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His Majesty King Birendra
Bir Bikram Shah Dev.
Pictorial
Biography of King Birendra
King
Birendra departed and the new King rises
Pictures of the Royal Family
| Birth | 28 Dec 1945,
Narayanhity Royal Palace, Kathmandu, Nepal. |
| Grand Son |
of His Late Majesty King
Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah Dev, son of His Late Majesty King Mahendra Bir
Bikram Shah Dev and Her Royal Highness Late Crown Princess Indira Rajya
Laxmi Devi Shah. |
| Marriage |
Queen Aishwarya Rajya
Laxmi Devi Shah, Feb 1970; son 2 daughter 1. |
| Education | Early education
at St Joseph's College, Darjeeling (India); Higher studies: Eton College,
England (1959-64),
Tokyo University, and Harvard University 1967-68 academic year; After
returning home in 1968,
continued private study specially in history, geography, culture and language.
Training: Para Jumping, Nepal;
Flight Crew License, Nepal, 1976. |
| Work | Painting:
The Pearl; The Waterfall. |
| Royal Life | life
during
the revolutionary upsurge of 1950, accompanied His Late Majesty King Tribhuvan
and His Late Majesty King Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev out of the Kingdom;
His Majesty was declared Heir Apparent to the throne of the Kingdom of Nepal
by His Late Majesty King Mahendra on Mar 15, 1955; The Suva Upanayan Ceremony
of His Majesty was celebrated in Apr, 1963; At the Coming of Age Ceremony
1964, His Late Majesty King Mahendra conferred on His Majesty the tide
of Grand Master and Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Nepalese Army; Acted
as Chairman of the Regency Council and Royal Representatives' Council a
number of times during the absence of His Late Majesty King Mahendra between
1964-71; Played host to Abdorreza Pahalvi of Iran in Feb, 1967, to Queen
Margreth II and Prince Henrik during their official visits to Nepal in
Feb 1969, to President of Yugoslavia and Madame Broz in 1975 and to President
of Burma and Madame Ne Win in 1977, and to other foreign Heads of States; Assumed
Chairmanship of the Board of Editors of 'Ramjham', a quarterly and bilingual
published from the Royal Palace till 1972; His Late Majesty King Mahendra
formed the 'Janch Boojh Kendra' under the supervision of His Majesty the
King (the then Crown Prince); Following the sudden and untimely demise of
His Late Majesty King Mahendra on Jan 31, 1972, assumed all the responsibilities
attached to the Crown, and His Majesty is the Sovereign of all Orders and
Decorations of the Kingdom of Nepal; Constituted National Development Council
on Feb 28, 1973; Constituted Constitution Reforms Recommendation Commission
on Feb 9, 1975; The auspicious Coronation Ceremony of His Majesty was solemnised
on Feb 24, 1975; Declared free and compulsory primary education throughout
the Kingdom of Nepal, Feb 24, 1975; Put forward the proposition that Nepal
be declared a Zone of Peace (ZOP) during the Royal Address to the Heads
of States of Governments and other eminent and distinguished delegates gathered
at the Royal Palace on the auspicious occasion of His Majesty's Coronation,
Feb 25, 1975, and more than hundreds of friendly countries of the UN gave
their support to the ZOP proposal by 1990; Promulgated the 2nd Amendment
to the Constitution of Nepal (1962) Dec 12, 1975; Constituted the Royal
Higher Level Education Commission, Aug 17, 1982; Constituted King Mahendra
Trust for Nature Conservation, Oct 20, 1982; Constituted Panchayat Policy
and Evaluation Committee, May 16, 1984; Unanimously elected Chairperson
of the SAARC at the 3rd SAARC Summit, Kath, 1987; Accepted the voluntary
abdication of the Royal Title and Royal Privileges by HRH Prince Dhirendra
Bir Bikram Shah, 1988; As a promoter of balanced development of the country,
His Majesty began regular visits to the five development regions of the
country annually since 1972 to review the process of development of the
regions till 1990; Chairman of the National Development Council till 1990.
