Khadgajeet Baral
Khadgajeet Baral (Nepali: खड्गजीत बराल) OGDB OTSP (born April 17, 1928) is a Nepalese politician and diplomat. [1] Widely regarded as one of the greatest police chiefs (प्रहरी महानिरीक्षक) of Nepal Police,[2][3] he served as the Ambassador of Nepal to Burma, French Indochina and Indonesia,[4] as a Chief Liaison Officer of the U.N., and also as a Member of the Parliament (MP) of Nepal.
Personality
In his early youth, Baral was very zealous, and at times even impetuous. A very obedient yet However, in his later life, Khadgajit is observed to be calm and patient. He is also known to be a very wise and insightful man, and is also an exceptionally stoic and composed individual with a pragmatic approach to life. A prudent and resilient man, he is a realist by nature and has an assertive, directive and authoritative personality. [5]
In spite of possessing such qualities, Baral is also a kind and caring person with a deep sense of honor and loyalty. A simple man of great charisma, Baral has great skill in negotiation, which is one of the prime factors that lead him to become a successful diplomat. An honest and simple man, he believes in family values and human morality. His spiritual beliefs and perceptive nature enabled him to further develop his leadership qualities and lead him to a successful career. [6]
Baral is also very modest, and is by no means above praising other as he lauds other police chiefs when mentioned by subordinate police officers. Despite his free-spirited and peaceful nature, he is also known to be highly vigilant of his surroundings, and willing to make difficult decisions that go against his usual nature when the situation demands it. Even when placed in such a position, he has the ability to remain composed, adaptable, and calculating, quickly able to adjust to new developments and make up his mind.
Contrasting somewhat with the expectations people had built up for the man known as one of the most powerful and successful police chief to have ever lived, he is quite a jovial and humorous man. Inspired by his late father Bahadur Singh Baral, KJS Baral believed that success is solely the result of devotion and hard work. [7] [8]
Early life and education
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Khadgajeet Baral was born to Bahadur Singh Baral and Saraswati Baral in a town called Daldale of Nawalparasi district. He was later brought up along with two elder brothers and a younger sister in Bhaksu, India. Both his father Bahadur Singh Baral, and his grandfather Sarwajeet Singh Baral had served as majors in the First Gorkha Rifle of the British Indian Army. His elder brother had also served as a major in the First Gorkha Rifle. As such, K.J.S. Baral lived a very disciplined life from a very young age. He attended the St. An-dew's High School and then later graduated from Agra University. He had also attended the Patna University from where he obtained his Masters in political science.
Career in Law Enforcement
Early career
Khadgajeet Baral joined the Nepal Police, the first academic graduate to join the organization, in 1956 A.D., at the age of 28 years. Within three years, he was promoted to the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (D.S.P.) and later became Superintendent of Police (S.P.) at the age of 34. In the year 1964 A.D., he had proved to become an apt 'Commandant' of the then "Sadar Prahari Talim Kendra", upon being appointed as the "Samadaysak" of the academy by the then I.G.P. Pahal Singh Lama; he proved to be a great administrator in the academy as he had acquired a vast amount of knowledge in that field from his late father Major Bahadur Singh Baral, who himself had been a very successful British/Gurkha commandant in Lahore (Present Pakistan). K.J.S. Baral was promoted to Deputy Inspector General of Police (D.I.G.P.) three years later. He received training from the Tokyo Police officials at the Tokyo Imperial Police College in Japan and also from the [[Fe deral Bureau of Investigation (FBI)]] in U.S.A.
K.J.S. Baral was an idealist by nature, even as a very young officer. He expressed his idea about the "Mahendra Police Club (present Nepal Police Club)" to the then I.G.P. Pahal Singh Lama, who later established it. He had also envisioned the establishment of "police schools", exceptionally for the children of low ranking police officers who could not afford the education of their children. This plan, however, was only brought into effect after his retirement.
