Bahadur Singh Baral
Captain Bahadur Singh Baral was a Nepali national poet and a military officer. He served as a subedar-major and honorary captain in the 2nd battalion of the First Gorkha Rifle of the British Indian Army.
He is known to have provided financial supports to the top Nepali Congress leaders, including late BP Koirala, during the 1951 revolution against the autocratic Rana regime in Nepal.
He is also known for his contributions to Nepali literature. He wrote several poems which comprise "Baral ko Asu", a poem book written by him. It consists of poems of religion, patriotism, equality, social reforms, and the bravery of the Gorkhalis.
Biography
British Indian Army
Originally hailing from then Palpa district, both Baral and his father were subedar-majors in the Second Battalion of the First Gorkha Rifle in the British Indian Army, which Baral had commandeered in World War II.Directly commissioned as a Jamdar in the 2nd battalion of the 1st Gorkha Rifles on June 16, 1913, Baral rose to the rank of subedar major.
After exhibiting 'valor' in WWI, Baral was decorated with the 'Member of Victorian Order ' and 'Order of British India '.
Baral retired in 1935. Following his retirement, from 1935 to 1939, he was the president of All India Gorkha Association, in addition to the president of Gorkha Dhoghabhet-Satsang Pracharini Sabha.
After the onset of WWII, he rejoined military service. He retired in 1952. During this time period, he was conferred the rank of an ‘honorary captain’.