->Bada Kaji: +Category:20th-century Nepalese nobility; +Category:21st-century Nepalese nobility using HotCat

2021-07-20T20:05:11Z

+Category:20th-century Nepalese nobility; +Category:21st-century Nepalese nobility using HotCat

New page

{{short description|Nepali army general}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix = [[General]] [[His Excellency]] [[The Right Honourable]]
| name = Satchit Shamsher Jung Bahadur Rana
| honorific_suffix = [[OGDB]] [[OTSP]] [[OBE]] [[Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany|BVO]]
| native_name = महारथी श्री स‌‌‌‍त्चित शम्शेर जङ्गबहादुर राणा
| image = General Satchit Shamsher Jung Bahadur Rana.jpg
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1934|1|15|df=y}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2007|5|4|1934|1|15}}
| birth_place = [[Tansen Durbar]], Lumbini
| death_place = Shree Birendra Military Hospital, Kathmandu
| allegiance = {{flag|Kingdom of Nepal}}
| branch = [[File:Roundel of Nepal.svg|25 px]] [[Nepalese Army|Royal Nepalese Army]]
| serviceyears = 1955–1991
| rank = [[File:US-O10 insignia.svg|30px]] General
| unit = [[Infantry]] [[Paratrooper]]
| commands = No.1 Home Guard, Barda Bahadur Battalion Para Rifle Company Royal Nepalese Military Academy, Kharipati Chief Operations Officer, [[UNIFL]] 1st Infantry Brigade 2nd Infantry Brigade Royal Nepalese Army
| battles = Khampa Disarmament Operation [[Lebanese Civil War]]
| awards = [[Order of Tri Shakti Patta]] [[Order of Gorkha Dakshina Bahu]] Kirtimaya Nepal Shreepad [[Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany|Cross of Merit]] [[Order of Civil Merit|Grand Cross]] [[United Nations Medal]] [[Order of the British Empire]]
| alma_mater = [[Banaras Hindu University]] [[Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst]] [[Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr]]
| spouse = Rani Asha Rana
| relations = [[Bir Shumsher Jang Bahadur Rana]] (Great-Grandfather)
| laterwork = [[Ambassador]] to [[Myanmar]]
}}

'''Satchit Shamsher Jung Bahadur Rana''' (15 January 1934 – 4 May 2007) was the [[Chief of the Nepalese Army|34th Chief of Army Staff]] of the [[Nepalese Army|Royal Nepalese Army]].{{cn|date=August 2020}} He was a member of the [[Rana dynasty|Rana Dynasty of Nepal]].{{cn|date=August 2020}}

== Early life ==
Rana was born in [[Tansen Durbar]], [[Lumbini Zone]], to Lieutenant General Madhav Shamsher J.B. Rana and Rani Madhavi Kumari Rana.{{cn|date=August 2020}} Lt General Madhav Rana was the Governor of Dhankuta during the Rana Dynasty.{{cn|date=August 2020}} He was the fourth son. Rana had four brothers (three elder and one younger) and three sisters (two elder and one younger).{{cn|date=August 2020}}

Rana belonged to a family with a history in military command and statesmanship. His paternal grandfather, Maharaj Kumar Commanding General Pratap Shamsher J.B. Rana, had been the Governor of Palpa (1924–1929) as well as the Commanding General of Northern Nepal (1932–1934).{{cn|date=August 2020}} His paternal great-grandfather, [[Bir Shumsher Jang Bahadur Rana|Commanding General Maharaja Sir Bir Shumsher J.B. Rana]], had been the [[Prime Minister of Nepal|11th Prime Minister of Nepal]] and the Maharaja of Lamjung and Kaski (1885–1901).{{cn|date=August 2020}}

Rana completed most of his further education in India. He passed the admission examination of the [[Benares Hindu University]] in 1949. He was awarded his Intermediate of Arts Degree in 1951.<ref name="Nepal Who's Who">{{Cite book|title=People of Nepal Who's Who|publisher=Sahitya Prakashan Pvt Ltd|year=2004|location=Kathmandu}}</ref> He then began pursuing a BA degree at BHU but dropped out in the last year due to his successful results in the Officer Cadre Selection Examination for the Royal Nepalese Army.<ref name="Nepal Who's Who" /><ref>''महारथी श्री स‌‌‌‍त्चित शम्शेर जङ्गबहादुर राणा''. Kathmandu: Abhilekhalaya Shakha, Jangi Adda, Nepal Army Headquarters. 2003</ref>

