Padri Ganga Prasad Pradhan: Biography and His Contributions

Padri Ganga Prasad Pradhan is the first Nepali Pastor, the first Nepali Bible Translator, and the first person who published the newspaper in the Nepali language. He is also the co-author of the English-Nepali Dictionary.

Birth and Childhood

Pradhan was born in Thamel Tol, Kathmandu, Nepal on 4 July 1851. He was from a Newari family. His mother passed away when he was very young. His father learned to read and write from a Pandit (Pandit is a teacher from a high-class family. Education was prohibited outside the Pundit family at that time in Nepal.) His father taught his elder son what he learned from the Pandit, but Pradhan didn’t get any chance to learn it. Instead, he had to work hard in his father’s fields.

Moving to Darjeeling

Pradhan’s elder brother got a job in a British tea plantation in Darjeeling, north-west India. He became a native writer keeping accounts and supervising the coolies at Ging Tea Estate. Pradhan’s brother asked his father to join him to work. Then he went to Darjeeling with his father and they lived in Bhutia Basti. His father became a recorder at Ging along with his elder son, but Pradhan started to labor as a lowly worker. (For he was not educated like his father and his elder brother.) Pradhan was just 10 years old when they went to India. 

Pradhan’s  School Life

After 9 years of moving Darjeeling from Nepal, in 1870, William Macfarlane, a missionary from the Church of Scotland opened a school for boys just above the Ging tea. Ganga Prasad Pradhan’s manager permitted local boys to join the school. There was no school for Nepali boys in Darjeeling so far. Therefore,  it became a unique opportunity for Nepalese boys in Darjeeling.

On the day of Pradhan’s 19th birthday on July 4, 1870, he ran away from home and presented himself at the school. It was not more than a day or two, he started facing a great objection in his study. His stepmother came to his school and kept asking Pradhan back to home. She said that Pradhan should support the family by working in the Ging tea. It caused Pradhan to return back to Ging tea once again. But Macfarlane, the founder of the school, had seen Pradhan’s great patience in learning.  Therefore, after six months, Macfarlane visited Pradhan’s parents and offered some support to them, so that Pradhan may join his school again. This is how he could return back to the school on November 2, 1870.

Pradhan’s Conversion

Pradhan could learn so quickly. Within a year he was appointed as a teacher for younger boys in the school. From 1871 to 1874 he served as a teacher at Darjeeling Mission Institute.  His salary was Rs. 6/month (0.084 USD). It gradually increased up to Rs.12 (double). From that time he started to read the Bible in Hindi. After reading the Bible he knew that idols are nothing and have no power in it, he believed in Jesus Christ and started to join in prayer meetings and church service regularly. Pradhan refused to participate in puja (worship of Hindu gods) and refused to eat food offered to idols in their major festivals. After knowing all, his family begged him to reconsider, but he firmly stood in Christ.

Baptism of Ganga Prasad

Ganga Prasad Pradhan found this word of Jesus in the Bible, “What profit is it for a man that he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?” –Matthew 16:26. When this living Word of God started working in his heart and mind, he decided to take the baptism. He thought that it is not possible for him to take the baptism in Darjeeling, so he decided to go to Calcutta. The problem is he had no money for that long journey.

After receiving the salary, in December 1874, Ganga and his friend Surjiman Mukhiya crawled from the window and fled. They also left a letter explaining why they fled. They met one Gorkha soldier on the way and he helped them. Because of insufficient money to reach Calcutta, they moved ahead to Agra with that soldier. Still, their money became insufficient to reach Agra, so they stopped in Allahabad.

They met Rev. Wynkoop, an American Presbyterian missionary over there, and asked for baptism. After being confirmed about Pradhan and his friend Surajman Mukhiya from Mr. Mcfarlane, Wynkoop baptized them on January 24, 1875. Pradhan was the second Nepali convert in the Darjeeling Church (the first was Bhim Dal). Though Ganga feared with his parents how they would treat him, he decided to return to his own people. When he went back to Darjeeling, his family didn’t allow him to eat with them and to enter the house. However, he started sharing the gospel around the villages and bazaar. He was the first Nepali preacher to share the gospel in his own language, Nepali.

Translation of The Bible into Nepali

Pradhan went to a school in Ranchi, Bihar for a short period. After returning from his study, Macfarlane asked him to prepare a Christian booklet in Nepali. His concern was to make the Bible understandable to ordinary Nepali so that Padari Ganga Prasad Pradhan translated the Bible into Nepali. He worked 40 years with three different Scotland missionaries until he translated the whole Bible into Nepali. In 1914, he completed translating the whole Bible into Nepali. It was the first Bible in Nepali. (Before him, William Carey had also translated some of the New Testament books in Nepali.) Pradhan was recognized for his outstanding work by being made an Honorary Life Governor of the British and Foreign Bible Society. 

