The debate over monarchy in Nepal has resurfaced as when the former King Gyanendra Shah returned to the capital, he was greeted by thousands of pro-monarchy supporters. Chants of “Come back King, save the country” and “Vacate the royal palace for the King” echoed through the streets as royalist sentiment surged, marking a significant moment in Nepal’s political landscape. The growing call for reinstating the monarchy comes amid frustration with Nepal’s political instability, economic struggles, and widespread corruption.
Since the abolition of the monarchy in 2008, the country has witnessed 13 different governments, with successive administrations failing to provide stability or economic growth. Many Nepalis who once supported the Republic now question whether the decision to abandon the monarchy was a mistake.
जय पशुपतिनाथ
हाम्रो राजालाई स्वागत छ #KingGyanendra returns home. Thousands welcomed him today sparking nostalgia for the monarchy. Massive support of public shows Love for our Hindu King. pic.twitter.com/QVbqz8dBcw— Nepal Correspondence (@NepCorres) March 9, 2025
Thousands of Supporters Welcome Nepal’s Former King in Kathmandu – Demand Monarchy be Reinstated & Return of Hindu State pic.twitter.com/4SKU7ntWtx
— RT_India (@RT_India_news) March 10, 2025
Former King Gyanendra, who had been on a two-month tour visiting religious sites, was welcomed by massive crowds upon his return to Kathmandu. While pro-monarchy groups claim that nearly 400,000 people gathered to greet him, independent estimates suggest that the minimum number would be at around 10,000. Regardless of the exact figures, the enthusiasm surrounding the former King’s return highlights a shift in public sentiment.
The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), a nationalist party advocating for constitutional monarchy and Nepal’s return to a Hindu state, has been leading demonstrations across the country. The demand for the revival of Nepal as a Hindu monarchy has gained traction, especially among those disillusioned by the failures of democratic governance.
Threatened by the growing pro-monarchy wave, Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli blinked first issuing a public challenge to Former King Gyanendra Shah to enter mainstream politics instead of subtly influencing royalist movements.
“If he wants to return, he should do so through democratic means and elections. Otherwise, what is he asking for support for?” KP Sharma Oli questioned, accusing the former King of inciting instability.
KP Sharma Oli dismissed the possibility of monarchy’s return, insisting that Nepal’s constitutional framework does not permit it. Other political leaders, including Maoist leader and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda,” also warned that any attempt to reinstate monarchy would be futile and costly for the former King.
Nepal was a Hindu monarchy for 240 years until a popular uprising in 2006, backed by China, forced Gyanendra to relinquish power. In 2008, the Hindu majority country was declared a secular Republic, and the royal family vacated the Narayanhiti Palace, which has since been turned into a museum. However, dissatisfaction with the current governance model has reignited nostalgia for the monarchy. The key factors behind this resurgence include rampant corruption, frequent changes in leadership preventing consistent governance and lack of economic reforms, and economic struggles that many Nepalis feel have worsened under democracy. As a result, many are questioning if the monarchy provided more stability and is it time to reinstall Hindu Monarchy that maintained a better relationship with India rather than the current pro-China regimes that is playing to the tunes of CCP and opening front with India on the issue of sovereignty when the real threat to country’s territorial sovereignty and political stability is from China.
