2 hours ago
9
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Former king Nepal, Gyanendra Shah, returned from Pokhara to the capital Kathmandu after a trip to religious places. His arrival was welcomed by approximately 10,000 monarchist supporters. Security was heightened on Sunday, March 9, 2025, as pro-monarchy activists gathered at the airport to welcome him.
Shortly after Gyanendra landed at Tribhuvan International Airport from Pokhara using a Simrik Air helicopter, his loyalists, including leaders and members of the pro-monarchy Rastriya Prajatantra Party, began chanting supportive slogans, The Hindustan Times reported.
The crowd carried slogans such as "We want our King back," "Abolish federal republican system and reinstate the monarchy," and "The King and the country are dearer than our life."
Hundreds of loyalists riding motorcycles while carrying photos of Gyanendra and national flags welcomed him on both sides of the road outside the airport.
Dozens of riot police guarded the Narayanhity Palace Museum, the former king's palace, due to rumors that Gyanendra would enter the palace with his supporters.
There were no incidents as the crowd accompanying Gyanendra proceeded to Nirmal Niwas, the former king's private residence on the outskirts of Kathmandu.
Gyanendra’s Rise to the Throne
Born in 1947, King Gyanendra briefly held the throne as a toddler in 1950-51 for two months while his family was in exile in India.
Before becoming king, Gyanendra was a businessman with a strong interest in environmental conservation. According to the official Nepali royal family website, he owned a hotel in Kathmandu and a cigarette factory.
He ascended the throne in 2001 after the tragic massacre that claimed the lives of his elder brother, King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah, and most of the royal family.
King Birendra, his wife, and eight other royals were shot dead in a drunken rampage by Crown Prince Dipendra, who later took his own life. Reports suggest the attack stemmed from Dipendra’s frustration over his family’s refusal to approve his marriage choice.
While official accounts supported this explanation, inconsistencies in the findings fueled widespread conspiracy theories. Some suspected Gyanendra had reviewed the report before its release, while others questioned whether Dipendra—intoxicated and using multiple firearms—could have executed the massacre alone.
Another rumor pointed to Gyanendra’s son, Crown Prince Paras, as a possible suspect. Known for his heavy drinking, Paras was present in the room during the attack but managed to escape with only minor injuries.
Gyanendra’s Reign
As reported by Al Jazeera, Gyanendra initially ruled as a constitutional monarch with no executive or political power. However, in 2005, he seized absolute control, justifying his move as a necessity to defeat Maoist rebels opposing the monarchy. He dissolved the government and parliament, jailed politicians and journalists, restricted communication, declared a state of emergency, and used the military to govern.
His authoritarian rule triggered mass protests, ultimately forcing him to cede power to a multi-party government in 2006. The new administration signed a peace deal with the Maoists, ending a decade-long civil war that had claimed thousands of lives.
In 2008, Nepal’s parliament abolished the 240-year-old Hindu monarchy, transitioning the nation into a secular republic, leading to Gyanendra’s abdication.
Since then, Nepal has seen 13 different governments, and public frustration with the republic has grown. Many citizens blame political instability, economic struggles, and widespread corruption for the country’s ongoing challenges.
Public Discontent
Protesters said they hoped for a change in the political system to halt the country's decline. “We are here to give the king our full support and to rally behind him all the way to reinstating him in the royal throne,” said 72-year-old Thir Bahadur Bhandari to the AP, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Among the thousands of people, there was a 50-year-old carpenter named Kulraj Shrestha, who had participated in the 2006 protests against the king but had changed his mind and now supported the monarchy.
He regretted his decision to protest at that time. He joined the protest hoping to help the country free itself from the monarchy.
“The worst thing that is happening to the country is massive corruption and all politicians in power are not doing anything for the country,” said Shrestha. “I was in the protests that took away monarchy hoping it would help the country, but I was mistaken and the nation has further plunged so I have changed my mind.”
Gyanendra has not commented on calls for the monarchy's return. Despite his growing support, Gyanendra has a slim chance of returning to power.
Political analyst Lok Raj Baral told AFP that he sees no possibility of reinstating the monarchy because the institution has become “a source of instability”.
For some dissatisfied groups, the inability of politicians who have become increasingly self-centered is a regression. “This frustration has manifested in such gatherings and demonstrations,” he said.
THE HINDUSTAN TIMES | AL JAZEERA
Editor’s Choice: Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn: The World's Richest Monarch
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
