The former King should be promoting the idea of a Hindu state with the republicans instead of rallying with a fistful of die-hard supporters and the political minnow, the RPP
The already crowded streets of Kathmandu were further jam-packed last Sunday afternoon due to myriads of people who had gathered to welcome former King Gyanendra Shaha, who had landed at the Tribhuvan International Airport after taking off from Pokhara, the touristic paradise of Nepal. The function was organised by some 35 institutions, including the Rastriya Prajatantrik Party (RPP) whose Chairman Rajendra Lingden was present at the entry gate with a customary bouquet in his hands.
The pro-monarchists gathered in large numbers shouting slogans for the reinstatement of the monarchy followed by that of the Hindu nation. They opined that Republican Nepal, formed after the overthrow of the monarchy by the elected Constituent Assembly members, was going from bad to worse. For this they cited the flight of youths for foreign jobs rendering the country virtually like a senior citizens' abode; the failure to spend the development budget despite being far less than the running budget when it should have been the other way round in a developing country like Nepal; and the fiasco in foreign policy marked by India's unwillingness to welcome Prime Minister K P Oli and his subsequent visit to China when the precedence was to visit the southern neighbour first due to geographic, religious and cultural proximity.
Their main focus has, however, been the sagging economy of the country, which has been barely floating, thanks to the remittance sent by the people from abroad. Also of great concern is the bad governance dominated by an alarming level of corruption as indicated by the recent report of Transparency International, which has put Nepal well below at 108th rank when its northern and southern neighbours enjoy a comparatively higher position of 76th and 96th respectively despite having the largest populations.
A fleeting glance at history reveals that the reinstatement of deposed leaders has been quite frequent right from mythic times. Consequently, the Ramayana hero, Sugriv, the monkey monarch, got his throne back after being helped by Ram in killing his twin brother Bali who had not only banished but kidnapped his wife. The other religious landmark, the Mahabharat, also is dominated by the denial of Duryodhana, the Kaurava prince, to divide the territory with the Pandava brothers, which they had incidentally lost in an unfair gambling game orchestrated by their maternal uncle, the treacherous Sakuni. The Pandavas got it back after waging the most fiercely fought war in history.
In Nepal, during Licchavi times, King Udaya Dev was dethroned compelling him to take shelter in Tibet in 623. Though the king could not get the regime back, his son Narendra Dev ,however, was seated on the royal pedestal in 643.
This is not the case in the East alone. The West is also dotted by such events in its history. The most prominent is the hanging of King Charles I in 1648 at the time when King Pratap Malla was ruling in Kantipur. One of those who made it happen was Oliver Cromwell, who rose to the post of Lord Protectorate. But after his death, his son Robert Cromwell could not manage the conflict between the Republicans and Monarchists, paving the way for the return of Charles II in 1660.
Still nearer to the country, Zahir Shah of Afghanistan was also overthrown in a foreign backed coup in 1973. Later, there were proposals for his reinstatement when he returned in 2002, but it did not happen. Yet another example is that of Prince Norodam Sihanouk who has a checkered political career like that of Gyanendra becoming king more than once. He abdicated his throne for his father in 1955 and became the Prime Minister. Later, he was ousted in 1970 and reinstated again in 1993. Norodom again stepped down in 2004.
These examples tend to indicate that former King Gyanendra also could stage a comeback. He not only prevented bloodshed but also remained in the country like an ordinary citizen despite being a former King. But his activities while he was the prince and more so after becoming the King in mysterious circumstances of the royal massacre do not augur very well for his revival.
A clear vision for the reinstatement of the monarchy has also not been presented very clearly. Some of them talk of reviving the 1990 constitution thereby restoring constitutional monarchy in the country. That former King Gyanendra is averse to this role can be clear from the imprisonment of the elected leaders when he became the King after the royal massacre. There is no dearth of people who opine that the search is not for a political but a spiritual King, and he should be above the constitution. People are less ready to buy this idea because of the likelihood of more severe dictatorial actions if put above the law.
Some point out that the only way is to have a referendum like the one the country had in the eighties. The present constitution also has a window open for this to happen. But for that the RPP should have a two-thirds majority in the Parliament to present a proposal for a referendum. Given that they make up barely 5 per cent and could not win a single seat in the local by-elections held recently, this appears far from happening without the support of the republicans.
The former King should be promoting the idea of a Hindu state with the republicans instead of rallying with a fistful of die-hard supporters and the political minnow, the RPP. This is so in view of the support of the republicans for a Hindu nation, India's tacit support due to similar waves underway in India, created by the Hindu-based party in the government and India's influencing role in the paradigmatic shift of regimes in the past. After all, if the Hindu nation is restored, the monarchy also could follow like a proverbial calf behind the cow in the future.