== Military career ==

=== Junior officer ===
After his selection, he chose the [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst]] to undertake his military training in 1953.{{cn|date=August 2020}} He completed his training and was commissioned into the Royal Nepalese Army in the rank of [[second lieutenant]] on 22 July 1955. At the time, the then Lieutenant Rana was the second officer in the Royal Nepalese Army to have received training from Sandhurst.<ref>{{Cite book|title=महारथी श्री स‌‌‌‍त्चित शम्शेर जङ्गबहादुर राणा|publisher=Abhilekhalaya Shakha, Jangi Adda, Nepal Army Headquarters|year=2003|location=Kathmandu}}</ref>

In his first posting, he was assigned to the Shree Shreenath Battalion.<ref name="Kathmandu 2003">''महारथी श्री स‌‌‌‍त्चित शम्शेर जङ्गबहादुर राणा''. Kathmandu: Abhilekhalaya Shakha, Jangi Adda, Nepal Army Headquarters. 2003.</ref> During this posting, he was appointed the Joint Team Leader of the [[China–Nepal border|Nepal-China Border Team]]. The objective of the team was to resolve the border disputes taking place at the time.<ref name="Kathmandu 2003"/> The work undertaken by the team contributed to the official border agreement between Nepal and China signed in 1961.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.law.fsu.edu/library/collection/LimitsinSeas/IBS050.pdf|date=2012-05-03|access-date=2020-01-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503141259/http://www.law.fsu.edu/library/collection/LimitsinSeas/IBS050.pdf|archive-date=2012-05-03}}</ref> After being promoted to [[captain]] in 1962, he underwent further training at the Nepalese Military Academy which at that time was based in [[Nagarkot]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Singh|first=B B|date=2003-01-01|journal= Journal of Nepal Medical Association|volume=6|issue=2|doi=10.31729/jnma.1800|issn=1815-672X|title=Endo-Tracheal-Anesthesia at Bir Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal|doi-access=free}}</ref> He was then assigned to the No.1 Home Guard of the Barda Bahadur Battalion. During this period, he was promoted to Assistant Battalion Commander and afterwards, Acting Battalion Commander.<ref name="Kathmandu 2003"/>

=== Staff College and Para Rifle Company ===
In 1965, he left for Staff College training to Germany to join the [[Bundeswehr Command and Staff College|Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr]] in [[Hamburg]].<ref name="Kathmandu 2003"/> After spending a year in Hamburg, Rana returned to Nepal. Upon his return, he was promoted to [[major]] and was deputed to the Army Headquarters.<ref name="Kathmandu 2003"/>

In 1970, he was transferred to the Para Rifle Company. Immediately after his transfer, he was promoted to [[lieutenant colonel]].<ref name="Kathmandu 2003"/> A year after this, he took overall command of the [[Paratrooper|Para unit]] as well as the Para Training Academy. He was associated with the Para unit for eleven years. At the start of his tenure, he completed his parachuting training course which was facilitated by the instructors of the [[Israel Defense Forces|Israel Defense Force]].<ref name="Kathmandu 2003"/>

=== Khampa Disarmament Operation ===
{{main|Khampa Disarming Operation}}
By the early 1970s about nine thousand Khampa fighters, Tibetan tribesmen resisting Chinese authority, had crossed over the border to the remote Nepalese district of [[Mustang District|Mustang]].<ref name="Thapa Sharma 2010">{{Cite journal|last1=Thapa|first1=Ganga Bahadur|last2=Sharma|first2=Jan|date=2010|title=Democracy Building and Changing Role of the Nepal Military|journal=The Indian Journal of Political Science|volume=71|issue=3|pages=969–994|issn=0019-5510|jstor=42748422}}</ref> Here they established military camps from where they would launch attacks into the [[Tibet Autonomous Region|Chinese Autonomous Region of Tibet]].<ref name="ReferenceA">Abhilekhalya Shakha, Jangi Adda, Nepal Army Headquarters</ref> In addition to carrying out illegal military activity, the Khampa fighters had been pillaging, plundering and killing members of the local communities.<ref name="Thapa Sharma 2010" /> Consequently, a joint agreement between the Nepalese and Chinese governments was signed, with the common objective of disarming the Khampa fighters.<ref name="Thapa Sharma 2010" />

