National Democracy Day
Time To Pledge To Fulfil People’s Expectation

By Parshuram K.C.

FALGUN 7 is the day which all freedom loving Nepalese cherish. This is the day, when half a century back, the Nepalese were freed from the brutal and dictatorial rule of the Rana family. The Ranas, starting from the time of Jung Bahadur Rana, continuously ruled the country for 104 years with an iron grip.

When one looks back at the one hundred and four years of darkness in the country, any self-respecting nationalist feels very sad at the way the country floundred in different aspects.

It is history that the Ranas not only oppressed the people, but they did not allow the light of education and other development works to enter the Kingdom.

The people had no rights whatsoever. They were completely at the mercy of the Rana dictators and their henchmen. Meanwhile, the Ranas went on amassing personal wealth, much of which can be seen even now.

Like mentioned already, it is indeed a sad part of the country’s history, that for so long the nation and the people had to suffer. Had the country opened up its doors to development earlier, maybe it would be in a much better position economically and in other ways.

On reflection, apart from the lack of freedom, the worst part of the Rana rule was that they did not allow the general people to be enlightened with education. This has proved to be perhaps the greatest setback for the whole country. The short-sighted decision of the Ranas to consolidate and save their regime by not allowing the people to be educated, is still negatively affecting the country. At a time when other nations were moving forward in leaps and bounds, Nepal was in isolation, only fulfilling the whims of the Rana rulers while the people suffered.

However, such a rule was bound to end. Neither the King, nor the people wanted the nation to suffer for ever. Slowly like a simmering fire, the revolt against the Ranas started from the people’s level. Many people of Nepalese origin from neighbouring countries joined hands with their brothers inside their motherland to bring in the dawn of democracy in Nepal. They even started an armed revolt for this lofty objective.

As could be expected, brave Nepalese sons even lost their lives in this fight for freedom. The cruel rulers that they were, the Ranas did not hesitate to use power to try and suppress the people’s movement.

But in the end, all the people, led by late King Tribhuvan, rose against the brutal autocratic system and on Falgun 7, 2007 B.S., democracy was finally established in the country.

That is why till now, Falgun 7 is observed as the National Democracy Day and people from all walks of life solemnly remember how important this is to all freedom loving Nepalese.

However at that time, when soon after democracy was established in the country, due to the political infighting within the different parties that cropped up, the nation could still not see much progress even after the people gained political freedom. Yet, only the political leaders of that time cannot be blamed for the country’s woes.

The lack of any planning, programmes and infrastructure for development, were mainly due to the vested interest of the Rana rulers, who craved for only personal wealth while the country and the people got nothing. The democratic rulers of a free Nepal, had to start from scratch to get things moving.

It can be recalled that many parts of the world saw some astounding growth and development in the first few decades of the Twentieth century. But Nepal was locked up and kept away from even a whiff of those industrial and scientific achievements. Had Nepal been allowed to march along with other countries, maybe the level of development would have been much better than what it is now.

But that was not to be. Even after the dawn of the Twentieth Century, the country had to wait for full five decades before the people could taste freedom.

But sadly, once more the political freedom of the people was snatched away ten years after the dawn of democracy and for over three decades, the country was again ruled under a dictatorial political system. Though not as bad as the Rana regime, as far as development programmes were concerned, yet, many Nepalese had to suffer political suppression during the panchayat rule as well.

But once more, all the Nepalese people, led by the Nepali Congress and other political parties, re-ushered in multi-party democracy and ensured the fundamental rights of the people. It was a momentous occasion in the beginning months of 1990, when through the Popular Peoples’ Movement, the dictatorial Panchayat system was cast aside.

The national Democracy Day ever since, has had a new meaning, as the people are at present, really enjoying a full fledged democratic system, which the brave martyrs of the country had dreamed of. The Constitution fully guarantees all the fundamental rights of the citizens. In fact one of the basic tenets of the present Constitution is that the sovereignty has been vested on the people.

