KATHMANDU, Nepal — In a show of resurgence for the monarchy, thousands of Gyanendra Shah’s supporters gathered in Kathmandu on Sunday, fervently calling for the restoration of the abolished monarchy and Hinduism as the state religion. The scene unfolded at the main entrance of the Tribhuvan International Airport, where an estimated 10,000 supporters blocked access, creating a bottleneck for passengers arriving from or departing to the western regions of the country.
Chanting slogans such as “Vacate the royal palace for the king,” “Come back king, save the country,” and “Long live our beloved king,” the crowd’s fervor was palpable. As they rallied for the monarchy’s return, both arriving and departing travelers were left with no choice but to make their way on foot to the airport. Despite the potential for unrest, the presence of hundreds of riot police ensured that the demonstrators remained peaceful, preventing any entry into the airport premises.
The outpouring of support for Gyanendra comes amidst growing dissatisfaction with Nepal’s republican setup. Following mass protests in 2006, Gyanendra was compelled to abandon his authoritative reign. By 2008, the parliament had removed the monarchy, and Gyanendra vacated the Royal Palace to live an ordinary life. However, a significant portion of Nepalis express frustration with the current state of affairs, citing a failure to establish political stability and pointing to economic struggles and widespread corruption. In the past 15 years since the monarchy’s dissolution, Nepal has seen 13 different governments.
Those attending the rally voiced hopes for a political change, believing it is crucial to prevent further national decline. Thir Bahadur Bhandari, a 72-year-old participant, asserted, “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.” Likewise, carpenter Kulraj Shrestha, who participated in the 2006 protests against Gyanendra, now finds himself supporting the monarchy. “The worst thing that is happening to the country is massive corruption,” Shrestha stated. “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.”
Despite this swell of support, Gyanendra himself remains silent on the demands for the monarchy’s return. Given the political landscape, his prospects for a swift return to power appear limited. Gyanendra ascended to the throne in 2002 following a tragic palace massacre that claimed the lives of his brother and family. His reign transformed in 2005 when he seized total control, dissolving the government and parliament, imprisoning politicians and journalists, cutting communication lines, and implementing emergency rule with military support.
