In November 1950, during a political plot, both his father and his grandfather King Tribhuvan, along with other royals, fled to India, leaving the young Prince Gyanendra as the only male member of the royal family in Nepal. He was brought back to the capital Kathmandu by the Prime Minister Mohan Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana, who had him declared King on 7 November 1950. Gyanendra was not only crowned but coins were issued in his name. The Rana Prime Minister provided a three hundred thousand rupee annual budget as expenditure for the King.[2] After opposition to the hereditary rule of the Rana Prime Ministers from India, a deal was reached in January 1951, and his grandfather King Tribhuvan returned to Nepal and resumed the throne.[3] The actions of the Rana regime to depose his grandfather and place Gyanendra on the throne was not internationally recognized.[4]
He studied with his elder brother King Birendra in St. Joseph's College, Darjeeling, India; in 1969, he graduated from Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu.[5]
Prince Gyanendra served as the chairman of the Advisory Committee for the Coronation of his brother King Birendra in 1975. He is a keen conservationist and served as Chairman of the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation from 1982 until his ascension to the throne in 2001.[6]
Gyanendra married Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah on 1 May 1970 in Kathmandu. They have two children.
During his early years on the throne, King Gyanendra sought to exercise full control over the government because of the failure of all parties. In May 2002, he supported the popularly-elected Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba when he dismissed the parliament elected in 1999. In October 2002, he dismissed Deuba and consolidated his power for the first time. During the years 2002 to 2005 he chose and subsequently dismissed three prime ministers, finally dismissing Deuba for the second time and taking over as absolute ruler on 1 February 2005.[5] His brother King Birendra had negotiated a constitutional monarchy during his rule in a delicate manner in which he, as King, played a minor role in government. Thus, King Gyanendra's confrontational approach with the established political parties was met with widespread censure.
When King Gyanendra took complete control for the second time, on 1 February 2005, he accused Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's government of failing to make arrangements for parliamentary elections and of being unable to restore peace in the country, then in the midst of a civil war led by Maoist insurgents.[10]
King Gyanendra promised that "peace and effective democracy" would be restored within three years,[11] but the period of direct rule was accompanied by repression of dissent.[12] International organizations expressed grave concerns about the safety of journalists, following the king's decision to restrict civil liberties, including freedom of the press, the constitutional protection against censorship and the right against preventive detention[13] Gyanendra countered, saying that "democracy and progress contradict one another" as a necessary step in restoring peace to the country.
In April 2006, the Maoists and Sister Organizations staged protests and strikes in Kathmandu against King Gyanendra's direct rule. The royal government exercised minimum restraint but responded by declaring a curfew to control the deteriorating situation, which was enforced with live firearms and tear gas. On 21 April 2006, King Gyanendra announced that he would yield executive authority to a new prime minister chosen by the political parties to oversee the return of democracy. Several party leaders rejected the offer and again demanded that the King call a council to determine the monarchy's future role in politics. An agreement was reached between the parties, King under the supervision of Indian ruling Congress including Dr. Karan Singh that monarchy would have a place in the new constitution. Girija Prasad Koirala was appointed prime minister in the interim. Girija Prasad, as the main leader, had talks with the King and the agreement for monarchy's space. As such, on 24 April 2006, King Gyanendra reinstated the previous parliament in a televised address to the nation.
