Biography - Tulsi Mehar Shrestha

Tulsi Mehar was born in humble middle class Newar family in 30th December 1896 A.D. at Kuli Mha Tole of Lalitpur District of Nepal. He was the only child of his family. Inspired by reading the book of Maharshi Dayanand "The Light of Truth" Tulsi Mehar brought himself changes in his own life. His self realization about the truth and observation of self-disciplined was the key message he was delivering to the mass people. In those early days when country was in the grips of the autocrat Rana regime when people were not allowed to educate and to express their views freely Late Tulsi Mehar Shrestha dared to disseminate the messages to the society about the importance of self awareness and urged to wake up against ignorance and evil of the society. He began appearing into the public and advocating on the wicked side of prevalent religion specially against rigid caste system and oppression of people especially women. His vision towards social reform and development was to emphasize on women's empowerment and for which he was propagating about the need of education of women and income generation program to make women economically self-reliant. It looked simple but was very tough at that time when women were observing "Parda" vail system and motivating and driving women to economic activities was the heroic activities at those days.
Because of Tulsi Mehar's such deeds the then Prime Minister Chandra Shumsher J. B. Rana charged him as an anti-national and awarded punishment of either life imprisonment or life long exile. Filled by far sighted mind and vision, Tulsi Mehar decided to accept life long exile since he thought he could not do anything for the country if would he be rotted inside the wall of the jail, so he pleaded the prime minister to have him sent for exile.
With little money granted by Shree Tin Chandra Samser, Late Tulsi Mehar Shrestha set out for India. His search for truth and his strong will and dedication to work for the society took him to close contact with Mahatma Gandhi (the great soul) of India. He stayed in Savarmati, Wardha and Sewagram Ashram and dedicated his whole heart to learn spinning and weaving technique. His time with Mahatma Gandhi gave him an opportunities to gain experience and insight to the liberation of suffered people and his commitment and conviction to fight back with evil in his own country became more firmed.
After acquiring the expertise in the field of spinning, weaving etc, he returned to Nepal in 1923 with inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi wrote a letter to the Nepali prime minister to allow Tulsi Mehar to come back to Nepal and let him work for the sake of Nepalese people. The Rana Prime Minister gave him consent and Tulsi Mehar started a small project of spinning and weaving some ninety five years ago.
The first place from where Tulsi Mehar commenced his journey to render service to the society was from Shankhamul Ghat (at the bank of Bagmati River) of Lalitpur District. In those days and yet, the river is regarded as the sacred place. Tulsi Mehar sow a seed of cottage industry in Nepal through a gift of a bundle of raw cotton handed over by Gandhi, which he used as a raw material for spinning programme. He established an institution named "Shree Tin Chandra Kamdhenu Charkha Pracharak Mahaguthi" in 1927 which is one of first kind social service organization. Following this, he also founded another organization in commemoration of Mahatma Gandhi named "Nepal Gandhi Smarak Nidhi". Through these two organization he was rendering service to the society. In 1973, these two organizations were amalgamated into one under the name of "Nepal Charkha Pracharak Gandhi Smarak Mahaguthi". He was a orthodox follower of Mahatma Gandhi's principle of self reliance and practice of self employed.
Prior to Tulsi Mehar's effort to initiate spinning and weaving project, people of Kathmandu Valley used to grow cotton in their own field and spin and weave on their own. The establishment of " Trichandra Kamdhenu Charkha Pracharak Mahaguthi" was the first initiative of the country to start such work in an institutional based and in organized way. Tulsi Mehar was able to impress the Rana Prime Minister from his skill and expertise in this field. He had also gained sympathy from Mahatma Gandhi which made the Rana Prime Minister to grant him Rs. 750.00 to start the cottage textile industry, "A Khadi" project. A retail outlet was set up in the Mangal Bazar through where production, raw material collection and distribution was channeled. This small outlet later developed as "Mahaguthi, Craft With a Conscience" in 1984 which at present serves over 1000 producers throughout Nepal.
It was Tulsi Mehar's long cherished dream to establish an ideal residential type of training centre in Manohara, Kathmandu for the cause and care of the widowed and the abandoned women. The dream appeared nearing realization in 1977, when he was awarded "Nehru Award" for international understanding and recognition for his social service. He donated the whole amount of Rs. 145,000.00 to establish a residential type of training and rehabilitation center for the betterment and upliftment of widowed and destitute women of the society. This center provides training in weaving, sewing, knitting etc. to the destitute women and imparts education to their children as well.
Tulsi Mehar died in 27th September 1978 soon after he received " Nehru Award".
From the collection of handful of grains from individual, Tulsi Mehar was able to inculcate in people's mind the habit of donating on regular basis at those time. The campaign called " Musthi Dan" means keeping aside a handful of grains from everydays meal and donate on regular basis was initiated by Tulsi Mehar in organized way which in long run turned Nepal Charkha Pracharak Gandhi Smarak Mahaguthi, the one of leading non- governmental organization possessing huge fixed property at the present time. Many of present Nepalese organizations have followed same principle of reducing dependency on foreign donation and marched towards the self- reliant. Tulsi Mehar's ideology was also inclined to the development of people within organization. He was putting much emphasizes on training particularly in vocational skill.