Pradhan’s Work of Evangelism

Gorkhey Kagat

Nepali literature (besides Christian literature) was developed by Ganga Prasad Pradhan for the first time. He had a great influence on Nepali literature. Pradhan wrote many stories for children and published many advertisements, news, and articles in Gorkhety Kagaj (the first Nepali Newspaper).  He felt that there must be press for publication of Christian literature, so, in 1901, he started his own press, The Gorkha Press. People got Christian literature in their one Nepali language on their hand as well as Gorkha newspaper and magazine. 

Pradhan formed the Gorkha mission which evangelized in the broader area of Nepal. He also found other creative means of evangelism among Nepali such as Gorkha soldiers resident in Calcutta (evangelized to Gorkha soldiers). Scottish Mission report 1923 describes: “In the comparatively short time he succeeded in getting in touch with all the Gorkhas in the great city (Kolkata) and in organizing work among them, a work which is still continued.”  Later, many of those soldiers came back to their homeland Nepal and continued testifying to Jesus.

His Ministry as a Pastor and a Preacher

In 1877, Ganga Prasad Pradhan was appointed to look after a small flock of Curseong in Darjeeling. He was listed as a catechist in 1878. From 1878 to 1880, he served as a preacher in Darjeeling. He carried this ministry through Bible study, visiting new believers, instructing new believers, and preaching the gospel in the bazaar.

In 1881 God opened the door for him to serve as a preacher in Ging, five miles away from Darjeeling. He started to spend his half of the week in Darjeeling doing translation work and preaching in the bazaar, and half of the week in Ging doing evangelism and dispensing medicines. His wife and family faithfully supported him in the ministry.

In 1892 Pradhan was recognized as a senior preacher in Darjeeling. Turnbull proclaimed, “He is the most eloquent preacher I have ever listened to. Pradhan was ordained as an elder in Darjeeling Church in 1900. In August 1901, he was ordained as a native preacher with the Church of Scotland mission.

Pradhan’s Family life

In 1874 Ganga Prasad Pradhan married Elizabeth “Lizzie Rai.” They had two sons and six daughters. They were a very harmonious and happy family. His wife, Lizzie Rai (Elizabeth) worked hard to keep the family moving. Their children had a godly family environment to grow up in. Pradhan was a man of prayer. He used to pray a lot. One of the prayers of Pradhan’s family was a prayer for Nepal and Nepalese. “Gorkhalile Mukkti Paune Dhoka Kholi Deu” (Lord open the door of salvation in Gorkha/for Nepalese) was Pradhan’s prayer for Nepal. Pradhan composed this prayer as a hymn. It is one of the well-known hymns in Nepali Churches today. His life was an example to the people around him. They used to have daily family devotion. Their children were expected to memorize the scripture daily as well as books of the Bible.

Ganga Prasad Returns Back to Nepal

Ganga Prasad Pradhan started his journey back to Nepal from Darjeeling in 1914. There were 40 members in his group. Harkadhwaj Pradhan and his whole family, Endu Rajdal Pradhan and his family, Kalushing Peter and his family, Ratnaghwaj Rai and his family were in Pradhan’s team. There were three generations of Pradhan in the team.

They loved their motherland Nepal more than friends and their property in Darjeeling and decided to come back. After the long journey through different trains, finally, the team arrived in Raxaul (near the Nepal-India border). They came to the Birgunj border (Nepal side) through a cartwheel from Raxul, but due to required documents entering into Nepal they had to stay there for three weeks. It was not easy for them to live in that hot place (for they had been spending their life in Darjeeling for a long time). They suffered from the flu, mosquitoes, and many other things there. They could not drink water there. (For it was not the freshwater as they used to have in Darjeeling.) There was not sufficient water to take bath and wash their clothes in Birgunj.

Pradhan’s team kept their luggage in a small rented room and slept under a tree for three weeks. During that period many members got sick and some of them had to return back to Darjeeling. One night, robbers took their luggage and crossed the border. Police from both sides (Nepal and India) didn’t help them. One day, Pradhan fell from a cartwheel and was injured badly. These are some major sorrowful stories of Pradhan and his team on the border.

Arrival in Kathmandu, Nepal

After three weeks in Birgunj, required documents were approved and they started their journey from Birgunj to Kathmandu. At that time, transportation was not yet developed in Nepal. There was no road, no bus at all. Crossing the Tarai (plain part of Nepal in the south) and many hills, Pradhan and his team arrived at Chandragiri (near Kathmandu valley).

They were so glad and joyful to see Kathmandu from Chandragiri. Finally, they arrived in Kathmandu and found a place to live in a traveler’s inn at the edge of the Bishnumati River. They started searching for a room for rent. One day, Pradhan and his team arrived in front of the palace court. When Pradhan saw the palace, his heart was broken, and cried a lot, for that was the place where his father and grandfather used to work.

Pradhan’s one month in Nepal

The purpose of Padari Ganga Prasad Pradhan was to share the gospel to Nepalese people and give education by opening a school in Kathmandu. After spending one week in a traveler’s inn, they became able to rent a house and started their work of evangelism. They made contact with the people and shared the gospel. They also sold the books they had brought. Those who were able to read, they read the books very eagerly. People became very excited to read the books in their own language (Nepali). Until they were caught by police Pradhan’s team worked very actively in Kathmandu.