Of course, in the ten years since the re-ushering in of the present democratic system also, all the aspirations of the people have not been fulfilled. In fact, the government faces enormous challenges on different fronts. But all the political parties and their leaders, who struggled so much for democracy, should remember that constant tussle for power will not be in the interest of anyone.

The time has come for all to work together to consolidate the hard won democracy and concentrate to work for the development of the nation and welfare of the people.

The National Democracy day is the right time for us all to solemnly pledge to fulfil such lofty objectives, which the martyrs dreamt of even as they laid down their lives for our freedom.

Message Of The Democracy Day

By Mukti Rijal

DEMOCRACY in Nepal is an outcome of a long drawn out and protracted struggle. The fight for democracy and fundamental rights of the citizen started during the late Forties of the last century and the battle is not over yet. Though the Nepalese people won democracy and democratic rights in 1990, there is a long way to go for institutionalisation of multiparty democracy by giving it a solid and unbreakable foundation.

The struggle for formal externalities of democracy has come to an end but the fight for realisation of democratic culture and strong institutional frameworkis yet to be won. The setback to democracy experienced time and again could not dampen and defeat the spirit of the people to struggle for democracy and human rights. The enthusiasm and aspiration of the people to achieve democracy and freedom received cooperation and encouragement from the institution of Monarchy. Even the monarchs risked their throne and comfort to give freedom and democratic rights to the people.

The example set by King Tribhuvan has been an unprecedented one as he joined with the popular forces by incurring the wrath of the then de facto rulers- the Ranas- for the sake of democracy and emancipation of the people for democracy and human rights.

King Tribhuvan fled to New Delhi without letting the Ranas know his plan to work with the popular and democratic forces outside the country for liberating the country from the clutches of autoctratic family rule.

In a statement issued in New Delhi He is on the record to have stated "Nepal has to maintain peace and order while concentrating efforts on the social, political and economic development. In enhancing the process of development, it is necessary that a democratic political climate was created to enable people to participate in the governance of the state. My only wish is to see that Nepal achieved freedom and prosperity".

Although there were political forces active in the country committed to democracy and freedom, they were not strong and consolidated enough to uproot the tyrannical regime gripped on the body of the nation.

Their spirit and zeal would not have been enough to pull down the autocratic regime. The participation of King Tribhuvan in the struggle for democracy gave catalytic strength and legitimacy to the movement so that the people of Nepal found democracy delivered to them in 1950.

The historic Delhi Settlement of 1950 in which a compromise for the democratic establishment was struck provided a framework of the changes and transformation to come in the country.

The Delhi compromise was a tripartite agreement brokered under the good offices of the democratic India headed by the champion of human values and democratic ideals, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru.

Though the settlement has been criticised as being a half hearted and incomplete arrangement, there was no other alternative to it in the prevailing context of the country at that time. Sometimes, when the situation is not ripe and mature, compromise and concessions yield better results than do the rebellion and rigid posturing. Mohan Shumshere was made the prime minister of the democratic Nepal as well but he was stripped of all the absolute powers and privileges he wielded during the Rana rule. Nepali Congress leader B.P. Koirala joined the government of the democratic era as the home minister.

The transition of Nepal from isolation and absolutism to democracy and engagement with the world was spearheaded by King Tribhuvan who is respected and revered as the father of the nation.

The democracy day being marked today is a recognition to the change the country underwent for democracy and development after 104 year autocratic rule of the Ranas. It is fifty one-years now since we attained emancipation from the clutch of the Ranas and started journey to democracy. We should do soul searching especially to undertake an assessment of the achievements and failures of the past fifty years.

The partyless Panchayat era can be described as a setback to democracy but it nevertheless promoted some practices and activities befitting to democracy and welfare of the people. In 1990 we again got multiparty democracy restored in the
country.

It is ten years since the multiparty Democracy was reinstated in the country. There have been several positive changes and development in the last ten years but many problems have cropped up as well. It is time we gave thought to the problems to sort them out to give unfettered go ahead to democracy.

This is the moral of the democracy day being marked today.

The Importance Of Falgun 7, 2007 B.S.

