Gyanendra of Nepal

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ज्ञानेन्द्र वीर विक्रम शाहदेव
Gyānendra Vīra Vikrama Śāhadeva
King of Nepal
Gyanendra in royal dress
Reign 4 June 2001 - present
Born July 7, 1947
Predecessor Dipendra of Nepal
Heir-Apparent Paras, Crown Prince of Nepal
Consort Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah
Issue Paras, Prerana
Royal House Shah dynasty
Father Mahendra of Nepal

Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, King of Nepal (Nepali: ज्ञानेन्द्र वीर विक्रम शाहदेव; Gyānendra Vīra Vikrama Śāhadeva) (born July 7, 1947) has been the King of Nepal since June 4, 2001. He succeeded to the throne upon the death of Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah, who was only King for three days whilst 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 control of the government himself, 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.

Contents

[edit] 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 was 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 be a very bright student during his schooldays.

Gyanendra married Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah on May 1, 1970. They have two children; Crown Prince Paras Bir Bikram Shah Dev (born December 30, 1971) and Princess Prerana Rajya Laxmi Devi (born March 1, 1978).

[edit] Succession

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.

[edit] Reign

Nepalese Royal Family

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 briefly took direct power for the first time. During the years 2002 to 2005 he set in and then dismissed three prime ministers, finally dismissing Deuba for the second time and taking over as absolute ruler on February 1, 2005. [1] His brother Birendra had negotiated a constitutional monarchy in 1990 in which he, as King, played a minor role in government, and Gyanendra's changes to this constitutional settlement have met with censure.

When Gyanendra took complete control for the second time on February 1, 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.[1]

Gyanendra promised that "peace and effective democracy" would be restored within three years,[2] but the period of direct rule was accompanied by repression of dissent.[2] 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[3] 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 passing a curfew, which it enforced with firearms and tear gas. The government's response drew condemnation from other countries including India and the United States. On April 21 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 April 24 Gyanendra reinstated the previous parliament in a televised address to the nation.

[edit] Present

On June 10, 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. Speculation about the abolition of the monarchy in Nepal has continued, however. In addition to that, his salary has been reduced from 650 million Nepalese rupees to about 230 million and his salary has been made taxable. He has been accused of misusing the nation's budget in purchasing arms and for personal use.

The present seven party alliance (SPA) and the Maoists of the Communist Party of Nepal are deciding whether to include him in mainstream politics or not. The Maoists are demanding a republican Nepal. Some members of the government argue though, that some space needs to be managed for him.

[edit] Titles

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Staff writer. "Nepal's king declares emergency", BBC News, 2005-02-01.
  2. ^ Staff writer. "Nepal's king sacks government", CNN.com, 2005-02-01.
  3. ^ State of Emergency Imperils Information Flow. International Freedom of Expression eXchange. Retrieved on 2006-11-27.

[edit] External links

Preceded by:
Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah		 King of Nepal
1950–1951		 Succeeded by:
Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah
Preceded by:
Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah		 Crown Prince of Nepal
2001		 Succeeded by:
Paras Bir Bikram Shah
King of Nepal
2001–present		 Succeeded by:
incumbent
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