Inspector General of Nepal Police
Khadgajeet Baral was promoted to "Inspector General of Police ( I.G.P.)" at the age of 43, becoming one of the youngest police chiefs in the history of Nepal.[9][10] He had been the "first post graduate police officer" to be recommended by the then 'National Public Service Commission' to His Majesty's Government as the I.G.P.[11]
I.G.P. Baral and his predecessor, I.G.P. Rom Bahadur Thapa, are the only pair to remain chiefs for a period of 6 years, the standard tenure being 4 years. [12] [13]
During his tenure as police chief,[14][15] K.J.S. Baral is famed for his major contributions in the administrative sectors of the Nepal Police organization. The establishments of the "Kanun Sakha" and "Engineering Sakha" in the Nepal Police Headquarters are a few of his accomplishments. He had established the "Nepal Police Mountaineering & Adventure Foundation", which, in Nepal is very historical; it conquered many Himalayan peaks, exclusively by Nepalese mountaineers; the Tukuche Himal (6921m) and Pabil Himal (7104m) conquered in 1976 A.D. and 1978 A.D. respectively are prime examples.[16] The construction of the "Birendra Police Hospital" (present Nepal Police Hospital) had also commenced in his tenure.[17]
I.G.P. Baral's remarkable establishment of the "Nepal Police Flying Squad" in the year 1975 A.D., which consisted of 4 imported state-of-the-art vehicles from China and about a dozen officers, for crime prevention, is considered admirable even now.[18]
I.G.P. Baral is a major reformist in Nepal Police [19] He had made rations available to all of the low ranking police personnel and had made the provision of barracks possible. In order to manage the busy traffic in the Kathmandu valley, he had introduced 'Mounted Police', i.e. Traffic police officers on horses.[20]
K.J.S. Baral is reputed as the greatest police chief in the history of Nepal,[21] his might being so vast that it lead to him being revered as the "God of Nepal Police". [22] The feats performed by him were such that many considered his prowess itself to be embellished. [23]
Ambassador to Burma
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During the reign of the then King Birendra, Khadgajeet Baral had been appointed the Royal Ambassador of Nepal to Burma (Myanmar) after being succeeded by Durlav Kumar Thapa as the police chief.
His Majesty's Visit to Myanmar
Ambassador Baral had arranged King Birendra’s visit to the Union of Burma in the early 80s, which was the first visit of the Nepali Head of State. It opened a new progressive and proactive relationship between Nepal and Burma. It also facilitated to negotiate with the Burmese Government in accepting Nepal’s proposal of “Zone of Peace”. Burma was the third country to accept Nepal’s proposal of zone of peace.
Construction of the Maha Wizaya Pagoda
During Ambassador Baral's tenure, the Maha Wizaya Pagoda was built very near to the biggest Pagoda of Burma, Shwedagon Pagoda, in which the statue of Lord Buddha is enshrined which was the gift of Nepal to the predominantly Buddhist country of Burma. This Pagoda also known as the “Maha Wijaya Zedi”, since then, has become the second most revered pagoda after Shwedagon Pagoda among the Burmese people in Burma, resulting in the new close relationship between the Nepalese residing in Burma and the Burmese citizens. The Maha Wijaya Zedi was built jointly by the artisans and craftsmen of both Burma and Nepal, which established a historical relationship between the two countries.
The visit of President of Burma, General Ne Win to Nepal, requested by Ambassador Baral
This was the first visit of the President of Burma to Nepal after Burma was brought under military rule. This visit by the president Ne Win helped later on in receiving 30,000 tons of Burmese rice as a donation when Nepal was threatened with near famine in 1983 A.D. This Burmese donation was the first and the quickest relief to reach Nepal preventing the near famine.
Granting Burmese Citizenship to Nepalese residing in Myanmar
Ambassador Baral, with his diplomatic skills, had convinced the Burmese officials to provide Burmese citizenships to more than 30,000 Nepalese residing in Burma, who still then, despite generations stay in Burma, were like stateless refugees without any civil rights.
Visit of Mahashi (the Chief Abbot) of Burma to Nepal
The chief priest of Burma, whose official title is “Mahashi” visited Nepal for the first time and visited the birthplace of Lord Buddha, Lumbini and other Buddhist places of pilgrimage, paving the way for cultural exchanges and good will between the two countries.
Ambassador to French Indochina and Indonesia
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Khadgajeet Baral had also been accredited the Royal Ambassador of Nepal to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam during the same time when he had been the ambassador to Myanmar.
During Ambassador Baral's five-year tenure as an accredited ambassador to French Indo-China and Indonesia, there had arisen some political tension between the neighboring countries Indonesia and Malaysia. K.J.S. Baral had used this an opportunity to make use of his diplomatic skills to establish diplomatic relations between Nepal and Indonesia.
Contribution to sports
Rtd. Hon. Khadgajeet Baral is known to have been very enthusiastic in sports as a young boy, as both his father and elder brother had encouraged him, which later sparked his interest in other sports too. He used to play football and hockey very keenly while in college; he had been both the football and hockey captain(s) there. His zeal in sports continued to live on even after his school days had ended.
In order to promote the standard of the then Nepal Police Football Team, K.J.S. Baral had recruited Achyut Krishna Kharel as an inspector along with several other talented football players, which proved to be quite favorable for the organization. Achyut Kharel would also later become the I.G.P. after a long distinguished service.
