Paras, Crown Prince of Nepal
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Paras Bir Bikram Shah Dev, Crown Prince of Nepal (born 30 December 1971) was the Heir-Apparent to the throne of Nepal from 2001 until the monarchy was abolished in 2008 following Constituent Assembly elections.
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[edit] Early life
Crown Prince Paras is the only son of King Gyanendra and Queen Komal, he has one sister, Princess Prerana of Nepal. He received his early education at St. Joseph's College in Darjeeling, India and Budhanilkantha School, Kathmandu. He later attended the Schiller International University in the United Kingdom studying for an Undergraduate Degree in Business Administration.[1]
[edit] Crown Prince
On June 1, 2001, Paras was present at the Royal Palace when the then Crown Prince Dipendra went on a killing spree, murdering King Birendra and most of the Royal Family before dying from his wounds three days later. Paras suffered slight injuries in the massacre and, according to eyewitness accounts, saved the lives of at least three royals, including two children, by pulling a sofa over them.[2][3] Gyanendra, who had held the title of King of Nepal briefly during the 1950s, was again crowned King. Paras, as King Gyanendra's only son, became the Crown Prince on October 26, 2001.[1]
Crown Prince Paras was present at Expo 2005 in Aichi, Japan, to celebrate National Day of the Kingdom of Nepal. [4] He made a trip to Austria in March 2006 where he handed over a pair of Rhinos to the Vienna Zoo.[5]
In July, 2007 the Nepalese Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala called for King Gyanendra and Crown Prince Paras to abdicate in favour of Paras' son Prince Hridayendra.[6]
On 6 September 2007, Crown Prince Paras was rushed to the Military Hospital after he complained of chest pain. Later, at around 11:30 AM, he was transferred to the Norvic Hospital in Kathmandu. He was operated on for about 50 minutes, apparently to treat a "mild heart attack".[7] Doctors performed a balloon angioplasty on him to clear his blocked artery.[8][9] Known for his wild lifestyle, the doctors said he is out of danger, but recommended that he change his diet and lifestyle.[citation needed]
[edit] Abolition of the Monarchy
It was announced on December 24, 2007, that the monarchy is set to be abolished in 2008 after the Constituent Assembly elections.[10]
The Nepalese Parliament voted on 28 December as part of a peace deal with former Maoist rebels, 270-3 in favour of abolishing the Monarchy.[11]
On 28 May 2008, the Monarchy was officially abolished, replaced by secular federal republic. [12]
[edit] Conservation trust controversy
The National Trust for Nature Conservation which is run by Maoist rebels published a report in 2008 alleging that the Royal Family had misused funds belonging to the charity. The trust was formerly run by Crown Prince Paras with King Gyanendra as its patron. The committee said the Royal Family had spent large amounts of the trust's funds on themselves over several years to finance trips abroad, lavish parties, and to pay for Queen Komal of Nepal's health check-ups in the United Kingdom. One highlighted trip was Crown Prince Paras trip to Austria to donate a pair of one-horned rhinos which are an endangered species in Nepal, to a zoo. As the charity is now run by Maoist rebels, the objectivity of the findings has been questioned.[13]
[edit] Allegations
Crown Prince Paras has become extremely unpopular in Nepal due to a number incidents involving violence and drunk driving rampages. He is also viewed as a heavy drinker.[14] [2]
[edit] Alleged assault of a policemen
Crown Prince Paras has been accused of assaulting "a policeman with the butt of his automatic weapon after being stopped for drinking and driving."[2] In another incident, he allegedly assaulted a policeman after being stopped with the policeman inquiring about the lights used in his vehicle.[14]
[edit] Praveen Gurung controversy
In August, 2000, Crown Prince Paras is alleged to have ran over and killed Praveen Gurung, a popular singer. Following the death of Gurung, there were popular protests. A petition campaign was initiated by the All Nepal National Free Students Union, the student wing of Communist Party of Nepal (UML), and was forwarded to the Royal Palace calling for Paras to be punished. A police investigation ensued, but no action was taken against Paras.[2] A Nepalese soldier later admitted to police that he killed Gurung.[15]
[edit] Family
Prince Paras married Himani Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah a member of the Princely family of Sikar on January 25, 2000. They have three children:[1]
- Princess Purnika Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah (Born: December 11, 2000, Kathmandu)
- Young Crown Prince Hridayendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev (Born: July 30, 2002, Kathmandu)
- Princess Kritika Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah (Born: October 16, 2003, Kathmandu)
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Crown Prince Paras profile
- ^ a b c d Nepal's errant crown prince
- ^ Massacre witness blames Crown Prince Dipendra
- ^ Speech by Crown Prince Paras
- ^ Rhino presentation ceremony
- ^ Nepal baby prince's baptism by fire
- ^ Ekantipur
- ^ Crown Prince hospitalized for 5 days after angioplasty
- ^ Nepal's prince has heart attack
- ^ Nepalese monarchy to be abolished. BBC (2007-12-24). Retrieved on 2007-12-25.
- ^ Vote to abolish Nepal's monarchy
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7424302.stm
- ^ Haviland, Charles. "Nepal royals 'stole charity cash'", BBC, 2008-03-27. Retrieved on 2008-04-20.
- ^ a b Paras Shah
- ^ Palace riven with family feuds
[edit] External links
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Paras, Crown Prince of Nepal
Born: 30 December 1971 |
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| Nepalese royalty | ||
|---|---|---|
| Vacant
Title last held by
Dipendra |
Crown Prince of Nepal October 26, 2001-May 28, 2008 |
Succeeded by none, monarchy abolished |
| First in line | Line of succession to the Nepalese Throne 1st position |
Succeeded by Prince Hridayendra of Nepal |
