In Kathmandu, Nepal, an extensive gathering rallied for the restoration of the monarchy and the designation of Hinduism as the state religion. Crowds of approximately 10,000 individuals supported former king Gyanendra Shah upon his return from a western Nepal tour and amassed at the main entrance of Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport.
Chanting slogans like, “Vacate the royal palace for the king” and “Long live our beloved king,” these advocates expressed their desire to see Gyanendra reinstated. The uproar was significant enough to cause airport passengers to traverse on foot due to the obstruction. Although the protests were sizable, hundreds of riot police maintained order by preventing the demonstrators from penetrating the airport boundaries, and the event remained non-violent.
The background of the monarchy’s abolition traces back to massive street protests in 2006 that pressured Gyanendra into relinquishing his dictatorial rule. This led to the parliamentary decree two years later, which dissolved the monarchy, relegating Gyanendra to live as an ordinary citizen. However, amid the transition to a republic, significant dissatisfaction has brewed among the populace. Many citizens feel the republic has failed to achieve political stability while being plagued by a faltering economy and extensive corruption. The country has witnessed 13 different governments since the monarchy’s 2008 dissolution.
In expressing a desire for political transformation to prevent further national decline, the protestors emphasized their unwavering support for Gyanendra. Thir Bahadur Bhandari, a 72-year-old participant, declared allegiance to the former king, advocating for his return to the throne.
Included among the crowd was Kulraj Shrestha, a carpenter in his 50s who had initially joined the 2006 anti-monarchy protests but has since altered his stance. Shrestha believes the republic has failed and contributed to the nation’s descent into greater issues, such as rampant corruption, and he now supports the monarchy’s revival.
Despite the increased support from the public, Gyanendra did not issue remarks on the movements rallying for his reestablishment. While there is evident momentum favoring his return, the probability of Gyanendra reclaiming power remains minimal. Ascending to the throne in 2002 after his brother and family fell to a palace massacre, Gyanendra initially held a ceremonial role before seizing complete control in 2005. He then dissolved existing governmental structures, suspended political freedoms, enforced communication blackouts, and governed via military rule during a declared state of emergency.