K.J.S. Baral had been the president of Nepal Badminton Association after his retirement from law enforcement. [24] He had also been the president of Nepal Judo Association for six years; he is credited for importing Judo from Japan in 1966 A.D.[25][26]
Khadgajeet Baral is more renowned as the "Founder President" of Nepal Hockey Association, remaining president for a period of 8 years; he promoted the standard of Hockey in Nepal by bringing in two Hockey players from Pakistan. He alone is responsible for introducing hockey and making it famous in Nepal, and as such, is regarded as the pioneer of Nepalese hockey.
Legacy
Image
During his tenure as police chief, Baral had cultivated a flashy, distinctive image which would inspire all of his troops. An altruistic leader, he saw all of his fellow police officers as a part of his own family, and his legacy took a firm root in the organization itself. [27]
As a leader, Baral was known to be highly critical, punishing subordinates for their mistakes, but also being quick to praise their accomplishments. Baral reportedly had the utmost respect for the men serving in his command and believed that performance was more important than caste or religious affiliation. [28]
When speaking, he was known for his bluntness and witticism. IGP Baral developed an ability to deliver charismatic speeches, quickly winning over the confidence of his troops, making them staunchly loyal to him.
It was he who first believed that law and order and only be maintained if the Nepalese people saw the policemen as a part of their own society, not as outsiders who intended to suppress their rights. Known as a symbol of bravery in the history of Nepal Police, Baral’s undaunted nature and reputation to subdue others lead him to be feared by even the most powerful and influential men of the Panchayat regime. Late King Birendra had stated that, "For IGP Khadgajit Baral, leadership was never simply about making plans and giving orders, it was about transforming oneself into a symbol.” [29]
Retired Life
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Rtd. Hon. Khadgajeet Baral is now an active member of "The Rotary Club Of Pashupati"[30][31][32]
and a trustee of the RNGC (Royal Nepal Golf Club).[33][34][35]
External links
- Official website of Nepal Police
- Official Website Of District 3292
- Official Facebook Page of IGP K.J.S. Baral
- Himalayan Times 2009
References
- ^ "DIGPLANET".
- ^ "Police History - Ex-Chief of Police". Retrieved 2013-04-10.
- ^ "Center for Security and Justice Studies".
- ^ Nepal press digest - 1980 - 24 1-52 p260 His Majesty concurrently accredited the Royal Nepali Ambassador to Burma, Khadga Jit Baral,as ambassador to Indonesia, ..
- ^ "Talk About Khadgajeet Baral".
- ^ "25 years ago Archives Gorkhapatra".
- ^ "Republican Personality".
- ^ Gorkhapatra 1972
- ^ "Pubil Library of US Diplomacy".
- ^ "Margaret P. Grafeld Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 06 JUL 2006".
- ^ "Interview on September 15th, 2012 by Himalayan Television".
- ^ "Lion's Share".
- ^ "Republica/Nagarik News".
- ^ ""Nepal Police has a very important role to provide a secure environment to the people. Whatever the situation it faces, Nepal Police will need to guarantee the people's right to live in peace," said Khadga Jit Baral, former chief of Nepal Police".
- ^ "Central Chairman of the Council Chinta Bahadur Basnet, honoured former inspector generals duo Dhruba Bahadur Pradhan and Khadgajit Baral".
- ^ Inspector Capsule
- ^ Arogya Darpan 2000 (Birendra Police Hospital Yearly Magazine)
- ^ Nepal Police Mirror 2011
- ^ "Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 30 JUN 2005".
- ^ Nepal Police Mirror 2011
- ^ "Training And Service To Nation".
- ^ "Joginder Bole Pranam Ji 05 Poush 2070(20 Dec 2013);Interview with Ramesh Kharel".
- ^ "IGP Kuber Singh Rana in TOUGH talk with Dil Bhusan Pathak-21./45:45".
- ^ "Tamang siblings steal the show".
- ^ "nagariknews-खेल".
- ^ "Judo Union of Asia".
- ^ "Khula Bichar".
- ^ Gorkhapatra 2029
- ^ "Digparty Home URL".
- ^ "District-Advisory-Committee".
- ^ "Rotary Club of Pashupat-KTM".
- ^ "Speech from Chief Guest Rtn Khadga Jeet Baral".
- ^ "Victories at the senior section".
- ^ "The Kathmandu Post: Rana Duo win Titles".
- ^ "The Himalayan Times: Bijayananda lifts Myanmar envoy cup".
- 1928 births
- Living people
- Nepalese police officers
- Chiefs of police
- Chiefs of Nepal police
- Nepalese diplomats
- Ambassadors of Nepal to Myanmar
- Ambassadors of Nepal to Laos
- Ambassadors of Nepal to Cambodia
- Ambassadors of Nepal to Vietnam
- Ambassadors of Nepal to Indonesia
- Members of the Parliament of Nepal
- Members of the Order of Gorkha Dakshina Bahu, First Class
- Members of the Order of Tri Shakti Patta, First Class