End of direct rule
Mysteriously, the agreement between the parties and King under Indian supervision was not honored by the parties. It is widely believed that the then Prime Minister Girija Prasad saw an opportunity to become the first president of Nepal by declaring Nepal a republic state. On 10 June 2006, the Parliament scrapped the major powers of the King, including his right to veto laws. This ended the idea of a "King in Parliament", and he was reduced to a figurehead, though for a time he continued to offer felicitations and to receive diplomats. According to Article 167 of the constitution, all executive powers as well as those enjoyed by the King in the previous Constitution were now vested in the prime minister. All powers of the 239-year-old monarchy were stripped, making King Gyanendra a civilian king.Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, who previously supported the continuation of the monarchy, said in March, 2007 that he thought the King should step down.[14] In June, Koirala repeated his call for King Gyanendra to abdicate in favour of his grandson Prince Hridayendra.[15]
On 23 August 2007, Nepal's transitional government nationalised all the properties King Gyanendra inherited from his brother including the Narayanhity Royal Palace. This was cited as the gross violation of a citizen of Nepal by constitutional experts since as per the Nepal laws, he should be inheriting the properties of his brother who was slain apparently by Nepal Maoists and few political parties. The move did not affect the properties he owned before his ascension to the throne.[16]
Speculation of Returning to Power
Though the interim constitution drafting committee declared King Gyanendra a commoner in 2008 and today, claims his right to attend all the public programmes he wants to, the sudden spurt in these attendances has caused his former archenemy, the Maoists, wariness. King Gyanendra inaugurated a Saptarisheshwar Mahadev temple in Futung. Since March 2010, when he attended a mahayajna on the Pashupatinath temple grounds calling for the reinstatement of a Hindu state in Nepal, the deposed king of Nepal has been especially heading for towns in the southern plains, a region once neglected by his dynasty for generations but now turning out to be the staunchest bastion of Hinduism. Not just the king, even his son Paras, who was a target of public dislike during his days as a prince and crown prince, has also begun foraying in the Terai plains, inaugurating a temple, a school and even a community eye hospital. Call it a coincidence or part of the new strategy, even Paras' wife, the crown princess Himani, last month inaugurated a drinking water project in Dolakha in northern Nepal. The frequency of these programmes is now worrying the Maoists, cornered by the failure of their chief, Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, to win the prime ministerial race sixteen times in a row. The local Maoist cadres tried to disrupt Princess Himani's programme in Dolkha where she has pledged to make the village a "model village" through her non profit, calling it a ploy to campaign for the restoration of monarchy.Subsequently, the Times of India reported that four years after King Gyanendra's attempt to rule the country directly with the help of the army misfired, people have begun to forget the atrocities committed by the royal regime, thanks to the failure of the deposed king's successors.[citation needed] The political parties' inability to put selfish interests before national ones and give people good governance has alienated them while the recurring failure to elect a new prime minister has made them the butt of ridicule. Though the parties had pledged to promulgate a new constitution in May, they failed to keep their commitment and plunged the country into an unprecedented crisis. While the crisis was averted for a year with parliament giving them another 12 months to accomplish the deed, more than four months have elapsed since then with the task of constitution-drafting coming to a standstill. The failure to deliver a new constitution in May 2011 will bolster royalists, who are already calling for a referendum to decide if monarchy should be given a second chance.
In the two years that followed his removal from the throne Gyanendra kept a low profile, rarely speaking to the media and confining himself to his hunting lodge on the outskirts of Kathmandu. But in recent weeks the deposed monarch and his son, crown prince Paras Bir Bikram Shah, have appeared at a series of engagements, raising speculation that the family may be returning to public life. During Dashain festival in 2010, the most important of the year in majority-Hindu Nepal, King Gyanendra visited more than 10 temples across the country in just two days. Traditionally revered as an incarnation of the Hindu God Vishnu, he was greeted wherever he went with chants of "long live our king" and "our king, our country, dearer than our soul". Crown Prince, in a series of recent media interviews, has expressed regret for his past misdeeds and hinted at a return to public life. "My father left the throne for the people. Anything can happen if it is what the people want. The monarchy could return," the Nepali-language daily Naya Patrika quoted him as saying.The idea of a figurehead monarch without power has some support, notably among Hindu & Buddhist devotees who still view the former king as their religious leader and the reincarnation of Lord Vishnu. On October 18, the day when the king for centuries gave blessings to the people, thousands of people lined up outside King Gyanendra's palace to receive the traditional vermilion "tika" on their foreheads. Speaking to journalists afterwards, King Gyanendra refused to comment on the protracted political deadlock in Nepal.
Nevertheless, he said that he was saddened by the "increased suffering of the people" brought about by what he called a deterioration in law and order and the weakening of the already fragile economy. "Put your political questions to the members of parliament. The time has not yet come for me to speak on those issues," he said. "I want to work for the benefit of the people and the country." So far, there have been no clashes between the former king's followers and supporters of the Maoists, who waged a decade-long insurgency to try to topple the monarchy and who now hold the highest number of seats in the parliament. But religious festivals threaten to become a flashpoint. Some devotees say King Gyanendra should be allowed to maintain his role as spiritual leader and argue that the interim Head of State while the country drafts a new constitution has no place at religious ceremonie.
