May be Late King Birendra was gentle and good human being but he WAS NOT A GREAT LEADER. Infact, he was a worse leader who could not take the nation towards any development during his 18 years of reign. Unlike in democracy, he didn't have to face any resistance from opposition parties or even from people. If he were a visionary leader, he could have done so much more for the betterment of the country and it's people. But, alas, he wasted his power to just make his own people rich.