Now the Final Reckoning with the Himalayan Republic Awaits

By Shashi P.B.B. Malla

H.M. King Gyanendra was accorded a very warm welcome by tens of thousands of Royalists/Monarchists on his return to the capital city from Pokhara.

There and in the environs, His Majesty has already laid the groundwork for political transformation.

His triumphant welcome in Kathmandu is a propitious sign that major changes are afoot.

In fact, the tremendous support for H.M. King Gyanendra, the Hindu State and Constitutional Monarchy is a sure indication of the death knell of the Himalayan Republic.

The walls of retribution are falling in on Oli, Deuba, Dahal-Prachanda & Co.

The wholehearted grassroots support for H.M. has now reached a critical mass. A vast majority of the common people want the Dons and their diehard supporters gone – sooner than later.

The Dons of the various Mafia political families, i.e. the mainstream political parties, have nothing better to offer than to urge H.M. not to disturb the prevailing ‘calm’ situation, but to found a new political party and participate in the 2026 general election.

H.M. is not going to fall into that cheap trap.  

K.P. Sharma Oli is very naïve to think that H.M. will stoop to their level (the gutter!).

The Reaction of the Mainstream Print Media

After a wall of silence regarding the surge of public support for H.M. King Gyanendra, the mainstream print media had no choice – in order not to lose complete relevance – but to report on the remarkable public endorsement for monarchy and the Hindu State.

The Rising Nepal

The editorial board did not have the courage to comment in an editorial, but restricted itself to observations by K.P. Sharma Oli and the Minister for Home Affairs, Ramesh Lekhak.

Oli had nothing better to say than that H.M. Gyanendra was attempting to push the country backward, and that “His anarchic activities are putting the nation in trouble.”

However, it is astounding that Minister Lekhak unintentionally totally contradicted Oli:

  • ‘Royalists were engaging in movements, benefitting from democracy.’
  • ‘The present movement that Royalists are trying to begin will not disrupt peace and security’.

The Himalayan Times

This paper gave prominence to the opinions of Maoist lawmakers who had no sense of history, but insisted on nonsensical policy: ‘socialism could be the alternative to republican order and not regression or monarchy.’

At the same time, there was an aside and incriminating statement ascribed to none other than Oli: ‘And there is a leader who advocates for republican order by saying that bringing republican order is like trying to travel from Nepal to the US in bullock cart, which now has the mantles of the government’!

The Kathmandu Post

Like the Himalayan Times, this paper also did not consider the landmark event worthy of an editorial, but it at least quoted several political analysts:

  • The support mustered by the pro-royalist forces on Sunday should be considered significant.
  • ‘Sunday’s demonstration shows the public frustration stemming from successive government’s failure to deliver since the second people’s movement in 2006.’
  • ‘If the present system fails to address people’s disenchantment urgently through policies and programmes, the country may have a serious political crisis.’

However, the present political dispensation is already in serious, all-round trouble. The common people are already so disillusioned and infuriated that they will only be satisfied with comprehensive regime change!

What Oli & Co. may attempt will be too little, too late.

The Annapurna Express

The paper reports in a matter of fact manner:

“The growing disillusionment with successive governments, plagued by unfulfilled promises and systemic failures, has fueled anti-establishment sentiment…

“This dissatisfaction has provided fertile ground for the resurgence of royalist forces, whose recent street protests have sparked fear and anxiety among Nepal’s major political parties.”

Republica

This paper which is published in association with The New York Times, relied on a dispatch of the Agence France Presse (AFP) to quote a teacher:

  • ‘The country faces instability, prices are high, people are jobless, and there is a lack of education and health care facilities.’
  • ‘The poor are dying of hunger. The law applies to the public, but not to politicians. That’s why we need the king back.’

Regardless, Republica cites notable political scientist and commentator Prof. Dr. Lok Raj Baral  (also former ambassador to India) who ventures a prediction.

Baral told AFP that he did not see any possibility of the monarchy being restored because the institution had been “a source of instability” – implying it was “mission impossible”!

For Baral, the monarchy was just a refuge for disgruntled groups due to incompetence of politicians who have grown increasingly self-centred.

Baral does not see the writing on the wall and minimizes the impact of the mass demonstration in support of king and country.

Unfortunately, he also does not elaborate how and why the monarchy had become a source of instability. After all, historically, the Shah monarchy unified the country and ushered in the modern democratic era.

It remains the symbol of national unity and incorporates the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity – and thus inherent stability.   

It is now time to plan carefully for the next peaceful and non-violent street demonstration when push comes to a shove for those trampling down on the people’s aspirations.

The writer can be reached at: shashipbmalla@hotmail.com