Attack at the temple
On the occasion of the Maha Shivaratri, the King went to the Pashupatinath temple for worshipping lord Shiva. The cars escorting Gyanendra were stoned by unknown persons (predicted as Maoists) in the temple area. While the King was entering the temple, some people protested against the monarchy and the King.After worship, the King returned from the western gate on foot. While he was about to enter into his car, stones were thrown at the King from the northern part of the temple. As the car proceeded, more stones were thrown at the car which was driven by the King himself. After the incident, hundreds of armed forces creating a circular chain of security led the King’s car on to Gaushala. Because of the protest and traffic obstruction, the King returned almost forty-five minutes late to the palace.
Security personnel tried to clear the crowd who were protesting with foul language. The situation worsened after the same mass were protesting as the King was about to return to the palace. To control the agitated crowd, the Nepal army, armed police force and the Nepal police were brought in large numbers. In the darkness, the King was being stoned from the north. A queue of people, in their impatience to enter the temple to worship, supported the protesters against the King.
The home minister said that the incident was very sad. He also said that the incident would not occur again and that the incident occurred on the effort of those who wanted no peace and stability in the country. King Gyanendra, who was unpopular among some people, was the first to face such an incident in the long history of the Shah dynasty. It is said this incident was all staged by Maoist to topple monarchy and come into absolute power.
King's birthday
The 60th birthday of King Gyanendra was boycotted by government officials including the ambassadors for Nepal who were invited at the King’s birthday. The royal palace requested for more security forces for the birthday party but the government refused the proposal stating that there were enough security arrangements already made. On the other hand, the palace insisted that the security situation in the country had worsened and so more security was must. About eight hundred people were invited but only about one hundred and fifteen people were present at the party.According to one of the royal members only a few ministers of the Panchayat regime, royal members, about ten Major generals who were approaching retirement and some former army officials were present at the party of the King. Former Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa, Lokendra Bahadur Chand, Marichman Singh and ministers from Gyanendra’s regime were present at the occasion. The Prime Minister, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of parliament, ministers and other high ranking officials weren’t present at the night party organized at the royal palace.
The army chief, Rookmangud Katawal, also was not present in the function. However, at the earlier birthday of the King, the army chief was present. The royal activists according to their scheduled plan held a rally marking the auspicious occasion of the King’s birthday. The student organization of the seven party alliance and the Maoist activists released a press statement that they would obstruct the gathering of the royal activists. During a clash between the group of students and the royal activists, a few were injured. King Gyanendra appealed to everyone to work for peace and democracy in the country on the occasion also known as ‘Hirak Janmahotsav’. He made this appeal to the well-wishers at the royal palace. The third day of the birthday party was organized by Prince Paras Shah. The party members of Rastriya Prajatantra party were present during the feast. The King refused to speak to the media at the party. According to some witnesses, people meeting the King asked him to save the country and preserve its integrity and nationality.
Transition to interim republic
King Gyanendra, in an interview[17] with foreign reporters, expressed dissatisfaction over the decision made by the interim parliament to abolish the monarchy after the 10 April Constituent Assembly elections. The interview was published in Japan's leading newspaper, Daily Yomiuri. Speaking to a select group of Japanese correspondents at the Narayanhiti Royal Palace on 4 February, King Gyanendra said, "(The decision) doesn't reflect the majority view of the people. This isn't democracy." He, however, conceded that the people do have the right to choose the fate of the monarchy.The King also said the law and order in the country was deteriorating, questioning the interim government's ability to govern the country even after he had accepted the roadmap of the seven-party alliance. Citing the recent survey which showed 49 percent of respondents favoured the continuation of the monarchy in some form, King Gyanendra claimed, "A majority of the people find great meaning in the institution of the monarchy. In all clouds, there is a silver lining. Let us hope."
Gyanendra had broken his closely guarded silence in an interview with a Nepali pro-monarchist weekly paper in which he said he remained silent to "let the peace process succeed." The King said, "Nepalese people themselves should speak out on where the nation is heading, on the direction it is taking and on why it is becoming chaotic." He claimed that his attempt on 1 February 2005 was for a good purpose—restoring peace and stability in the country. He said that his attempt wasn’t a success and so the countrymen are suffering at present.