A [[brigade]] size task-force was organised with the objective of disarming the Khampa fighters in 1974.<ref name="Basnyat">{{Cite web|url=https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/67819/|title=A forgotten history|last=Basnyat|first=Prem Singh|website=My Republica|language=en|access-date=2019-12-31}}</ref> Before the deployment of the entire taskforce, the then Lieutenant Colonel Rana led a small reconnaissance team to gather military intelligence in order to formulate the procedure of disarmament.<ref name="Basnyat" /> After having identified the locations of various military camps, gauged their military capabilities and identified the leaders of the Khampa fighters, Rana devised the plan of operations.<ref name="Thapa Sharma 2010" /><ref name="Basnyat" /> The taskforce was deployed towards Mustang on 15 July 1974. The main battle group of the task force was based around the Shree Shreenath Battalion, which was under the command of Rana.<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref name="mikeldunham.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mikeldunham.com/mikeldunham/2009/09/the-royal-nepal-armys-defeat-of-the-tibetan-freedom-fighters-in-mustang-new-information.html|title=Mustang: Royal Nepal Army's defeat of the Tibetan Freedom Fighters -- New Information|website=mikeldunham|access-date=2020-01-15}}</ref> Consequently, Rana was given the leadership of the ground operations.<ref name="Thapa Sharma 2010" /><ref name="mikeldunham.com"/>

After having received multiple false promises of disarmament from Gey-Wangdi, the commander of the Khampa forces, military units under the command of Rana moved in to occupy the camps on 1 August.<ref name="Basnyat" /> Whilst Rana was able to dismantle all the camps, recover large quantities of weaponry and capture a number of Khampa fighters, Gey-Wangdi was able to escape.<ref name="Basnyat" /><ref name="mikeldunham.com"/> Wangdi was eventually killed in a fire fight in mid-September. Rana was awarded the Kirtimaya Nepal Shreepad for "his effective planning, efficient execution and distinguished field command during the operation".<ref name="Thapa Sharma 2010" /><ref name="Kathmandu 2003"/>

=== Royal Nepalese Military Academy Kharipati ===
After the completion of the Khampa Operation, Rana was promoted to the rank of [[colonel]] in May, 1975. He was then appointed as the [[Commandant]] of the [[Nepalese Military Academy|Royal Nepalese Military Academy, Kharipati]].<ref name="Nepal Who's Who" /> During his tenure as commandant, he tried to re-calibrate the syllabi of the academy to focus on [[mountain warfare]]. He also took the initiative to undertake research in order to solve the logistical problems related to mountain warfare.{{CN|date=January 2020}}<ref>''महारथी श्री स‌‌‌‍त्चित शम्शेर जङ्गबहादुर राणा''. Kathmandu: Abhilekhalaya Shakha, Jangi Adda, Nepal Army Headquarters. 2003</ref>

=== United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon ===
In 1978, the Royal Nepalese Army deputed Rana to work in the headquarters of the [[United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon]] as Chief Operations Officer.<ref name="NYT 1978-05-16">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/05/16/archives/80-palestinians-in-south-lebanon-agree-to-withdraw.html|title=80 Palestinians in South Lebanon Agree to Withdraw|date=1978-05-16|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-12-31}}</ref><ref name="Nepal Who's Who" /> The UNIFL had been set up by the [[United Nations]] in response to the [[1978 South Lebanon conflict|South Lebanon conflict]] which took place the same year. Rana's tenure as COO saw the [[Tyre, Lebanon|Tyre District]], a designated UN area, being infiltrated and occupied by eighty [[Palestine Liberation Organization]] fighters.<ref name="NYT 1978-05-16" /> This destabilised the military and political situation, as [[Israel]] had only recently withdrawn troops from [[Lebanon]] on the condition that the PLO would follow suit.<ref name="NYT 1978-05-16" />

