Dipendra of Nepal

Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev
King of Nepal
Reign	1 June 2001 – 4 June 2001
Predecessor	Birendra
Successor	Gyanendra
Born	(1971-06-27)27 June 1971 Narayanhity Royal Palace, Kathmandu, Nepal
Died	4 June 2001(2001-06-04) (aged 29) King Birendra Military Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal
House	Shah dynasty
Father	Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev
Mother	Aishwarya Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah
Religion	Hinduism

Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev (27 June 1971 – 4 June 2001) was a king of Nepal, who briefly reigned while in coma as King of Nepal from 1 to 4 June 2001. The official report submitted by the high level investigation committee formed by the then government concluded that, as the Crown Prince, he killed his family at a weekly royal family dinner on 1 June 2001, including his father Birendra, the then king. The report also states that Dipendra himself was mortally wounded by a self-inflicted gunshot to the side of his head. This official version is, however, questioned by many. Due to the lack of adequate explanations to such questions, many, including high level politicians have said that they doubt as to his guilt and have called for reinvestigation.

Personality

From a very young age, Dipendra was known for his cruel behavior towards animals, especially birds, taking joy in burning their tails. The palace priest had predicted that he would become a king like none of his predecessors; he had said that he would become a "Chakrawarti Raja" (King of Kings). Most historians and scholars would state that Dipendra's childhood nature affected his personality in his later years, thus culminating in his own demise.

Education

King Dipendra received his early education at Budhanilkantha School, Kathmandu. Later, he attended the Eton College in England. After Eton, he attended the Tribhuvan University in Nepal and later joined the Military Academy, Kharipati, Nepal. He studied Geography at Tribhuvan University for his master's degree and was a PhD student in the same University. He had military training from Academy of Royal Nepalese Gurkha Army, and piloting training from civil aviation Department.

Interests

He was interested in the fields of social service and had a keen enthusiasm for sports. He used to show presence in various national and international sports ceremonies where the Nepalese players participated. He was the patron of the National Sports Council and Nepal's Scouts. He had an active contribution in the devastating earthquakes of 1988 and 1993. He also had an interest in literary works. His articles were published in the periodicals frequently. His writing were on the motif of nation, nationality, life and world.

Motive for murder

Main article: Nepalese royal massacre

Official reports state that Dipendra massacred his own family members including both his parents because of anger over a marriage dispute. Dipendra's choice of bride was Devyani Rana, daughter of Pashupati Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana, a member of the Rana clan. However, the royal family did not approve of this choice because of the fact that she was supposedly a low class Rana though Shah kings and princes have married (almost exclusively) members of the Rana family and the two clans have a long history of inter-marriages.

Dipendra's uncle, Prince Gyanendra, is often accused of arranging the murder of all the competitors to the throne. He quickly issued an official statement claiming that the massacre had been the result of an automatic weapon accidentally misfiring. Gyanendra, then appointed a two men committee to investigate the massacre. According to this official account, Dipendra was denied his choice of a wife by his mother Queen Aishwarya, and so he massacred his family in a much-publicised incident after indulging in a drinking binge. Among the dead were his father King Birendra, mother, brother, and sister. Dipendra survived comatose for three days, and was proclaimed King in his hospital bed. He died of his injuries on 4 June, after a three-day reign, and was succeeded by Prince Gyanendra. The current living King of Nepal and Greater Nepal is Raja Mahendra Chand of Kumaon, married to Rani Gita Chand and they have three children. Rajkumari Aakanksha Chand, Rajkumari Mallika Chand and Rajkumar Aryan Chand.

Honours

National Honours

• Sovereign of the Order of Nepal Pratap Bhaskara
• Sovereign of the Order of Ojaswi Rajanya
• Sovereign of the Order of Nepal Taradisha
• Sovereign of the Order of Tri Shakti Patta
• Sovereign of the Order of Gorkha Dakshina Bahu
• King Birendra Investiture Medal (24/02/1975)
• Commemorative Silver Jubilee Medal of King Birendra (31/01/1997)

Foreign Honours

• Denmark : Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog (17/10/1989)
• Germany : Knight Grand Cross Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (1997)
• Japan : Knight Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum (12/04/2001)

Ancestry

Family of Dipendra of Nepal
8. King Tribhuvan of Nepal 4. King Mahendra of Nepal 9. Kanti Rajya Laxmi Devi 2. King Birendra of Nepal 10. Hari Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana 5. Indra Rajya Laxmi Devi 11. Megha Kumari Rajya Laxmi 1. King Dipendra of Nepal 12. Agni Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana 6. Kendra Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana 13. 3. Aishwarya Rajya Laxmi Devi 14. N. Shah 7. Shree Rajya Laxmi Devi 15.

See also

• Super Star (2002 Indian film) which was loosely based on the love story of Dipendra and Devyani Rana, and the Nepalese royal massacre.
• List of shortest reigning monarchs of all time
• History of Nepal
• Regicide, patricide and fratricide

External links

• Murder and intrigue in Katmandu (World Tibet News Network)
• Nepal: Murder in Palace, Maoists in Mountains (RWOR)
• Trapped in tradition (Frontline:India's National Magazine)

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