His Majesty proclaimed in the name of the nation the first ever National
Referendum on May 24, 1979 on whether to continue the Panchayat System or
to replace it with multi-party system; and 55 (54.7) percent of the people
went in favour of the partyless Panchayat System on May 2, 1980; Constituted
a Constitution Reform Commission on May 21, 1980 and promulgated the Third
Amendment to the Constitution of Nepal (1962), Dec 15, 1980, according to
which direct elections to the Rastriya Panchayat (the national legislature),
on the basis of adult franchise, was held in May 9, 1981 for the first time;
Consequent to the movement for the restoration of mufti-party democracy
supported by the people of the country at large in Apr 1990, removed the
ban on political parties on Apr 8, 1990; In a proclamation to the nation,
dissolved the Rastriya Panchayat, Panchayat Policy and Evaluation Committee
and the class organizations on Apr 16, 1990; Appointed Krishna Prasad Bhattarai
the Acting President of Nepali Congress (NC) as Prime Minister of the interim
government constituted of eight ministers, three from the NC, three from
the United Left Front (ULF), two from independents and two His Majesty's
nominees, April 19, 1990; Dissolved the National Sports Council (NSC), following
the submission made by the Prime Minister of the interim government, May
10, 1990; Constituted a seven member Constitution Recommendation Commission
(CRS) under the Chairmanship of the Judge of Supreme Court Mr Bishwa Nath
Upadhyay on May 11, 1990 to make recommendations for institutionalizing
Constitutional Monarchy and mufti-party democracy in the interest of Nepal
and the well being of the Nepali people, which His Majesty dissolved on
May 15, 1990, and reconstituted a nine member CRS on May 30, 1990 fox drafting
a new constitution fox the consolidation of Constitutional Monarchy and
multi-party democracy and to submit a draft constitution within three months;
Granted Royal amnesty to all persons in detention on charges. of allegedly
making religion converts, June 12, 1990; As the Patron of the Royal Nepal
Academy (RNA) reconstituted the RNA, July 22, 1990; In a proclamation to
the nation promulgated the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990 at
a special ceremony at Narayanhity Royal Palace, abrogating the Constitution
of Nepal 1962, Nov 9,1990; Constituted a nine-member, Rajparishad Sthai
Samiti (State Council Standing Committee) with Prime Minister, Chief Justice,
Bada Guruju and C-in-C as Ex Officio Members, Feb 17, 1991; In accordance
with the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990, appointed Girija Prasad
Koirala of NC as the first elected Prime Minister of Nepal after the restoration
of democracy and other 14 ministers on the recommendation of the Prime Minister,
May 29, 1991; Pardoned 15 persons including Ram Raja Prasad Singh who had
been awarded death, life imprisonment and other sentences for activities
in connection with the bombing incident in the capital (June 20, 1985),
June 23, 1991; Initiated the National Census 1991 by providing personal
and family data to the Prime Minister and Chairman of National Planning
Commission (NPC) Mr. Koirala, 1991; Dissolved the Special Petition Department
of the Royal Palace, July 16, 1991; For the first time since the promulgation
of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990, granted written answers
to the 31 questions posed by the Independent (weekly) in which His Majesty
emphasized: `The Constitution, I feel, meets the basic interests of the
country and people. To the extent that all the political parties and all
the major elements at work in society work sincerely in its democratic spirit,
the constitution will be strengthened, Everything cannot be written
in the constitution, the role of Constitutional Monarchy and its norms will
be here fox others to see as we move into the future", Jan 8, 1992;
Re-nominated the Queen as Chairperson of Pashupati Area Development Fund
Managing Council, Apr 14, 1992; Appointed one hundred twenty one persons
to the Rajparishad, Jan 11, 1993; In accordance with the, constitution,