Rana responded by placing various peacekeeping units in positions around the Tyre District and surrounding the infiltrators.<ref name="NYT 1978-05-16" /> Consequently, he made their position strategically untenable and forced them into negotiations. He personally led the negotiations with the PLO fighters and their leaders, including [[Yasser Arafat]], who were based in the surrounding regions.<ref name="NYT 1978-05-16" /> After one and a half months, Rana ensured their withdrawal without the need for military confrontation.<ref name="NYT 1978-05-16" />

During his time as COO, he developed a close rapport with the then Secretary General of the UN [[Kurt Waldheim]].<ref name="NYT 1978-05-16" /> Throughout the Tyre District confrontation, he was in correspondence with Waldheim, discussing and formulating peacekeeping plans with him.<ref name="NYT 1978-05-16" /> When they met in person at the [[UN Headquarters]] in [[New York City|New York]], Waldheim offered Rana a tenure extension in lieu of his effective leadership of the UNIFL.<ref name="Nepal Who's Who" /><ref name="Kathmandu 2003"/> However, Rana declined due to his prior professional commitments to the Royal Nepalese Army.<ref name="Kathmandu 2003"/><ref name="Nepal Who's Who 2004">''People of Nepal Who's Who''. Kathmandu: Sahitya Prakashan Pvt Ltd. 2004.</ref>

=== 1979 student protests and Director of Military Operations ===
Rana returned to Nepal in 1979. Whilst he had been in Lebanon, Rana had been promoted to the rank of [[brigadier general]]. Upon his return, he was appointed commander of the 1st Infantry Brigade.<ref name="Kathmandu 2003"/> His tenure as commander witnessed the [[1979 Nepalese student protests|1979 Nepalese Student Protests]].<ref name="Kathmandu 2003"/> The main objective of the protestors was to gain democratic freedom.<ref name="Brown">{{Cite book|last=Brown|first=T. Louise|date=2002-11-01|title=The Challenge to Democracy in Nepal|doi=10.4324/9780203419649|isbn=9780203419649}}</ref> The Brigade was based in [[Kathmandu]] when the protests began. Rana was involved in the minimisation of violence and vandalism which was being carried out by certain reactionary groups of the protest.<ref name="Kathmandu 2003"/> The protests came to an end after [[King Birendra]] announced a [[1980 Nepalese governmental system referendum|referendum]].<ref name="Brown"/> Following the election, the electorate chose to continue with [[Panchayat (Nepal)|monarchical panchayat system]].<ref>[[Shaha, Rishikesh]]. ''Politics in Nepal 1980–1990''. [[New Delhi]]: Manohar Publications, 1990.</ref> Afterwards, Rana commanded the 2nd Infantry Brigade in 1980.<ref name="Kathmandu 2003"/>

Rana was promoted to the rank of [[major general]] in 1982. Along with this promotion, he was also appointed as the Director General of Military Operations.<ref name="Kathmandu 2003"/> In this capacity, he supervised the planning and execution of all military operations undertaken by the Army.<ref name="Kathmandu 2003"/>

=== Chief of Army Staff ===
On 15 May 1987, Rana was appointed as the [[Chief of Army Staff (Nepal)|Chief of Army Staff]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EBQuAQAAIAAJ&q=satchit+shamsher+rana|title=Asian Recorder|date=1987|language=en}}</ref><ref name="Kathmandu 2003"/><ref name="Nepal Who's Who 2004"/><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UoiqFAiwplUC&q=satchit+rana&pg=RA2-PA70|title=The Department of State Bulletin|date=1987|publisher=Office of Public Communication, Bureau of Public Affairs}}</ref> During his tenure as COAS, which lasted four years, he planned and executed multiple military and civil missions.<ref name="Kathmandu 2003"/> During the [[List of SAARC summits#Third summit 3rd Nepal|Third SAARC Summit]] held in November 1987, as COAS he was in-charge of the overall security, logistics and administration.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> In 1988, an [[1988 Nepal earthquake|earthquake of magnitude 6.5]] struck eastern Nepal along its border with the Indian state of [[Bihar]].<ref name="Hazarika">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/08/22/world/at-least-700-dead-in-a-major-quake-in-the-himalayas.html|title=At Least 700 Dead in a Major Quake in the Himalayas|last1=Hazarika|first1=Sanjoy|date=1988-08-22|work=The New York Times|access-date=2020-01-15|last2=Times|first2=Special To the New York|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> 252 people perished, more than a thousand were injured and thousands of houses collapsed due to the earthquake.<ref name="Hazarika"/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19880915-earthquake-tremors-leave-trail-of-death-damage-in-bihar-nepal-797662-1988-09-15|title=Earthquake: Tremors leave a trail of death and damage in Bihar and Nepal|first=Farzand|last=Ahmed|date=15 September 1988|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=24 February 2020}}</ref> Rana was responsible for coordinating search and rescue operations.<ref name="Kathmandu 2003"/> He also carried out the implementation of rehabilitation programmes.<ref name="Kathmandu 2003"/>

