On May 29, Nepalese in Kathmandu gathered to celebrate 17 years of secular republicanism. However, looming over the Republic Day festivities was the conflict between the current Marxist-Leninist/social democratic coalition government and the newly reinvigorated pro-monarchy movement.
Already three weeks prior to Republic Day, the pro-monarchy movement, consisting of various recently united royalist and Hindu-nationalist groups, had announced to use this annual occasion to protest republicanism, federalism, and secularism in Nepal in a peaceful manner. Republic Day would mark the beginning of indefinite agitation to bring back monarchy.[1, 2, 3]
The government, led by the Communist Party of Nepal – United Marxist Leninists (CPN-UML), mobilised around 6,000 security personnel to prevent clashes between CPN-UML supporters and the pro-monarchy movement.[5] Unexpectedly, the royalists brought an estimated 20,000 people to the streets, shouting slogans demanding the return of the king.[7]
Despite the number of attendees and the pro-monarchy procession having violated certain administrative restrictions,[1, 5, 6] there are no reports of violence on that day. Looking back to the violent royalist riots in March this year, the movement’s actions on Republic Day had been expected with concern.
Nepal’s pro-monarchy movement had only recently been reinvigorated when a total of 44 royalist and Hindu-nationalist groups joined hands in an uneasy alliance following a meeting with former king Gyanendra Shah on April 18. The alliance, although having announced joint and indefinite agitation, has a history of splits and internal power struggles that call into question the integrity of their political agenda.[3]
Their political program, which has recently been criticised for its populism and for “lack[ing] a clear vision to lead the country forward” by political commentators,[3] can hardly provide Nepal with an alternative to the current corrupt party cartel in charge.
Nepal has always been praiseworthy when it comes to “unity in diversity” (a popular slogan). Different ethnicities and religions have lived together in enviable harmony. But now our secularism is under attack. While reactionary monarchists claim that Nepal would be more prosperous as a Hindu nation, it is really just another divide-and-rule strategy to keep the people oppressed – similar to the one deployed in India that keeps the increasingly autocratic government in power by paralising its people in a state of fear of their neighbours and fellow citizens. Should we really view people from behind a curtain of religion instead of as fellow humans, as brothers and sisters? Should we not continue to promote kindness rather than marginalisation?
At the same time, Nepali democracy is being attacked – the democracy that was paid for by the blood of so many during the Civil War. Our freedom from censorship by the whims of an unelected monarch is under attack. The pro-royalists may have forgotten the political instability of Nepal under the kings. Many of the darkest episodes of our history were a consequence of monarchy, like the banning of political parties, the Rana autocracy, and the Panchayat rule. There might have been few reformist kings that enacted laws in favour of the people, but without the great revolutionaries constantly fighting for democracy, like Ganga Lal Shrestha, Dharma Bhakta Mathema, Dashrath Chand, Shukraraj Shastri, Pushpa Lal Shrestha, Bishweshwor Prasad Koirala and many more, we would have gotten nowhere.
This royalist and pro-Hindu alliance did not materialise out of thin air. They originated from dissatisfaction of the general public towards the currently ruling corrupt government. No matter what government the people of Nepal vote into office, it always fails to achieve its promises miserably. The public, during the People’s Movement of Nepal from 1990 to 2006, was promised many things, including laws to remove gender discrimination and to improve the lives of minorities like the Dalits and Janajatis, as well as a reduction in unemployment – all of which remains unfulfilled to this day.[8] Those political leaders, who themselves sacrificed heaps during the Civil War, seem to be now satisfied with the title of prime minister, as if that was their only goal to begin with.
Umanath Kattel, in his book “The Rise and Fall of Monarchy in Nepal: A Comprehensive Historical Overview,” does a great job covering the most important parts of the political history and struggle of the masses in Nepal. At the end, he lists Nepal’s current most pressing issues. These include corruption, lack of accountability, weak institutions, nepotism, favoritism, intra-party factionalism, over-reliance on foreign aid, caste and ethnic discrimination, gender inequality, weak judiciary, low political literacy, etc.[4] These real problems require real solutions, not hallucinating or fantasising about the past. If the royalists do manage to bring back monarchy, the only thing that will change are the rulers, the oppressors. It would be the shift of the power from the currently corrupt government to another corrupt monarch. In order to really change the system, the people of Nepal need to start taking accountability themselves. It is the people’s responsibility to keep their political leaders in check, and if these leaders are unworthy, rise and take leadership! Democracy can only be protected by vigilance.
Notes
- https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2025/05/28/hridayendra-shah-may-be-king-if-monarchy-is-reinstated-in-nepal-rpp-nepal-chair-kamal-thapa-suggests
- https://kathmandupost.com/politics/2025/05/28/rpp-says-protest-will-be-peaceful-and-within-ring-road
- https://kathmandupost.com/national/2025/05/09/more-pro-monarchy-forces-join-hands-announce-new-phase-of-protests
- https://www.umanathkattel.com/2024/09/28/the-rise-and-fall-of-monarchy-in-nepal-a-comprehensive-historical-overview/
- https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/international/2025/05/29/fgn51-nepal-rday-protests.html
- https://en.setopati.com/political/164678
- https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/tens-of-thousands-demonstrate-in-nepal-seeking-restoration-of-ousted-monarchy/ar-AA1FHVVY
- https://nepalitimes.com/here-now/nepal-s-cycles-of-revolution
NEW POWER 
Leave a comment