Historic Encounter

Madhav K. Rimal, chief editor of Spotlight, who was the last person to interview King Birendra at Royal Palace , describes his encounter with the late monarch

By KESHAB POUDEL

From holding referendum to restoring multi-party democracy and constitutional monarchy in 1990, late King Birendra initiated various political liberalization process in his three-decade long reign. Even less than hour before his assassination, King Birendra had shown his full commitment to constitutional monarchy and multi party system.

Despite several provocative questions by Rimal, King Birendra did not deviate from his own stand on democracy and patriotism. From democracy to Nepal ’s relations with its two neighbors, King Birendra had posed all kinds of questions to Rimal.

King Birendra was put in throne at the early age of 27 years having no special attributes in his character. But he passed through several tests in the political turmoil of the country in several phases. When he became the King, the King was the absolute ruler but when he died, the country had liberal democratic system and the monarch was constitutional.

The association was for no other than the faith and belief he had upheld up to the last of breath and this book is the testimony of that. “Madhav, what you say could be correct. But perhaps, you are not aware there are certain things which we are unable to do despite our best efforts. You people are really fortunate. You can say what you like and do what pleases you. But we have to be very reserved in articulating our opinion. We also cannot do what we want to do all the time. We suffer from big constraints,” replied King Birendra when answering to provocative questions.

“As a King the highest ideal of Birendra was to serve in the job as a monarch, as a person to uphold the independence of the nation as well as fully democratic governance within the structure of constitutional monarchy,” said a political analyst. “He was a patriot as well as democrat by conviction. Like the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, it was due to his personal faith and beliefs which led to his death. In fact, whole circumstantial evidences testify that there was no other cause for his assassination than his firmness on the twin pillars of Nepal ’s independence and the democratic system.”

There were may provocative questions from Rimal’s side but his answers proved that King Birendra was not a short-tempered and impulsive person. In the whole interview, he was never provoked and over excited to assert the supremacy of monarchy over the political system which was restored through an extraordinary consensus of 1990 and the constitution made by that consensus.

Although he is the last person to get audience with late King Birendra in June 1, 2001 , it took five years for Rimal to publish the book about his meeting with late King Birendra.

“King Birendra was temperamentally fit to play role of a constitutional monarch. In obituary interviews after his death, all prime ministers from K.P. Bhattarai to Girija Prasad Koirala had the same appreciation of his attributes as a constitutional monarch in idealism,” said the analyst.

Rimal’s interview showed King Birendra’s maturity and his soft approach to play a successful role of constitutional monarch. This book is very important since it tells something about the person who is widely known as a noble king.

Some Important questions posed by late King Birendra during his interaction

But. Madhav, what you are suggesting would be unconstitutional. The politicians are sure to raise strong objections and might even resort to Bandhs, destabilizing normal life of the people.

You know Madhav, I am not very happy with the situation prevailing in the country. But I cannot act precipitously. Moreover, we are still experimenting with democratic exercises and it may be too early to become despondent. You know, these could be the teething problems of democracy in Nepal . We think we must have more patience. I do hope things will improve.

Madhav, tell me what do you think about Nepal-India relations and what improvements are needed to make them more effective?

What do you think about Nepal ’s relations with China , Madhav?

“How can a poor and small nation like Nepal withstand international pressure and follow its own independent course?”

A small nation like Nepal has to face much pressure from various directions. Do you think, Madhav, it will be advisable. Or, do you believe, we will be able to sustain?

The Fateful Interview
By: Madhav K. Rimal
Published by: Sarita Rimal, phone 4413961

Pages: 72
Price: Rs.400.00