Monarchy in Nepal a Most Feared Element?

-Col. Jay Mehta.

The fact that the institution of “Monarchy” in Nepal was and still a most feared element. Many Nepalese deny and look away from the fact that Nepal’s monarchy is the most feared element for its foreign allies. On the other hand, Monarchy was the most democratic institution that Nepal ever had. Though the concept of Monarchy in this ever changing world has a different opinions but one cannot completely deny that the Monarchial forms of government have its own magic to maintain harmony and peace in many nations. Such is seen in England, Spain, Thailand, Japan, Luxemburg, Denmark and many more. One should realize that monarchial structures are and cannot be formed overnight. It takes a long and rigorous history for a nation to preserve and maintain its monarchy and for a ruler to live to its expectation of its people. No leader could be more concerned for his/her nation as a Monarch. For a Monarch, the country is his family and its people his children. A Monarch cannot be compared with presidents, prime-ministers and councilor generals, as Monarch well understands that if a country survives his crown is safe. For other leaders, it is their position and his personal wants because he is in the office for a term not for life or established hereditary term.

Nepal’s Monarchy whether its people accept it or not have been a source of its identity. It was the most feared element for its foreign allies since a powerful monarchy with its religious ties could not be dismantled easily to serve others interest. Nepal as a ‘soft state’ after its abolition of its ‘absolute monarchy’ in 1990 was target for its foreign allies. The foreign powers realized that by nurturing Nepal’s political parties and its easy directed people could fall for any; if the cards were played and manipulated well. The following democratic establishments under constitutional monarchy played a fine tune to please its foreign players. It compromised its sovereign status and also compromised its well founded independent history for the sake of “democracy”. To be well understood and by formulating practical theory of what transpired in the following years until 2006 is well observed and felt by many political observers and analysts. The democracy for which Nepalese people often fought was nothing more than its own defragmentation of its state. The people conspired against its own state elements for their political leaders and thus made Nepal a Kingdom of Maoists who followed nothing more than pre-historic governing elements.

The Tsars of Russia had quite a similar experience which ultimately leads to their demise of their Romanov Dynasty for only to be considered a Saints in 1998. Such experience is nothing new if seen in Nepal’s context. The Nepal’s Royal Family is respected by many in India even now. It is sad to see that Nepal’s own people fail to see beyond what is fabricated to have them make a way towards a submissive nation under a powerful southern neighbor. The days are not far for Nepal to be a completely a new protectorate state under India’s security umbrella like the Kingdom of Bhutan. It is for its people to decide what the future of the nation should be. A new Republican Nepal is nothing more than a stage where a nation would be raped by federal structures and its policy to create and serve interests of those who fight for it.

Of Nepal’s recent leaders of whom I know personally, King Gyanendra was too ambitious. His State Visit to India after his accession to the Himalayan throne was looked by many foreign observers to be a hasty one. He was infact the only Nepalese ruler who made a huge concern to his Indian counterpart of Nepal’s integrity and its status. He even recalled Nepalese ambassadors from India to make his point heard in New Delhi. The Indian Government feared that under its hard line King, Nepal would further pass beyond their expectation and often played Nepal card with Nepal’s political leaders by providing huge aid and interference.

The concept of Nepal’s most feared element lived to its expectation. The Kingship of Nepal was a challenge for India to do away with it. The obstacle to remove it was not as great since Nepalese politicians were and could be easily influenced and sought for. Thus, the Nepal’s most elegant and feared institution was raped by its own people to serve the interest of its foreign allies.