sent to the Supreme Court for the opinion a matter concerning a commission
of a sitting Supreme Court judge to look into the Dasdhunga jeep accident
in which two top leaders of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist
and Leninist) - CPN (UML) Madan Bhandari and Jeeb Raj Ashrit were killed,
submitted on May 16, 1993, for His Majesty's consideration by the Prime
Minister, Sept 8, 1993; In accordance with the Article 53 (3) of the constitution,
summoned the emergency session of the House of Representatives on Feb 24,1993
in response to a submission made by 52 MPs of the CPN (UML) of the HOR in
writing, Feb 16, 1994; In accordance with the constitution, constituted
3 member Dasdhunga Accident Judicial Investigation Commission (DAJIC) under
the Chairmanship of Supreme Court Judge Trilok Pratap Rana in consultation
with the judicial Council to probe into the Dasdhunga jeep accident and
submit its report within 45 days, June 29, 1994; Accepted the resignation
submitted by Prime Minister Koirala following the defeat in the HOR of the
Vote of Thanks tabled on behalf of HMG for the Royal Address (joint session
of the parliament, July 1, 1994) outlining the policies and programmes of
HMG for the following year, July 10, 1994, and asked the existing Council
of Ministers to continue until a new Council of Ministers is constituted;
Dissolved the HOR on July 11, 1994 in accordance with Article 53 (4) of
the constitution and ordered fresh elections to be held an Sunday, Nov 13,
1994 as recommended by Prime Minister Koirala on July 10, 1994, and His
Majesty entrusted the job of conducting fair and impartial elections to
Prime Minister Koirala, July 11, 1994; In accordance with the constitution,
promulgated the Finance Ordinance 1994, the Appropriation Ordinance 1994,
the Ordinance for Raising Internal Loans 1994, the Loan Security Act 1968,
eight amendment Ordinances 1994, July 14, 1994; on the recommendation of
the Constitutional Council appointed, four commissioners to the Election
Commission and two commissioners under the Chairmanship of the Temporary
Supreme Court judge to the Constituency Delineation Commission, July 21,
1994; During the State Visit to France granted answers to the 10 question
interview to French Magazine Point de Vue (point of view) in which said,
"I wish to see my country and people prosper and lead a life with dignity
preserving our sovereignty, national integrity, identity and unity, and
thereby contributing to peace and prosperity in our region and world at
large", Oct 5, 1994; Fixed Nov 15, 1994 (instead of Nov 13, 1994) as
the date for the elections to the HOR as recommended by the Council of Ministers,
Oct 10, 1994; Appointed Mr. Manmohan Adhikari as Prime Minister (the first
communist prime minister of Nepal) of a minority government as no other
party could forge a coalition to form the new government after the HOR elections,
Nov 29, 1994, and on the Prime Minister's recommendation nominated other
8 ministers, 6 state ministers, Nov 30, 1994; Handed over the DAJIC report
to Prime Minister Adhikari, submitted to His Majesty on Dec 7, 1994; After
convening the 9th regular session of the HOR on June 25, 1995, convened
a special session of the HOR on June 16 in response to a submission made
by 70 NC MPs of the HOR (on June 8), June 9, 1995; Dissolved the HOR and
fixed Nov 23 as the date for mid-term elections as recommended by Prime
Minister Adhikari on June 9 and entrusted Mr Adhikari to conduct elections
and continue functioning until a new Council of Ministers is formed, June
13, 1995; Supreme Court reinstates the HOR, Aug 28, 1995; Appointed Sher
Bahadur Deuba, leader of the NC Parliamentary Party as the Prime Minister
of the coalition government made of NC, RPY' and NSP, Sept 11, 1995 and
other ministers, state minister and assistant ministers on the recommendation
of the Prime Minister, Sept 22, 1995; Convened a special session of the
HOR on Mar 20, 1996 in response to a submission made by 86 CPN (UML) MPs
on Mar 11 to debate the no-confidence motion against Mr Deuba, Mar 12; 1996.