By Guna Dev Bhattarai

DURING the Rana regime, Nepalese people had no alternative but to submit to the will of Ranas. Any person who talked of social or political reforms was regarded as enemy of the country. Some attempts were made in the earlier days to root out the autocratic rule of the Ranas but all in vain, mainly because of the lack of public support.

Some youths with a view to get rid of Rana rule and replace it by a constitutional monarchy under the aegis of the popular king founded a political party "Nepal Praja Parishad". It had the broad sympathy of King Tribhuvan that had given shape to the fervour of the said small group of young men. All the activities were being privately carried out. A near and dear relative of one of the members exposed the activities of the party to the government. In the meantime most of the leading members of the organisation were arrested. Shukra Raj Shastri, the exponent of Arya Samaj, who had nothing to do with the Praja Parishad was regarded ringleader of the movement and was hanged to death. Dharma Bhakta Mathema met the same fate. Dasarath Chand and Gangalal were shot dead. Many other members were given life imprisonment or a long term captivity.

With the end of the Second World War, the British empire began to crumble down. In the meantime, the Labour Government in Britain under Attlee was in favour of granting independence to India. Consequently on August 15, 1947 A.D., India attained independence. The C class Ranas after being deprived of the role of succession to premiership in 1935 A. D. started settling in India. Most of them were not democrats in the strict sense but wanted to punish Mohan Shumsher who had confiscated their property because the former had failed to pay courtesy call on Mohan Shumshere during the latter’s visit to India.

The exiled Ranas formed a party, Nepal Prajatantrik Congress. Some youths who were residing in India had already formed Rastriya Congress Party. In the courses of time, the leading members of the two parties decided to merge into a single party which was named Nepali Congress Party.

King Tribhuvan was greatly humiliated and harassed on many occasions by different Rana Prime Ministers especially Juddha Shumsher. He was very carefully watched by the Ranas in his own palace through their trusted persons. Thus, the king, the Head of the State, was like a prisoner in his own palace. Though he was fully determined to get rid of the Ranas, it was not possible for the King to get directly involved in any political activities. Nevertheless he after girding up his loins finally came in contact with the revolutionary elements in a very cautious manner through his mostly trusted associates.

Chandreswor Prashad Singh, the Indian ambassador for Nepal and some leading military officers were in league with the King. Then Indian prime minister Nehru might have directed Indian ambassador to Nepal to convince the King that the former would help the King to get rid of the autocratic rule of the Ranas. Consequently King Tribhuvan with all other members of the Royal Family except Prince Gyanendra took political asylum in the Indian Embassy on November 6, 1950 A.D. (Kartik 21, 2007 B.S.). It was a unique event in the history of Nepal. Mohan Shumshere, being desperate of calling back the king, reluctantly crowned Prince Gyanendra King of Nepal with the approval of special courtiers.

King Tribhuvan reached Delhi by air and was warmly received by the Indian Government. The arrival of King Tribhuvan in India gave a golden opportunity to the Nepali Congress to launch liberation movement in some key regions of Nepal.

Indian Prime Minister Nehru realised that, if the movement lingered for a long time, the poor and oppressed Nepalese might be lured by communists. That is why he promptly asked the Nepali Congress Party leaders to stop their movement and reach an agreement with the King and the Government of Nepal. The Nepali Congress was forced to follow the advice of Nehru. Accordingly King Tribhuvan returned home and once again he became the head of the state and on February 18, 1951 A.D. (Falgun 7, 2007 B.S.). The King proclaimed that the system in which King Surendra had given administrative power and premiership to Jung Bahadur and his successors, ceased to exist. Then the King formed an interim Council of Ministers comprising the Ranas and the Congress leaders, which would help the king in day to day administration. The ministers would be collectively responsible to the King for their actions and they would remain in office as long as they won the confidence of the King.

In short February 18, (Falgun 7) has been regarded as the red letter day in the history of Nepal. The fall of the autocratic rule of the Ranas restored Kingship with its power and dignity and side by side emergence of democracy ushered in a new era in Nepal.