Former King Gyanendra Receives Overwhelming Ovation in Bhaktapur
First of all, it was most unusual that the people of Bhaktapur (which is under the complete sway of the Communist Nepal Majdoor Kisan Party under the veteran leader Narayan Man Bijukche) invite a no longer reigning monarch to perform special puja at their holiest of holies – the Taleju Bhawani Temple. After all, Kathmandu’s political class considers the former king as the embodiment of everything that is regressive, and themselves, of course, representing all that is progressive.
However,
ever since the illegal and unconstitutional abolition of monarchy, it has been a constant downward slide of the Nepali state into chaos and corruption.
Then the unexpected happened. The mass of people assembled at the Durbar Square used the golden opportunity to voice their outpouring of love and overwhelming support for the monarchy generally, and for former King Gyanendra personally.
One could hear people chanting repeatedly:
“Raja au, Desh bachau!”
[King arise, Save the country]
People could follow the unprecedented mass of people and their feeling of agitation on social media – but not on TV.
The mainstream electronic media boycotted the entire proceedings that day and evening. The mainstream print media did likewise the next day Sunday.
They all capitulated and performed ‘selfcensorship’. This is the beginning of the end of a free press in the Himalayan Republic.
What is to be done?/ What can be done?
There is no doubt that we have come back full circle since 2008. The Constitution is only functioning for those in power. Otherwise the institutions of state are in shambles.
There is great expectation among the people of the Valley and the whole country that former King Gyanendra and the small band of patriotic leaders will undertake something that will ameliorate the human condition.
The former monarch will, no doubt, engage in protracted consultations with advisers and the genuine leaders of the country.
The fact is that the country is ripe for regime change. The political edifice – “Loktantra” -- constructed by the various major political parties now resembles a house of cards.
Confrontation between a ‘New People’s Movement’ & the Corrupt Kathmandu Regime
Mass street protests against the corrupt political regime is inevitable. It is not a question of ‘if’, but ‘when’. There is the perception among the people that there is absolutely no willingness among those in power to confront the evils of corruption head on.
The writer can be reached at: shashipbmalla@
hotmail.com