In late ‘89 and early ‘90, [[People's Movement I (1990)|protests broke out in Kathmandu and in other parts of Nepal]] in support of a multi-party democratic system.<ref name="Parajulee 2000">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9RsLR6OsEx0C&q=People%27s+Movement+IN+%281990%29+of+nepal&pg=PA22|title=The Democratic Transition in Nepal|last=Parajulee|first=Ramjee P.|date=2000|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=978-0-8476-9577-5|language=en}}</ref> Initially, Rana after discussions with King Birendra, did not want to take military action against the protestors.<ref name="Parajulee 2000"/> Consequently, the Army was not deployed. However, on 6 April 1990, the protests turned violent.<ref name="Parajulee 2000"/> A number of protestors began to vandalise and carry out acts of arson. Such violence was concentrated around the [[Tundikhel]] and New Road area.<ref>Coll, Steve (1990-04-08). "Nepalese Army Enforces Curfew, Shootings Reported". ''The Washington Post''. Retrieved 2019-12-31.</ref> In an effort to deescalate the situation, Rana ordered units of the Army to move into the centre of Kathmandu.<ref name="WaPo 1990-04-08">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1990/04/08/nepalese-army-enforces-curfew-shootings-reported/57a44796-3429-4cf4-852e-c0eb1f1634b1/|title=Nepalese Army Enforces Curfew, Shootings Reported|last=Coll|first=Steve|date=1990-04-08|work=The Washington Post|access-date=2019-12-31}}</ref> To avoid further such violence, a curfew was put in place in the Kathmandu Valley.<ref name="WaPo 1990-04-08" />

On 9 April, King Birendra allowed for the establishment of a multi-party democratic system and the creation of a new constitution.<ref name="Parajulee 2000"/> In the new system of governance, King Birendra became a [[Constitutional monarchy|constitutional monarch]] with a large amount of political power transferring to the elected representatives.<ref name="Parajulee 2000"/> During the drafting of the new constitution, Rana provided suggestions to the then Prime Minister and Defence Minister [[Krishna Prasad Bhattarai]].<ref name="Thapa 2010 969–994">{{Cite journal|last1=Thapa|first1=Ganga Bahadur|last2=Sharma|first2=Jan|date=2010|journal=The Indian Journal of Political Science|volume=71|issue=3|pages=969–994|issn=0019-5510|jstor=42748422|title=Democracy Building and Changing Role of the Nepal Military}}</ref> Rana advocated that the new constitution should continue to keep the King as the Supreme Commander of the Army.<ref name="Thapa 2010 969–994"/> He believed that this would allow the armed forces to maintain its political neutrality and professional proficiency.<ref name="Thapa 2010 969–994"/> When the new constitution was implemented in November 1990, the King remained the supreme commander of the Army.<ref name="Koirala 1991" /> However, any military action to be undertaken had to now be discussed in the National Defence Council.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Koirala|first=Niranjan|date=1991|title=Nepal in 1990: End of an Era|journal=Asian Survey|volume=31|issue=2|pages=134–139|doi=10.2307/2644923|issn=0004-4687|jstor=2644923}}</ref><ref name="Thapa 2010 969–994"/> This council consisted of the King, the elected Prime Minister and the Chief of Army Staff.<ref name="Koirala 1991">{{Cite journal|last=Koirala|first=Niranjan|date=1991|title=Nepal in 1990: End of an Era|journal=Asian Survey|volume=31|issue=2|pages=134–139|doi=10.2307/2644923|issn=0004-4687|jstor=2644923}}</ref>

