Gyanendra of Nepal: Difference between revisions
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==Early life== |
==Early life== |
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As the second son of King [[Mahendra of Nepal|Mahendra]], the young Gyanendra was declared king for two months ([[1950]]–[[1951]]) when the rest of his family was in exile in [[India]], but was not internationally recognized. His grandfather [[Tribhuvan of Nepal|Tribhuvan]] returned to the throne shortly after, when the [[Rana dynasty|Rana]] family conceded power. He studied with his brother King [[Birendra of Nepal|Birendra]] in St. Joseph's College, Darjeeling, India. He was known to have been a keen student during his schoolyears |
As the second son of King [[Mahendra of Nepal|Mahendra]], the young Gyanendra was declared king for two months ([[1950]]–[[1951]]) when the rest of his family was in exile in [[India]], but was not internationally recognized. His grandfather [[Tribhuvan of Nepal|Tribhuvan]] returned to the throne shortly after, when the [[Rana dynasty|Rana]] family conceded power. He studied with his brother King [[Birendra of Nepal|Birendra]] in St. Joseph's College, Darjeeling, India. He was known to have been a keen student during his schoolyears |
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Gyanendra married [[Queen Komal of Nepal|Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah]] on [[May 1]] [[1970]]. They have two children; |
Gyanendra married [[Queen Komal of Nepal|Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah]] on [[May 1]] [[1970]]. They have two children; |
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Revision as of 08:23, 24 April 2007
| ज्ञानेन्द्र वीर विक्रम शाहदेव Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev | |
|---|---|
| King of Nepal | |
| Gyanendra in royal dress | |
| Reign | June 4, 2001 - present |
| Predecessor | Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev |
| Issue | Paras, Prerana |
| House | Shah dynasty |
| Father | Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev |
| Mother | Indra Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah |
Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, King of Nepal (Nepali: ज्ञानेन्द्र वीर विक्रम शाहदेव; Jñānendra Vīra Vikrama Śāhadeva) (born July 7, 1947) is the present King of Nepal since June 4, 2001. He succeeded to the Nepali throne upon the death of his nephew Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah, who was only King for three days while he was in a coma, following a massacre of the preceding king (Gyanendra's brother, Birendra) and other members of the royal family, allegedly committed by Dipendra himself.
In February 2005 Gyanendra took complete control of the government, dismissing the elected parliament, but in April 2006 popular pressure caused him to return power to the parliament. He has now been reduced to the status of a ceremonial monarch.
Early life
As the second son of King Mahendra, the young Gyanendra was declared king for two months (1950–1951) when the rest of his family was in exile in India, but was not internationally recognized. His grandfather Tribhuvan returned to the throne shortly after, when the Rana family conceded power. He studied with his brother King Birendra in St. Joseph's College, Darjeeling, India. He was known to have been a keen student during his schoolyears
Gyanendra married Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah on May 1 1970. They have two children;
- Crown Prince Paras Bir Bikram Shah Dev (born 30 December 1971)
- Princess Prerana Rajya Laxmi Devi (born 1 March, 1978).
Succession
The events surrounding the Royal Massacre on June 1st, 2001 has proved very controversial in the country. Some people still believe that Gyanendra is the mastermind behind the royal massacre. This theory is widely held among some sections of the population, mainly due to the fact that Gyanendra succeeded the massacred Royals to the throne. However, according to published reports, in 2001, after his nephew Dipendra reportedly staged a murder suicide, killing most of the royal family, including King Birendra (Dipendra's father, and Gyanendra's brother), Gyanendra became king again. Upon acceding to the throne, he was reported to have transferred property of his deceased brother and his family members into his own name.[citation needed]
Reign
| Nepalese royal family |
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Descendants of King Mahendra:
Descendants of King Tribhuvan: Princess Trilokya |
King Gyanendra has sought to exercise full control over the government. In May 2002 he supported Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba when he dismissed the parliament elected in 1999. In October 2002 he dismissed Deuba and consolidated his power for the first time. During the years 2002 to 2005 he chose and subsequently dismissed three prime ministers, finally dismissing Deuba for the second time and taking over as absolute ruler on 1st February 2005.[1] His brother King Birendra had negotiated a constitutional monarchy during his rule in a delicate manner in which he, as King, played a minor role in government. So Gyanendra's confrontational approach with the established political parties met with widespread censure.
When King Gyanendra took complete control for the second time on 1st February 2005, he accused prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's government of failing to make arrangements for parliamentary elections and of being unable to restore peace in the country, then in the midst of a civil war led by Maoist insurgents.[2]
Gyanendra promised that "peace and effective democracy" would be restored within three years,[3] but the period of direct rule was accompanied by repression of dissent.[4] International organizations expressed grave concerns about the safety of journalists and human rights activists, following the king's decision to restrict civil liberties, including freedom of the press, the constitutional protection against censorship and the right against preventive detention[5] Gyanendra countered, saying that "democracy and progress contradict one another" as a necessary step in restoring peace to the country.
In April 2006 constitutionalists staged protests and strikes in Kathmandu against Gyanendra's direct rule. The royal government responded by declaring a curfew, which was enforced with live firearms and tear gas. The government's response drew condemnation from other countries including India and the United States. On 21 April 2006 Gyanendra announced that he would yield executive authority to a new prime minister chosen by the political parties to oversee the return of democracy. Several party leaders rejected the offer and again demanded that the king call a council to determine the monarchy's future role in politics. On 24 April 2006 Gyanendra reinstated the previous parliament in a televised address to the nation.
Present
On 10 June 2006, the parliament scrapped the major powers of the king, including his right to veto laws. This ended the idea of a "King in Parliament", and now he remains powerless. According to Article 167 of the constitution, all executive powers as well as those enjoyed by the king in the previous Constitution now vest upon the prime minister. All powers of the 238-year-old monarchy have been stripped, making Gyanendra a civilian king under the interim constitution. The king retains the throne and crown at present, but the fate of monarchy will be decided by the constituent assembly that will be directly chosen by the electorate.
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, who previously supported the continuation of the monarchy, said in March 2007 that he thinks the king should step down.[1]
Titles
- Grand Cross of the House Order of Orange (The Netherlands), 1967
- Knight Grand Cordon of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant (Thailand), 1979
- Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit (France), 1983
- Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George 1986
- Grand Cross of Order of Isabel La Catolica (Spain), 1987
- His Holy Majesty, King of the Lands of the Nepalese People and Knight of the Holy and Most Majestic Order of the Rose of Jordan
Notes
- ^ Staff writer (2006-04-20). "Troubled times saw king's rise". CNN.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Staff writer (2005-02-01). "Nepal's king declares emergency". BBC News.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Staff writer (2005-02-01). "Nepal's king sacks government". CNN.com.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Staff writer (2005-02-03). "Nepal's king acts against dissent". BBC News.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "State of Emergency Imperils Information Flow". International Freedom of Expression eXchange. Retrieved 2006-11-27.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help)
External links
- Royal Court of Nepal
- Unofficial translation of the commission report on the palace incident
- King of Nepal is stoned by crowd. BBC 16 February 2007