Kathmandu, March 23: Former King Gyanendra Shah visited the Gorkhkali and Gorakhanath temples, which are considered the ancestral deities of the Shah dynasty, on Saturday. This was the first time he had traveled to Gorkha after the abolition of the monarchy, not only for worship but also to deliver a meaningful message.
Speaking to a journalist, former King Shah said, “No one should wish ill upon others; everyone should wish for the well-being of all. That is my wish.” He further stated, “No one should be afraid to take action. May there be peace in the country. May there be development. I wish for happiness and prosperity for all.”
On the eve of Democracy Day, on Falgun 7, the former king had issued a warning message urging people to support him. Following his statement, royalists have become more active, rallying together in the streets demanding the restoration of the monarchy again. Upon his return from Pokhara, a massive crowd gathered in Kathmandu to welcome him, which has further encouraged him. Pro-monarchy demonstrations have been taking place in various parts of the country, with citizens taking to the streets vowing to restore the monarchy. Amid this growing movement, the former king has been increasing his activities as well.
To connect with the people, some kind of reason or occasion is often needed. In this case, former King Gyanendra used the opportunity of visiting the Gorkhkali and Gorakhsanath temples as a pretext to travel to Gorkha. However, his purpose did not seem limited to religious worship alone; he also appeared to be gauging public sentiment. During his visit, he received significant support from a large number of citizens. Notably, he had not visited Gorkha since 2005, when he was welcomed with a civic reception.
After nearly two decades, the former king spent almost two hours performing rituals at the temple. In the past, he had only sent offerings, but this time he personally traveled to Gorkha to worship his ancestral deity.
Expressing his happiness about visiting his ancestral land, the former king shared his thoughts with journalists while leaving the temple. He criticized the current state of the country, emphasizing that there is no peace, and people should not have to live in fear. His remarks reinforced his earlier call for support and unity, implying that he is not ready to remain silent any longer.
It is not uncommon for former King Gyanendra to visit various religious shrines. However, this particular visit to Gorkha and his worship of the ancestral deity suggest that he is advancing his strategic plans. By choosing Gorkha, he aimed to strengthen the pro-monarchy movement and inspire people to rally behind him.
Recently, support for the monarchy has been growing. On one hand, protests demanding the restoration of the monarchy are increasing, while on the other hand, political parties advocating for the federal democratic republic are caught up in blame games. Ruling parties are engaged in political disputes, accusing each other of corruption and mis-governance. Meanwhile, the public is growing increasingly frustrated due to a lack of employment opportunities and dissatisfaction with federalism. Even within the ruling parties, there is no consensus on key issues, and the promises of development and prosperity remain confined to speeches. Monarchists are seeking to capitalize on this growing public frustration.
The resurgence of the former king has alarmed pro-republican parties. In particular, top leaders of Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and CPN-Maoist Center have been openly criticizing the activities of King Gyanendra. The situation has escalated to the point where UML and Maoist Center have announced plans to take to the streets. The UML is set to launch a nationwide public awareness campaign on March 24, while the Maoist Center is focusing on a campaign in the Madhes region along the Hulaki Highway. Their main concern is that if the monarchy is restored, they might be forced into hiding again.
Gorkha has historical significance as the ancestral land of the Shah kings. It was King Prithvi Narayan Shah of Gorkha who unified Nepal. Before embarking on his unification campaign, he worshiped his ancestral deity in Gorkha and is believed to have received blessings that led to his success. This historical precedent suggests that former King Gyanendra’s visit to Gorkha may be a symbolic step toward his own campaign.
Just as King Prithvi Narayan Shah united people of different ethnicities and languages under one nation, former King Gyanendra’s visit to Gorkha appears to be a move to rally public sentiment in his favor. By highlighting the country’s stagnation, he is attempting to gain public support for his cause.
Is it possible to overthrow the current political system and curtail the democratic activities in the country? No one believes in such scenario right now. Former king don’t have support from major political parties except Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP).