His Majesty is the
Chancellor: Tribhuvan University (TU) and Mahendra Sanskrit University (MSU); Patron: Royal Nepal Academy (RNA), King Mahendra Trust for Nature
Conservation (KMTNC), Lumbini Development Trust (LDT), Pashupati Area
Development Trust (PADT) and Royal Nepal Academy of Science and Technology
(RONAST); Patron-in-Chief, Nepal Scouts (PAS). |
| Seminar
/ Conference/ Meeting/ State Visit etc |
Accompanied
His Late Majesty King Mahendra during the state visit to the United Kingdom,
1960; Observer at the First Summit Conference on Non-aligned Nations, Belgrade,
1961; Accompanied His Late Majesty King Mahendra to a hunting expedition
in Kenya in 1963; While returning home from Eton visited the Soviet Union,
Iran and other countries, 1964; Trekked incognito to the eastern and western
parts of Nepal, 1965-66; Leader of delegation, 10th anniversary celebrations
of Bandung Conference, Indonesia, 1965; Visited China and met with Chairman
Mao Tse-tung in June July 1966; Unofficial visits to W Germany, UK, France
and some other European countries, 1970; Addressed Nepal Council of World
Affairs, Kath, July, 1973; State Visits to India and the People's Republic
of China (PROC), Oct and Dec, 1973; Leader of delegation, 4th Non-aligned
Summit Conference, Algiers, 1973; State Visit to Yugoslavia, 1975; Friendly
Visit to Szechuan and Tibet Regions of the PROC overflying Lhasa on the
first international Trans Himalayan flight, June 1976, and His Majesty is
the first ruler of Shah dynasty and the first foreign Head of State to visit
the Tibetan Region of China; Leader of delegation, 5th Non-aligned Summit
Conference, Colombo, Aug 1976; State Visit to the Soviet Union, Nov 1976;
Declared open the first Pancha convention after the 2nd Amendment to the
Constitution, 1976; Declared open the first Legal Practitioners' conference,
Kath, 1977; Inaugurated the World Conference on Religion and Culture, Madurai,
India, 1977; State Visits to Bangladesh, and Japan, 1978; Leader of delegation,
6th Non-aligned Summit Conference, Havana, 1979; State Visits to Sri Lanka,
and the United Kingdom, 1980; Addressed the UN conference on Problems of
Least Developed Countries, Paris, 1981; State Visit to Egypt, 1981; Visit
to Gansu and Tibet, PROC, 1982; Leader of delegation, to Seventh Summit
Conference of Non-aligned Nations, India, 1983, and visits to Italy, Saudi
Arabia, UAE, Malta and Maldives, 1983; State Visit to the United States
of America, 1983, and unofficial visits en route to Switzerland, Luxembourg,
Japan and Hong Kong; State Visit to Thailand and Fuket Province of Thailand,
1984; State Visit to Austria, and unofficial visits to Brunei, Malaysia
and Japan, 1985; Leader of delegation, First SAARC Summit Conference, Dhaka,
Bangladesh 1985; Inaugurated the National Exhibition 1986 on the occasion
of the Silver Jubilee of Partyless Panchayat System, Kath, Nov 10, 1986;
Leader of delegation, Eighth Summit Conference of Non-aligned Nations, Harare
and visits to Seychelles, Tanzania, Zambia, Kenya and Oman, 1986; Leader
of delegation, Second Summit Conference of SAARC, Bangalore, India, 1986;
Official Visit to the PROC,1987; Working Visits to Bhutan and Bangladesh
as Chairman of SAARC, Oct 198$; Leader of delegation, Fourth Summit Conference
of SAARC, Pakistan, 1988; Leader of delegation, Ninth Summit Conference
of Non-aligned Nations, Belgrade, Sept 3, 1989; 5 day State Visit to Finland,
Sept 11, 1989, and unofficial visits to Turkey, Czechoslovakia and Kuwait;
5 day State Visit to the Kingdom of Denmark on the invitation of Her Majesty
Queen Margrethe II, Oct 1'7, 1989, and visits en route to Paris and Rhodes
(Greece); Declared open for the first time in Nepal, the High Level Kathmandu