Rana Expelled Pradhan and His Team from Nepal

There was the Rana Regime in Nepal at that time. Ranas had forbidden any kind of education for the people. When the Rana government knew about Pradhan and his team in the city, they ordered one police officer to investigate the matter. The police officer made a plan to be close to Pradhan and know everything about him and his team. He dressed as a normal person, came to Pradhan and said that he worked at the Botanical Tea Garden in Darjeeling. Deceitfully he built friendship with Pradhan.

Pradhan told everything to that person about him and his team. Next day Ganga Prasad Pradhan and Harkadhwaj were taken to the prime minister. Pradhan introduced his team saying, “We are Nepalese Christians, we want to be settled here in our motherland, we want to open the school for education, we also want to give the biblical teaching, and we will do some business as well.” When the prime minister heard what Pradhan said, he replied, “I respect your heart and vision, but because of your religion I am unable to give permission to you so that you may live here.” Prime minister also added, “There is no room for Christian in Nepal.”

Pradhan and his team were ordered to leave the country. When they got this order, they cried a lot at Bishnumati and went to Darjeeling. Two soldiers from the government took them to the border. Pradhan crossed the border with a heavy heart. Though Pradhan could  live in Nepal no more, his heart was always for Nepal and Nepalese. 

Pradhan–Rest of His Life in Darjeeling

In 1921 (some accounts say in 1923), Ganga Prasad Pradhan retired from the position of pastor of Nepali Congregational Church Darjeeling. After his retirement, he urged Mission to give a small piece of land in the mission compound so that he may have a small shelter there for the rest of his life, but the mission didn’t do it. Salmon Karthak records some of the lines in his book Padari Ganga Prasad Pradhanko Jeeban Bakhan about how Eastern Himalayan Mission Council responded to him: “Mr./Mrs. Still Pradhan has ability to work and influence the people. They have great influence in Christian and non-Christian society. This Council is so grateful for his ministry and life; we wish happy retired life of Pradhan.” 

After his retirement, Pradhan worked in Gorkha Press. He continued to publish Gorkhey Kagat, collecting advertisements, writing articles and marketing it. Pradhan had a big family, but there were no good income sources for them. He had no house. Pradhan used to always worry about his wife; what will happen to her after his death. The Great man of God Pradhan went to be with the Lord forever on March 28, 1932. He had an honorable funeral service. Many recognized persons were there for his funeral.

Legacy of Ganga Prasad

We never can forget the contribution of Padari Ganga Prasad Pradhan in Nepali Christianity and in Nepali literature. He translated the Bible into Nepali as well as many tracks and other biblical literatures. Pradhan composed many Nepali hymns as well.

Nepali Hymns no. 399 “Prabhu Arjee Sunileu. Hymns no: 380 “Yo Jaga Kahilyai Chhaina Sthira.” “Ubhaita Heru Swargiya Dham Chha,” (yhmns no: 212). “Yeshu Hai Khrishtko Krusaima Maran,” (Hymns no: 106). “Sansarko Chaurma Charaitira Herda” (Hymns no: 88). These are the hymns composed by Pradhan.

The establishment of The “Gorkha Press” (1901) and the Publication of “Gorkhey Kagat” (1901) has contributed a lot to Nepali literature. Gorkhey Kagat was the first Nepali newspaper. Pradhan published 21 books or booklets including primary school textbooks. He also translated many popular stories for children. The English-Nepali Dictionary is also a result of Pradhan’s contribution. He had worked on it as a co-writer. Though Pradhan was expelled from his own country, he has a great contributions to Christianity in Nepal and in Nepali literature.

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Christian Population in Nepal

Bibliography

Karthak, Solon . Padare Ganga Prasad Pradhan-ko Jeewan Bakhan. Kathmandu: Ekta Books, 2001.

Perry, Cindy. A Biographical History of the Church in Nepal. Kathmandu: Nepal Church History Project. 2000.

Rongong, Rajendra K. Early Churches in Nepal: An Indigenous Movement Till 1990. Kathmandu: Ekta Books, 2012.

3 thoughts on “Padri Ganga Prasad Pradhan: Biography and His Contributions”

  1. https://youtu.be/PLZgWUOSUac राम्रो लाग्यो हजुर। मैले पनि धेरै दार्जीलिङ इसाई इतिहासको बारेमा अध्धन गरि रहेको छु। यसरी नै यो लेख पनि पढन पाउदा आनन्द लागेको छ। मैले मेरो channel को link पनि share गरेको छु। एकपटक हेरिदिनु होला। यसमा केही कुराहरु अवश्य छुटन गएका छन होला तरै पनि सबै इतिहासहरुलाइ अहिले सम्म खोजी-खोजी पढि रहेको छु । सुधार गरेर अनि गर्दै पनि जानेछु

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  2. Is he my grand grand grandfather ..text me back .
    Fb shek pradhan(bijesh pradhan). My birth date also 4th july.

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