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Monarchy is The Long-Term Fate of Independent Nepal

Letter to the Editor

In supporting the article and the comment of Mr. D.R.Prasai regarding the institution of monarchy of Nepal, I wish to add a few more words about the same.

The monarch as an individual and the monarchy as an institution are separate issues which must be understood when debating this issue for Nepal.

The monarch as an individual could be wrong and may have handled issues roughly but that should not mean the system or institution as a whole should be abolished. We could find many leaders and rulers failing to meet the needs of their nation in countries where there are democratic systems. It would be quite illogical to blame the system or constitution for the performance of a particular person.

There is no logic for blaming current leaders or the monarchy, for failing the constitution of 1990. The only weak-point I see is the lack of flexibility to incorporate the wishes of the people by referendum, but that could be reformed by national consensus.

Unfortunately, due to lack of statesmanship and greatly inspired by external forces, the current leaders have chosen a wrong and suicidal path, dismantling bases of unity, territorial integrity and national stability, by adopting the federal republic. The Monarchy has been a great source for building a united greater Nepal and it contributed to the democratic movement as well by ceasing Rana autocratic rule.

Some see the monarchy as evil but I believe the monarchy is necessary to Nepal from the geopolitics and multi-cultural diversity point of view. The wider and unexpected anarchic situation could not be easily prevented without the institution of monarchy. I believe that removing the monarchy from a nation-building campaign would invite a great and unthinkable threat and challenges to Nepal's long term sustainability as a separate independent nation.

Some sort of affordable space, in which executive power could be excluded, is very much needed to provide for the institution of monarchy in Nepal. The positions of Sikkim and Bhutan, regarding their 1949 Darjeeling Agreement should be considered.

We still have time, since the permanent constitution has not yet been drafted and all that has been done so far is based on the interim ( Temporary management )constitution which has not been endorsed by the people.

I believe that creating an acceptable and affordable space for the institution of monarchy, without executive authority, is a wise and broad step that would help national unity and the long term future of the independent nation, Nepal. There is no need to worry about the misuse of authority by the Monarchy when it is a symbolic and guardianship entity, that unifies the people and delivers the message of a separate nation.

Dibakar Pant
St.Paul, USA