She was the wife of Prince Basundhara of Nepal, a son of King Tribhuvan of Nepal and his second wife Queen Ishwari. Princess Helen Shah was born at the Bahadur Bhawan, Kathmandu. She was the younger daughter of General Nara Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana, Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, sometime Inspector-General of the Royal Nepal Police, by his first wife, Uma Rajya Laxmi, of Doti.
They had three children: Princess Jayanti of Nepal (1946-2001), she was killed in the Nepalese royal massacre. Princess Jyotshana of Nepal. Princess Helen Shah was the chairman of Nepal Red Cross Society from 1981 to 1990.
She worked to promote tourism and raised awareness about women"s rights.
Princess Jayanti, the eldest daughter of Princess Helen, was one of the ten people who died. Princess Helen"s second daughter, Ketaki, was also wounded, but survived.
They heard the gunshots but did not take them seriously. A few minutes later, Prince Paras came and told the two women what had happened.
The trust works to fight against cardiac diseases.
Princess Jayanti had worked hard to help heart patients and making cardiac treatment more affordable and reachable to the common people of Nepal. Princess Helen Shah, the widow of Prince Basundhara, died of cancer on September 12, 2007 at the King Birendra Military Hospital, Chhauni. Her older sister Princep married Prince Himalaya of Nepal.
Lady Helen Rajya Laxmi Kumari Rana (1932–1945).
His Royal Highness Princess Helen Shah of Nepal (1945–2007). National honours Foreign honours.
Member of the Order of Om Rama Patta (23 October 2001). Member of the Order of the Three Divine Powers, 1st class. Member of the Order of the Gurkha Right Hand, 1st class (24 February 1975). King Mahendra Coronation Medal (2 May 1956). King Birendra Coronation Medal (24 February 1975). Daibi Prakop Piditoddhar Padak. Commemorative Silver Jubilee Medal of King Birendra (31 January 1997). King Gyanendra Investiture Medal (4 June 2001). Japan: Dame Grand Cordon of the Order of the Precious Crown.
From 1977 to 1990, she was a member of Raj Shabha. On the evening of June 1, 2001, ten members of the Nepalese royal family were murdered, reportedly by the Crown Prince Dipendra. Member of the Order of Om Rama Patta (23 October 2001).
Member of the Order of the Three Divine Powers, 1st class.
Member of the Order of the Gurkha Right Hand, 1st class (24 February 1975).