In an interview taken with the King’s ‘advisor’, Bharat Keshar Singh, he claimed that the bill passed from the parliament was a bluff. Replying to the question raised regarding the King’s silence even after the bill was passed declaring the state a republic, he said that there was nothing for which the King had to respond. He claimed that the parliament which declared a republic was reinstated by the King himself and has no authority to dethrone the same King. He claimed that the King was examining the activities of the government and the parliament and was waiting for a suitable time for responding to them. He said that no people would accept the ‘bill’ unless decided by a referendum or elected members in the constituent assembly.
On 15 January 2007, the interim parliament was set up with CPN-M included, and on 1 April 2007, the interim government joined by CPN-M was formed. On 28 December 2007, the Nepali interim parliament approved a bill for the amendment to the constitution of 1990 promulgated on 15 January 2007, with a clause stating that Nepal will turn into a federal democratic republic, to be implemented by the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly elections.
Interim Suspension of the monarchy
It was announced on 24 December 2007, that the monarchy would probably be suspended in 2008, following the approval, as part of a peace deal with Maoist rebels, of the Nepalese Parliament in favour of a bill that would see the constitution amended so as to make Nepal a republic.[18][19]On 27 May 2008, the meeting decided to give the King fifteen days to vacate the palace, and decided that the first meeting would be held the next day at 11am (but was delayed due to the indecision among the leading parties on power-sharing and the nomination of 26 members of the Constituent Assembly).[20]
On 28 May 2008, the monarchy was officially given no space in the amended constitution of 1990 and replaced with a republic by the Constituent Assembly instead of referendum.[21] King Gyanendra accepted the decision in the following days.[22] As he was required to leave Narayanhiti, he asked the government to make residential arrangements for him on 1 June, and on 4 June the government decided to give Nagarjuna Palace to Gyanendra.[23]
King Gyanendra departed the Narayanhiti Palace in Kathmandu on 11 June 2008, moving into the Nagarjuna Palace. His new residence consists of ten buildings including the royal residence Hemanta Bas, three guest houses (Barsha Bas, Sharad Bas and Grishma Bas), one office secretariat and one staff quarters. Gyanendra and his family moved into the two-storey Hemanta Bas. Following his departure the Narayanhiti Palace was turned into a museum, while Gyanendra's diamond- and ruby-encrusted Crown and royal sceptre, along with all the other crown jewels and royal assets, became government property. The royal family's departure from the palace was reported as being a “major symbolic moment in the fall of the Shah dynasty, which had unified Nepal in the 1760s. Subsequently, it has been reported that the ornaments and previous metals have been sold the politicians.
Departure from the palace
The King organized a press conference in the Kaski Hall of the royal palace before he departed. After finishing his twenty-minute-long speech, the King thanked all media personnel for attending the conference. During his speech, the King rejected the accusations made against him for the royal massacre, and denied that he had accumulated illegal money during his reign. He also denied other charges, such as the riches of his brother Birendra, Dhirendra, and other members of the Royal Family being transferred to his name.He clarified that there were no changes in the monetary status of royal members during this period, and that his intimacy towards a sovereign Nepal will remain despite his constitutional position or status. He would also not leave Nepal and wanted to contribute more in the process of building a new Nepal and to contribute in the peace process by staying in the nation itself.
He said that the Parliament was reinstated in the price for peace and democracy in Nepal. He stated that he played a role in implementing the verdict of the government putting ahead the people’s mandate and wishes ahead of his own. The King controlled his emotions during the departure but Queen Komal was not able to control herself and her emotions poured out. The Queen had asked the King to request the government for Trishul Sadan or any other palace other than the main palace, but King Gyanendra refused it. But according to the King’s request the government of Nepal provided a place for his mother Ratna and his grandmother Sarala Shah inside the Narayanhiti Palace itself.
King Gyanendra also demanded Nagarjuna Palace in acknowledgment of the creative ending of the monarchy. The protesters protested against the monarchy as the King's car departed from the gate of the royal palace, while other groups were shouting in favour of the King and monarchy and asking the King not to leave the palace.
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