During his tenure, he aided in the establishment of the Shree Birendra Army Hospital in the Chauni District of Kathmandu and the [[Birendra Sainik Awasiya Mahavidyalaya]] in Bhaktapur.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bsamv.edu.np/|title=Welcome – Sainik Awasiya Mahavidyalaya !!!|access-date=2020-01-13}}</ref><ref name="Kathmandu 2003"/> Additionally, he undertook official visits in the capacity of COAS to the [[United Kingdom]] and [[Bangladesh]]. On 15 May 1991, Rana retired from his position after having commanded the army for four years. His retirement marked the end of a thirty-six year-long military career.

== Post military career ==
Upon his retirement, Rana was appointed by King Birendra as an Honourable Member of the Royal Council.{{cn|date=August 2020}} In 1995, during the 50th Birthday Celebrations of King Birendra, Rana was appointed the Vice Chairman and Treasurer of the Golden Jubilee Birthday Ceremony Committee.<ref name="Nepal Who's Who" /> In June 1996, he was appointed as the Royal Ambassador to [[Myanmar]], [[Vietnam]], and [[Laos]].<ref name="Former Ambassadors">{{Cite web|url=https://mm.nepalembassy.gov.np/former-ambassadors/|title=Former Ambassadors|website=Embassy of Nepal - Yangon, Myanmar|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-31}}</ref> During his ambassadorship, Rana worked to enhance the relationship between Nepal and Myanmar.<ref name="Nepal Who's Who" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.burmalibrary.org/reg.burma/archives/199906/msg00554.html|title=Foreign related news (r)|website=www.burmalibrary.org|access-date=2020-01-15}}</ref> During this period, Myanmar supported Nepal's application for membership in the [[Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation|BIMSTEC]].<ref name="Nepal Who's Who" /> In 1998, Nepal became an observer member of BIMSTEC.<ref name="Nepal Who's Who"/> Rana served as ambassador till 1999 after which he returned to Nepal.<ref name="Former Ambassadors" />

After his return, Rana was regularly called upon by the government to give his opinion on security matters.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=July 7, 2006|title=Rana Admits he advised King to be active|url=http://himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/journals/spotlight/pdf/Spotlight_25_44.pdf|journal=Spotlight}}</ref> With the escalation of the [[Nepalese Civil War|Maoist Insurgency in Nepal]], [[Gyanendra of Nepal|King Gyanendra]] appointed Rana as a [[The Right Honourable|Rt. Honourable Member]] of the Privy Council Standing Committee.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://zeenews.india.com/news/south-asia/chaudhari-is-the-new-chairman-of-rajparishad_81716.html|title=Chaudhari is the new chairman of Rajparishad|date=2003-02-19|website=Zee News|language=en|access-date=2020-01-15}}</ref> During this period, Rana was critical of the Maoist forces and their methods of engagement.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.nepalitimes.com/news.php?id=7025#.Xh9K0S2cbRY|title="Victory is just a question of time..."- Nepali Times|website=archive.nepalitimes.com|access-date=2020-01-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ipsnews.net/2005/04/nepal-shortage-of-weapons-hampers-armys-pursuit-of-maoists/|title=NEPAL: Shortage of Weapons Hampers Army's Pursuit of Maoists {{!}} Inter Press Service|website=www.ipsnews.net|access-date=2020-01-15}}</ref> Consequently, he was considered a target by the [[People's Liberation Army, Nepal|Maoist insurgents]]. A resort owned by Rana was attacked by Maoist insurgents in September 2003.<ref name="Maoists trigger blast in Nepal">{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/archive/2003/09/200849153735697131.html|title=Maoists trigger blast in Nepal|website=www.aljazeera.com|access-date=2020-01-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/nepal/timeline/2003.htm|title=Nepal Timeline Year 2003|website=www.satp.org|access-date=2020-01-15}}</ref> In August 2005, Rana's residence in Kathmandu was bombed by the Maoists.<ref name="Economist 2005-09-01">{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/asia/2005/09/01/crowning-folly|title=Crowning folly|date=2005-09-01|work=The Economist|access-date=2019-12-31|issn=0013-0613}}</ref> In both terror attacks, there were no fatalities.<ref name="Economist 2005-09-01" /><ref name="Maoists trigger blast in Nepal"/> In 2005, when the [[Seven Party Alliance]] and 12 Point Agreement was carried out, Rana considered these alliances to be unnatural.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://zeenews.india.com/news/south-asia/nepal-minister-flays-partymaoist-pact-as-unnatural-alliance_257964.html|title=Nepal minister flays party-Maoist pact as "unnatural" alliance|date=2005-11-24|website=Zee News|language=en|access-date=2019-12-31}}</ref> According to him, democratic parties negotiating with an insurgency group undermined the interests of the state.<ref name="Govt wonâ€™t ban parties: Satchit">{{Cite web|url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/govt-wonaet-ban-parties-satchit/|title=Govt wonâ€™t ban parties: Satchit|date=2006-01-31|website=The Himalayan Times|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-15}}</ref> Rana believed that in trying to gain political power, the democratic parties had compromised on national interests.<ref name="Govt wonâ€™t ban parties: Satchit"/>

