Prachanda

On August 18, 2008, Maoist leader Prachanda was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Nepal. A former communist rebel leader, Prachanda led the 1996 armed revolution against the Nepalese monarchy. The revolution led to a civil war and the deaths of approximately 13,000 Nepalese citizens.¹

Fast Facts

1. Full name: Pushpa Kamal Dahal
2. Born: December 11, 1954
3. "Prachanda" translates to "the fierce one"
4. Elected Prime Minister of Nepal on August 15, 2008
5. Sworn in as Prime Minister of Nepal on August 18, 2008
6. Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal
7. The Nepalese monarchy was abolished in June of 2008¹

Quotes

"For 250 years, our peoples have been exploited under the oppression of feudal lords. The people's war has helped crush the feudal structure in the rural areas."—Prachanda²

"Prachanda looks very well-fed. In fact, his healthy diet is bought from the money extorted from poor people like myself. Or else, where does he get the money from?"—Nepalese villager¹

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