one of the brothers of Ram Krishna in the battle of Timal.[6] Another index letter sent by King Rana Bahadur Shah to Jaya Krishna Kunwar in 1843 Vikram Samvat (i.e. 1786 A.D.) confirms that Jaya Krishna did not die in the battle of Timal[6] which could point to the death of his youngest brother Amar Singh Kunwar in the battle of Timal. When Ram Krishna was conferred the confiscated properties (including residence) of former Kathmandu King Jaya Prakash Malla, he donated the properties to "Guthi" for supplying foods to pilgrims in Shivaratri festival.[8] King Prithvi Narayan Shah had deployed Sardar Ram Krishna to the invasion of Kirant regional areas comprising; Pallo Kirant (Limbuwan), Wallo Kirant and Majh Kirant (Khambuwan).[9] In 13th of Bhadra 1829 Vikram Samvat (i.e. 29 August 1772), Ram Krishna crossed Dudhkoshi river to invade King Karna Sen of. Majh Kirant (Khambuwan) and Saptari region[6] with fellow commander Abhiman Singh Basnyat.[10] He crossed Arun River to reach Chainpur(Limbuwan).[11] Later, he achieved victory over Kirant region.[12] King Prithvi Narayan Shah bestowed 22 pairs of Shirpau (special headgear) in appreciation to Ram Krishna Kunwar after his victory over the Kirant region.[12] Genealogist Daniel Wright contends that Ram Krishna died at Pyuthan at the age of 59.[13]

His descendants later went on to become Rana dynasty of Nepal.[13]

• Bir Bhadra Thapa
• Shivaram Singh Basnyat

• Acharya, Baburam (1 May 1972) [1950]. "King Prithvi Narayan Shah's Letters to Ramakrishna Kunwar Rana" (PDF). Regmi Research Series. Kathmandu. 04 (5): –159.
• Hamal, Lakshman B. (1995). Military history of Nepal. Sharda Pustak Mandir. p. 125. OCLC 32779233.
• Pradhan, Kumar L. (2012), Thapa Politics in Nepal: With Special Reference to Bhim Sen Thapa, 1806–1839, New Delhi: Concept Publishing Company, p. 278, ISBN 9788180698132
• Regmi, Mahesh Chandra (1972). Regmi Research Series (PDF). Vol. 04. Regmi Research Centre.
• Regmi, Mahesh Chandra (1975), Regmi Research Series, vol. 7, Regmi Research Centre, archived from the original on 15 January 2023, retrieved 15 September 2020
• Vaidya, Tulsi Ram (1993), Prithvinaryan Shah, the founder of Nepal, Anmol Publications, ISBN 9788170417019
• Wright, Daniel (1877), History of Nepal, Cambridge University Press