Nepal at Boil

On March 28, 2025, the streets of Kathmandu echoed with chants of “Raja Aau, Desh Bachau...

” “Come back...



, King, save the country.” The voices were not few. They came from thousands of people, old and young, rural and urban, frustrated with a political system they feel has failed them.

The protest turned deadly. A television cameraman lost his life when a building was set on fire, and another protester died while receiving treatment. Dozens were injured as police responded with tear gas, batons, and water cannons.

The government imposed a curfew. The capital was tense. This was not an isolated event.

Over the past few months, a growing number of Nepalis have taken to the streets, calling for the return of King Gyanendra Shah and the restoration of the constitutional monarchy. Why? For many, democracy, at least as it has worked in Nepal, has become synonymous with corruption, instability, and suffering.When the monarchy was abolished in 2008, after nearly two and a half centuries of monarchy rule, Nepal was supposed to begin a new chapter, one of prosperity, equality, and stability.

Instead, it has had 13 different governments in 16 years. Political leaders have switched sides, made backroom deals, and fought over power rather than policy. As someone from Nepal working for a multilateral organisation said, “Parliament has become more of a marketplace than a house of governance.

”Ordinary Nepalis, meanwhile, are still waiting for basic services, jobs, and a sense of hope. Youth unemployment is soaring in Nepal, forcing many young residents to leave their shores in search of jobs. Infrastructure within the country remains underdeveloped.

Hospitals lack equipment, schools lack teachers, and villages lack roads. Corruption scandals are reported every year, along with natural disasters of earthquake and floods that surface regularly, making life more difficult. Consequently, it is no surprise that a segment of the population has begun to think, was it better when the king ruled?Anger is not just about inefficiency.

It is about a system that seems designed to shield corrupt leaders. Several former political leaders, including prime ministers, are allegedly implicated in scams ranging from illegal land deals to the misuse of government funds and refugee frauds. But investigations stall, witnesses disappear, and legal cases drag on for years.

The Nepal media has reported the shocking examples of how cabinet decisions, even corrupt ones, are often protected under the guise of “policy decisions,” which makes it nearly impossible for law enforcement to investigate or prosecute sitting or former leaders. To many, the entire structure appears rigged to protect the powerful, leaving the average citizen powerless.At the same time, Nepal is caught in a dangerous geopolitical game between India, China, and to some extent the United States.

With no clear or consistent foreign policy, Nepal is often seen as bending whichever way the wind blows. India accuses Kathmandu of cozying up to China despite a brotherly relationship between India and Nepal that has been going on for decades. Meanwhile, China continues to increase its footprint in Nepal through the Belt and Road initiative and even warns Nepal about foreign influences.

The U.S. expresses concern over Nepal’s openness to their rivals.

Nepal’s leaders, instead of defending national interests, seem more interested in pleasing whichever power might offer short-term benefits or aid at the cost of the country’s debt, which continues to increase and remains a worry. The result? Nepal has become a “football,” as some analysts say, kicked around by bigger players while its leaders sit on the sidelines, watching.The Return of the King?In this chaos, the image of King Gyanendra, once ousted, now rebranded, has become a symbol of stability for some.

Back in the 1990s and early 2000s, the monarchy had already lost much of its shine. Gyanendra himself took absolute power in 2005, dissolved parliament, jailed journalists, and tried to rule by decree. That ended badly.

A people’s uprising in 2006 forced him to step down, and by 2008 the monarchy was officially abolished. But today, many argue that they made a mistake. A growing number of people, even some who protested against the monarchy in 2006, are now saying that while democracy sounded good on paper, in practice, it has made life worse.

Supporters of Gyanendra want a constitutional monarchy, not an absolute one. They look to models like the UK, where the monarch is the symbol of national unity, but the government runs the country. They believe such a system could offer both stability and democracy, something they feel the current republic has failed to deliver.

Interestingly, as media reported that even some former Maoists, who once fought a war to overthrow the king, are now joining hands with royalist leaders. Durga Prasai, a former Maoist-turned-businessman, is now leading many of the pro-monarchy rallies. His transformation is symbolic of just how widespread the disillusionment has become.

Durga Prasai was arrested early this week after remaining underground for more than ten days, allegedly for leading the violent protests of Tinkune, Kathmandu, from Jhapa district bordering India along with his bodyguard. Some newspapers even reported that he was arrested from India, where he was hiding; others said he surrendered and was brought to Nepal, but there are no confirmations. Dozens of other protestors and their leaders have also been arrested.

Despite all this, a royal comeback remains unlikely, at least for now.King Gyanendra himself has stayed mostly silent, never openly calling for a return to power. This cautious approach may be strategic, keeping his image clean while allowing others to build the movement.

However, mainstream established political parties, including the Maoists and their allies, are strictly against monarch rule. They call the idea “dead and cremated.” The ruling party’s supporters and some of the lawmakers are demanding Gyanendra’s arrest for inciting the recent clashes.

Another fact remains, that these rallies are growing in size and intensity and this cannot be ignored. The monarchy may not be returning today or tomorrow, but the idea is no longer a fringe sentiment. It is gathering momentum and becoming a serious political force, perhaps even a bargaining chip in future elections.

History has its ironies. In 1950, King Tribhuvan, Gyanendra’s grandfather, led a revolt against the ruling Rana family and returned to power with public support. Now, the same Gyanendra, who was crowned twice (once as a child when Tribhuvan fled, and again in 2002), might be eyeing a third return.

Some liken Nepal’s situation to England in the 17th century. After a brief experiment with republicanism, the English got fed up and called back their king in 1660. That restored monarchy eventually became the constitutional system seen today.

Could Nepal follow a similar path? That remains to be seen.Nepal’s crisis is not just about monarchy or republic. It is about trust or the lack of it.

People no longer trust their politicians. They no longer believe in the promises of democracy. And they are angry not just in Kathmandu but across the hills and plains of the country.

The danger is that if this anger continues to grow unchecked, it could lead to deeper conflict, violence, or even civil strife. These protests, even though are still not seen becoming more intense as there has been a strong government’s response including arrests, curfews, and threats may only inflame the situation. The current political leadership has a choice: either continue to dismiss the royalist movement as a joke or take this as a wake-up call.

They must reform the system, punish corruption, and rebuild public trust before it’s too late.In many ways, the cry for a king is not about nostalgia or royal kings’ rule but a desperate search for order, justice, and leadership. When democracy fails to deliver, people naturally look for alternatives, and sometimes, those alternatives come from the past.

The former king may not wear a crown right now, but in the minds of many Nepalis, he represents something that has been lost: stability, dignity, and a sense of national pride. Whether he returns to the throne or not, the message from the streets is clear: the people are tired. They want change.

And if the political class does not listen, they may find that history has a way of repeating itself. Sometimes in the most unexpected ways.Author is National Editor, Greater Kashmir The post Nepal at Boil appeared first on Greater Kashmir.

.