MANIPULATION (of the masses) does not have to be immediate and physically visible. Mental/psychological manipulation of the minds is usually long term, discreet and, therefore, even more serious/harmful than physical manipulation. Minds of the Nepali mass had been manipulated by the royal institution in modern times (thanks to Panchayat!) through the books we read, the news we heard, the information we got, twisted history we were taught, fanciful myths we were made to believe in, etc, etc, etc...which has led a lot of Nepalis to do what Shiva Shrestha has done in the above picture, and some others to support it. Like Newuser has correctly pointed out, this kind of "slave mentality" has not only been taken advantage of by the Kings, but by various political leaders as well -- here are many Nepalis who would have equally powerful feelings of submission to servitude (of not literally DHOGNE like Shiva Shrestha did) to please the likes of Girija, Prachanda, MaKuNe, Deuba, etc. This trend was slowly but surely being let go of during the 10 years or so of quasi-democracy, but now that the reigns of power has been wrestled back to the original manipulators, we, as a society, are in a reverse gear -- either willfully and knowingly, or not -- on that progress. Shiva Shrestha MAY have done what he did out of his own INSTANTANEOUS free will, for all I care. But it is only obvious that his INSTANTANEOUS free will had been, like many other Nepalis', manipulated over time by how he grew up. Individual actions out of instantaneous free will can never be genuinely free unless it was NOT a result of mental/psylchoogical, over time manipulation. An independent, free-thinking, and free-of-manipulation individuals NEVER submit to such humiliating acts, be it to the royals or anyone else. Some form of manipulation is inevitable. Governments around the world, including the West, indulge in such acts to some degree. Afterall, manipulation is PARTLY a way of gaining support. However, if it can be minimized and not be so obviously, blatantly humiliating as in the case of Nepal, and if the very act of manipulation is also enveloped in a DEMOCRATIC aura full of choices, it would be easier to swallow the idea. Respect whoever one wants, that's their own prerogative. Giving the supporters of the King the benefit of the doubt, His Majesty may very well be the ONLY viable source of stability in Nepal, for all I care. However, respecting someone, and submitting to his/her servitude is widely different. Notwithstanding the fact that much respect that the Nepali royal institution has gained has been DEMANDED, rather than EARNED, they (the royals) seem to gloat over the fact that Nepalis submit to humiliation for them is outright wrong. The need of the hour is to free ourselves from what Newuser has termed "slave mentality". The impeccable urgency is to develop self confidence amongst ourselves, individually AND collectively. This can only be done when the educated mass begin to impose such changes upon themselves, and then seeks to foster that revolution of the minds onto others. FREE YOURSELVES!