Late King Birendra Remembered

Unimaginable as it may appear but the fact is that we lost from our midst King Birendra exactly a year ago. Under the circumstances King Birendra and his entire family had to embrace death last year around this time should better be left untouched as the devastating tragedy has already happened and talking on or about the death of the Nepali Royales will simply increase the pain that has almost subsided by this time. Time is the best healer we are told. But then yet what is for certain is that there still exist two separate theories regarding the death of the Nepali Royales on June 1, last year. The first theory as explained or better compiled by the Speaker of the House Tara Nath Ranabhat then pointed to a personality for the sorry affairs gave birth to the second theory which is yet not ready to accept Speaker Taranath Rana Bhat's compilation.

But then the fact is that digging the past will serve no purpose and hence it would be in the fitness of the things that one forgets the past.

Be that as it may, the nation on June 1 last year not only lost a very wise and statesman like monarch but a true son of this soil whose sole intention and efforts were all aimed at how to see his people in a better position, politically, economically and socially as well. His imaginations had no limits. His sagacity had no end. His commitments towards the consolidation of the democratic system were superb. His height had already attained a climax which could be compared with the Mount Everest. A towering personality indeed.

He exhibited his total and unconditional commitments to the tenets of the new order that was in place in the country. He exhibited his soft corner for even those politicians who at times preferred to deride at him. In doing so he apparently felt that the new comers, the so-called democrats, in the Nepali leadership would time permitting mend their ways and act as per the wishes of the people. However, that was not forthcoming. But yet he did not lose his patience and offered countless opportunities to bring about a change in their working styles in order the people would benefit. This also went to the dogs.

Fortunately enough a section of those soi disant politicians or for that matter the leaders who at times challenged the monarch felt in essence much ashamed when they were granted an audience at the Palace. Upon return from the audience most of the so-called firebrand leaders declared in no uncertain terms that the Nepali monarch in himself were a very powerful force. He was a force indeed for it was His institution of the monarchy that bagged the unconditional and unflinching support from all diverse section of the Nepali populace, east, west or even north or south. Perhaps this support remains yet.

Late King Birendra's dream had been to make Nepal a zone of peace and in the process he had already bagged the needed support and recognition to his Zone of Peace Proposal from one hundred nineteen country plus which in itself was an impressive record. This recognition not only had enhanced Nepal's prestige abroad but also had caused tensions in the minds of those who differed with the ZOP concept of late King Birendra for obvious reasons. However, the widely commended ZOP of King Birendra got eclipsed immediately after the advent of the new order. Informed circles opine that there could be some tacit connection in between the ushering in an era of multiparty system in Nepal with the sudden and the uncalled for demise of the ZOP of King Birendra. What were the internal nitty-gritty's behind the ushering in of a new system and the abrupt dismissal of the ZOP concept is a matter which should be best left for the nation's historians and responsible intellectuals to mull over.

Finally, Nepali population lost a King whose absence will long be felt in the country. We feel really dwarfed in penning the great contributions of such a towering great personality of the sort of late King Birendra. Rest ye monarch in eternal peace.

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