I frequently find myself comparing our royalties to those of other nations, namely that of United Kingdom. Blue bloods are blue bloods, anywhere, but let's take British Royal Family. Despite shananigans within the family, Prince Charles has been a model prince. (I was reading in Keshab Paudel's article above, "globally renowned conservationist himself, King Gyanendra".... I wonder I should take that line as a satire or should I just laugh at it, for Gyanendra's contribution, if one can call it contribution, comes nowhere close to Charles's, but I digress). Prince William is shaping to be a good heir as well. Though it might just be a PR event, the video of him cleaning toilets and doing social work in South America made me think, now, this is a guy who is firmly grounded and will make a good king someday. Paras, on the other hand, is the opposite side of the spectrum. Even if we are to take a more conservative royal family of Japan whose feudalistic past is more recent, the comparision with our royalties brings tears to my eyes. During American Occupation of Japan immediately after WWII, when Emperor Hirohito went to see General Douglas McArthur, his motorcade stopped on the road. Why? Because the traffic light had turned red. This was a subtle, yet very powerful, sign to his subjects that rule of law reigns supreme in modern Japan. Imagine that happening in Kathmandu. I like Thai food and everytime I go to a Thai restaurant, I am awed by the love Thai people have for their King. Every, any, Thai restaurant has an altar with their King's picture. He must be a great king to have deserved so much respect, not out of fear but out of genuine love. And I wonder about our own..... Let's look at our own neighbor, Bhutan. Now I have to admit I know little about their royalties, but I was again awed when I read in the Economist (Dec 18th 2004 issue) that the Bhutanese King has, at his own accord, decided to opt for constitutional monarchy. This January, he is tourning his country, drumming up support for a new constitution - a document that will take away much of his power. "...(the king) was worried that future kings might not be as good and wise as he. So he wanted the people to rule themselves." Compare this with what the Economist had to say about Nepal's king (Dec 4th 2004 issue): "despotic monarch of a failing state." There's a lot to think about.