Rana succumbed to cancer on 4 May 2007.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/world/report-key-royal-adviser-dies-in-nepal-1094684|title=Key royal adviser dies in Nepal|date=2007-05-04|website=DNA India|language=en|access-date=2020-01-15}}</ref> He is survived by his wife and four children.

== Personal life ==
Rana was married to Rani Asha Rana (née Shah).{{cn|date=August 2020}} They had three daughters and one son:{{cn|date=August 2020}}

* Mrs Satchida Rajya Laxmi Singh
* Mrs Saktida Rajya Laxmi Singh
* Captain Sadaya Shamsher Jung Bahadur Rana (Retd)
* Mrs Sukirti Rajya Laxmi Bhatta

In his retirement, Rana involved himself in agriculture and tourism.<ref name="Kathmandu 2003"/> He established the Gurkha Hill Resort, which is still open in the [[Gorkha District|Gorkha Municipal District]], and began apple farming in Mangchet, [[Rasuwa District]].<ref name="Kathmandu 2003"/> He was also an avid golfer.<ref name="Kathmandu 2003" />

== Titles and honours ==

=== National orders and medals ===

* [[Order of Tri Shakti Patta]] (First Class)
* [[Order of Gorkha Dakshina Bahu]] (First Class)
* Kirtimaya Nepal Shreepad
* Natural Disaster Relief Medal
* Army Long Service Medal
* Foreign Service Medal
* Remote Area Service Medal
* Collection of Public Opinion Medal
* Holy Coronation Ceremony Medal, 2013 (1956)
* Holy Coronation Ceremony Medal, 2031 (1974)
* Army Service Medal

=== Foreign orders and medals ===

* {{flag|Germany}}: Officer's Cross of Merit of the [[Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]]
* {{flag|Spain}}: Grand Cross of the [[Order of Civil Merit]]
* {{flag|United Kingdom}}: Officer of the [[Order of the British Empire]]
* {{flag|United Nations}}: [[United Nations Medal]]

== References ==

{{reflist}}{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
|-
{{s-bef
| before = [[Arjun Narsingh Rana]]
}}
{{s-ttl
| title = Chief of Army Staff of the [[Royal Nepalese Army]]
| years = 1987 – 1991
}}
{{s-aft
| after = [[Gadul Shamsher JB Rana]]
}}
{{s-end}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rana, Satchit}}
[[Category:1934 births]]
[[Category:2007 deaths]]
[[Category:Graduates of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst]]
[[Category:Rana dynasty]]
[[Category:20th-century Nepalese people]]
[[Category:21st-century Nepalese people]]
[[Category:Nepalese generals]]
[[Category:Nepalese expatriates in India]]
[[Category:Lebanese Civil War]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of Nepal to Myanmar]]
[[Category:People from Palpa District]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in Nepal]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of Nepal to Vietnam]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Banaras Hindu University alumni]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of Nepal to Laos]]
[[Category:Nepalese expatriates in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Officers Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]]
[[Category:20th-century Nepalese nobility]]
[[Category:21st-century Nepalese nobility]]

Satchit Rana - Revision history

->Bada Kaji: +Category:20th-century Nepalese nobility; +Category:21st-century Nepalese nobility using HotCat