Summer School in Physics with the participation of scientists of world renown,
at the Royal Nepal Academy the Summer School on `Current Trend in Condensed
Matters, Particle Physics anti Cosmology," held under the sponsorship
of International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Italy, RONAST and
TU, Nepal, May 21,1989; Inaugurated the Fourth General Assembly of the Asian
Conference on Religion and Peace, Kath, Oct 29, 1991; After the promulgation
of the constitution (1990) left for a few days private visit to Jaipur,
India by surface transport, July 17, 1992; Paid a week-long State Visit
to India on the invitation of Indian President Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma,
which was the first State Visit after the restoration of democracy in the
country, flay 6, 1993; State Visit to the PROC on the invitation of the
Chinese President, Jiang Zemin, Sept 20-27, 1993; Few day's private visit
to India, Nov 29, 1993; Paid a week long State Visit to France at the friendly
invitation of French President Francois Mitterrand, Sept 2026, 1994 (unofficial
visit to Graz, Austria, Sept 18, 1994 en route to Paris and Italy and UAE
after France) and returned to home country, Oct 7, 1994; Inaugurated and
addressed the Asia Pacific Region Conference on Representation organized
by The Comparative ,Constitutional Law Standing Committee of LAWASIA, Kath,
Dec 7-10, 1994; Inaugurated and addressed the 4th SAARC Law Conference by
SAARC Law Nepal, Kath, Mar 31, 1995; Attended the commemoration of 50 Years
of Peace after the end of the second world wax in Europe at the invitation
of Hex Britannic Majesty's Govt. London, May 6, 1995; Paid a week long State
Visit to the PROC on the invitation of Chinese President Jiang Zemin, Aug
23, 1996 |
| Honour | Foreign
Orders, Decorations and Medals: Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the
Chrysanthemum (Japan), 1970; Nishan E-Imtiaz (Pakistan), 1970; Order of Million
Elephants and White Umbrella, Grade of the Grand Cross (Laos), 1970; Honorary
General of the British Army (UK), 1973; Grand Cordon of Yugoslav Great Star
(Yugoslavia), 1974; The Collar of the Nile (Egypt), 1974; L'Ordre Du Regne
Dul Lo Laos "Madailla on Vermell" (Laos), 1975; The Royal Victorian
Chain (UK), 1975; Grand Cross of the Netherlands Lion (the Netherlands),
1975; Collar of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum (Japan), 1975; The
Most Auspicious Order of the Rajamitrabhorn (Thailand), 1979; Field Marshal
(UK), 1980; Grand Collar of the Order of Macarios III (Cyprus), 1980;
Nishan-E-Pakistan
(Pakistan), 1983; Grand Cross of Legion of Honour (France), 1983; Collar
De Carlos III (Spain), 1983; Special Level of the Grand Cross Order of Merit
(Federal Republic of Germany), 1986, Order of the Republic-Star First Class
(Romania), 1987; Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose with Collar
(Finland), 1988; The Order of the Elephant (Denmark), 1989; Order Al Merito
De Chile (Chile), 1989; Honorary Doctor of Humanities, West Virginia Institute
of Technology, May 23, 1994; Honorary Doctorate of Soka University (Japan),
Nov 1, 1995. |
| Inspiration | His Late
Majesty King Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev. |
| Belief | "Knowledge
is power, work is worship." |
| Hobby | Flying
helicopter, horse-riding. |
| Recreation | Swimming,
painting, nature conservation. |
| Death | June 1, 2001 in a shootout at the Narayanhity Royal Palace. |
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Source:
NEPAL WHO'S WHO
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Pictorial Biography of King Birendra
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