On Monarchy
Like all other systems, there is no unanimous view on the role of institution of monarchy in different parts of the world. Monarchy has played important ole in many highly developed and industrialized countries like United Kingdom , Japan , Norway , Sweden and Denmark . Similarly some countries in Asia and Africa are engulfed in civil war and one or other kinds of more authoritarian states.
Following the overthrow of monarchy in Iran , a religious mullah grabbed the power imposing authoritarian rule and paving way for theocratic state. Afghanistan was engulfed in decades-long civil war. Cambodia ’s communist leader Hun Sen had to restore monarchy in the country.
Being a diehard follower of Lenin, Surya Thapa's views on monarchy is understandable. If a diehard communist backs monarchy as his ideological thought, then he can be regarded as a betrayer. Expressing his inherent commitment to his ideology, Thapa, editor of Budhabar weekly, a CPN-UML affiliated magazine, discusses all the issues related to the role of monarchy in Nepal focusing on the relations between monarchy and political parties as well as the rise and fall of monarchies all over the world in his two books.
Before analyzing the role of monarchy and relations between the monarchy and the political parties, one needs to look into the history of various countries of the world. Some states in our neighboring area lost the identity of nationhood along with the overthrow of monarchy.
Writher Thapa also analyzes the role of monarchy in Nepal and its relations with the political parties in his book. Thapa describes the role of monarchy as ‘betrayer’ to the process of democratization in Nepal citing King Mahendra’s dismissal of first elected government led by B.P. Koirala and King Gyanendra’s dismissal of Sher Bahadur Deuba’s government and his decision to control the state power.
Thapa is very critical on the role played by monarchy and its relations with political parties. “Monarchy has always played negative role in the political process of Nepal ,” said Thapa.
Monarchy in Nepal has a long history with continuity of institution but change of dynasty. The monarchy has more than 2000-year-old history in Nepal with more than 5 dynasties ruling the country at different times. After the unification of Nepal 237 years ago by Prithivi Narayan Shaha the great, Shaha dynasty has been ruling Nepal as a factor of national unity and stability.
During that period various Kings ruled Nepal and every individual King showed his own style of functioning. Not only King Rana Bahadur Shaha but also King Tribhuwan and King Birendra represented monarchy and presently King Gyanendra is ruling the country.
One of the major contributions of monarchy in Nepal is that it gives stability and continuity to the nation. Even in the last fifty five years long history of modernization and institution building process, the monarchy has played the role in one or the other way.
Following dismissal of former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s government and royal take over after February 1, 2005 , a series of books were published by various authors describing the role of monarchy in Nepal
In Nepalese communist history, Dr. Keshar Jung Rayamajhi, who supported the role of monarchy in Nepal , is now portrayed as a royalist communist. Although other communist leaders also worked under the monarchy, Dr. Rayamajhi is still ‘a phenomenon’ of royalist communist.
Although journalist Thapa uses his communist ideological thought to portray the role of monarchy in Nepal , his book does provide some insights.
