This is to note with heavy heart that the living history of Dalit Movement Mohanlal Kapali is no more in this world. He passed away on 28th of November around 11 am NST because of cardiac arrest. He was 84 but living almost a healthy life as other than old age complications; he was not seriously ill. At around 8 am he felt uneasyness in his heart and was taken immediately to the heart care centre of Sahid Gangalal Cardiac Hospital. He was checked thoroughly and given only some iron tablets to return back home. When he was about to enter his home, he passed away.

I would like to remind everyone concerned that since the time of Rana autocratic and oligarchy regime his whole family was very revolutionary, and did not accept the practice of untouchability of any form. To combat such inhuman practices of the time, Mr. Kapali developed himself as a sports man and worked out for his body building. He along with his some other friends were able to create fear among the upper caste society that if caste based discrimination is practiced with him he will revolt and even beatup everyone who practices. He was also politcally conscious and affiliated himself first with the founder of Nepali Communist movement Pushpalal. Later on, he was associated with Late Ganeshman Singh until his death and his family and Nepali Congress.

Because of his sportsmanship he became famous and was able to establish linkage with the royal family (King Tribhuwan and Mahendra) that link was instrumental to bring new civil code 2020 replacing the old civil code of 1910 B.S.

During 2019-20 B.S., the then Dalit leaders including Mohanlal Kapali did various movement activities, many in the form symbolic to influence King Mahendra, eventually having gotten a big gathering of Dalits at Khulamanch. Only after that time, King Mahendra brought the new civil code. Here I would like to reiterate that had not been the new civil code brought in place I am quite sure that our movement would not have been to this current stage. Therefore, Mohanlal Kapali needs to be regarded as one of the founders of the Dalit movement.

We could not pay our sincere homage to this great leader of Dalit movement as none of us were informed of his death by his Kapali family in time. It is may be due to the fact that Kapali family did not inform any of us; even his life-time close associate Mr. Omprakash VK was informed very lately.

We (DNF, Omprakash VK and myself) feel very proud to have prepared his biography a year ago and any one having interest in the Dalit rights and movement can read it and learn more about his contribution.

I am quite sure that you all join me to pay our due respect and homage to this great history of the Dalit movement.

His thirteen day of death falls on 9th of December 06, and we will be organizing a mass meeting to condole his sad demise. I hope, those of us who are around Kathmandu will come and join. Time and venue will be informed later on.

In mourning,

- Hira Vishawakarma
________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I thank Hiraji tor bringing up the information of sad demise of our great hero Mr. Mohan Lal Kapali. The life of Mr.Mohan Lal Kapali was itself a precious history of Dalit movement. I have never seen such a bold, strong and courageous Dalit leader like Mr. Kapali who could take the challenge and face any kind and shape of caste discrimination in any moment. He deserved to be taken as the sole full path finder of modern Dalit movement.

Whatever we could pay homage to his departed soul [may not] be sufficient compared to his contribution to Dalit movement. He was highly influenced by his conversation with Dr. Ambedkar on 1956. Since then, he had been a strong Ambedkarite leader. I hope his contribution will stand alive in the history of Dalit movement.

May I also correct that 10th December (Sunday) 06 is the 13th day of his mourning.

In mourning,

Om Prakash VK

_____________________________________________________________________________________

I am shocked and deeply saddened to hear that our great leader Mohanlal Dai is no more. At this time of mourning for him, I feel myself also extremely sorry for two another reasons- one, I could not have a moment spared to go and meet him when I was in Kathmandu early this month, even though Mr. Om Prakash VK and I had remembered and talked in length about him and his leadership; second, I have not been able to give time for translating the Biography of Mohanlal Kapali, a book written by Mr. Om Prakash VK, as I had promised with Hiraji. Hopefully, I will complete this assignment one day, sooner than later, as I have not given up yet.

Paying my sincere homage to Mohanlal Dai, with whom I was in close association in the early days of my living in Kathmandu (early 1970s) , I would like to express my heartfelt condolence to bereaved family.

In mourning,

- Drona Rasali

__________________________________________________________________________________

We are saddened by the demise of one of our great leaders. I have taken him as a genuine leader who has no self interest but lead the movement with his pure heart. I remember him shedding his tears of happiness in one of the programs organized in Kathmandu. Since then, it was not difficult to know him how kind hearted he was.

We would like to pay sincere homage to Mohan Lal Kapali ji and express our heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family. May his soul rest in peace!

In the meantime, I would like to thank DNF, Omprakash VK and Hira Vishwakarma for bringing out his short biography.

- Prakash Nepal
NASO Community
Washington, DC
http://www.nasocommunity.org
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Related Biography:
Mohanlal Kapali: Ek Sangharshashil Chhabi (A Struggleful Image) - A Biography by Om Prakash VK Gahatraj (in Nepali language)