Gopal Gurung (Nepali: गोपाल गुरुङ) (7 December 1939[1] – 10 June 2016[2]) was a politician, author, journalist, teacher and vocal advocate of the human rights for the indigenous people of Nepal.

He began writing about it in 1972 in the Nepali Newspaper New Light and later published an influential book on the topic, Hidden Facts in Nepalese Politics.

[7] Gurung, founding president of the Mongol National Organisation, was a pioneer democratic republican figure of Nepal.

[10][11] Gopal Gurung, the author of this book, was arrested by the Panchayat government on 30 August 1988 (just after the publication of the second edition in 1988), based on the charge of racial discrimination against the Hindu rulers and politicians.

[12] He was arrested under the two State Offence Acts at the time, and was sent to the Bhadragol central jail for three years without any adequate charge sheet.

After the Second World War, when his father left the military service and got involved in politics, the other siblings of the family also became upset.

Gurung, who started his journey in Nepal in this way, went to the remote areas of Jhapa's Gauriganj, Dharan Depot, Kathmandu and West Parbat Rakhu and became involved in the teaching profession for some time.

After hard work and some financial resources, he passed the private examination in Political Science from Tribhuvan University and completed his formal studies up to a master's degree.

The status quo in the Hindu dominated establishment tried all it could to stop Gurung from speaking against the institutionalized racism, corruption and exploitation by the rulers and politicians against the indigenous people who are primarily Buddhist.

When Gurung fell ill after his imprisonment, the Panchayati (Mandalay) had to fight hard as the government did not take him to the hospital on time.

PEN and Amnesty International London, Amnesty International Denmark, Press Foundation of Asia Manila, Philippines, All India Journalist Council, India and many others had corresponded on the government level for his early release along with their human rights efforts.

Mochtar Lubis wrote threatening letters to the prime minister, including the ghost court, and demanded his release by publishing a photo in Denmark's Human Rights Bulletin AKTION, after which teachers in some schools in Denmark continued to inform students about Gurung.

Similarly, another English language newspaper from Sikkim, Himalayan Guardian wrote, on 23 April 1997, 'Asserting identity is not being communal: Nepal should be a secular country.

They knew Gurung's struggle was not a communal one, and their support was for universally approved human rights, democracy and freedom.

[26][27] Gurung had to go underground for five years after the publication of In Quest of Mongol Entity and Doctorate (PhD) on MNO in 2058 BS.

The then-king Gyanendra Shah declared a federal democratic republic, a secular country and urged to become president for life.

And Pawan Chamling declared himself in his open speech in Namchi on 19 September 1992, "When I was expelled From the party, Bhandary accused me of my affiliation to the MNO, guided by Gopal Gurung from Kathmandu."

[37] Although claiming that the history of Nepal is not true, some of the agendas raised by Gurung during the Panchayat period have been addressed but some of them have become controversial.

[41] Opposing the term "Adibasi Janajati", Gurung was of the opinion that the word Mulbasi Mongols should be used, although followers have been raising the issue.

'[44] Gurung died on 10 June 2016, while undergoing treatment after being diagnosed with sudden blood cancer, in Alka hospital.

The funeral was held in the premises of the Mongol Research Center building at Bahundangi in Jhapa in the presence of thousands of supporters.