Gyanendra of Nepal
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224347338
2008-07-08T13:23:40Z
99.156.64.13
[[WP:UNDO|Undid]] revision 224347157 by [[Special:Contributions/120.89.104.20|120.89.104.20]] ([[User talk:120.89.104.20|talk]])
{{Infobox Monarch
| name = Gyanendra<br><small>ज्ञानेन्द्र</small>
| title = [[King of Nepal]]
| image = [[Image:Gyanendra drawing.JPG|200px]]
| reign = [[7 November]] [[1950]] – [[8 January]] [[1951]]<br>[[4 June]] [[2001]] – [[28 May]] [[2008]]
| coronation =
| predecessor = [[Tribhuvan of Nepal|King Tribhuvan]] <small>(1951)</small><br>[[Dipendra of Nepal|King Dipendra]] <small>(2001)</small>
| successor = [[Tribhuvan of Nepal|King Tribhuvan]] <small>(1951)</small><br>[[Girija Prasad Koirala]]<br><small>(2008; as [[Head of State of Nepal]])</small>
| suc-type = Heir-Apparent
| heir = [[Paras, Crown Prince of Nepal|Crown Prince Paras]]
| consort = [[Queen Komal of Nepal|Queen Komal]]
| issue = [[Paras, Crown Prince of Nepal|Crown Prince Paras]]<br>[[Princess Prerana of Nepal|Princess Prerana]]
| royal house = [[Shah dynasty|House of Shah]]
| royal anthem =
| father = [[Mahendra of Nepal|King Mahendra]]
| mother = [[Indra, Crown Princess of Nepal|Crown Princess Indra]]
| date of birth = {{birth date and age|1947|7|7|df=y}}
| place of birth = [[Kathmandu]], [[Nepal]]
| date of death =
| place of death =
| buried =
}}
'''Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev''' ([[Nepali language|Nepali]]: ज्ञानेन्द्र वीर बिक्रम शाहदेव; Jñānendra Vīra Vikrama Śāhadeva) (born [[7 July]] [[1947]]) was the last [[Nepalese monarchy|King of Nepal]], from 2001 to 2008.
He succeeded to the throne upon the death of his nephew [[Dipendra of Nepal|Dipendra]], who was King for only three days while in a coma, following the [[Nepalese royal massacre|massacre]] of the preceding king (Gyanendra's brother, [[Birendra of Nepal|Birendra]]) and other members of the royal family.
In February 2005 King Gyanendra took complete control of the government, dismissing the elected parliament. Following [[2006 democracy movement in Nepal|opposition to his direct rule]] he was forced to return power to parliament in April 2006, which in turn reduced the king's status to that of a ceremonial monarch. He continued as such until [[May 28]] [[2008]] when he was peacefully deposed and Nepal became a federal republic.
==Early life and first reign==
Gyanendra was born in [[Kathmandu]] as the second son of [[Mahendra of Nepal|Crown Prince Mahendra]] and his wife Crown Princess Indra. After his birth, his father was told by a court astrologer not to look at his newborn son because it would bring him bad luck, so Gyanendra was sent to live with his grandmother.<ref name=Chowdhuri>{{cite news | last =Chowdhuri | first =Satyabrata Rai | title =Monarchy in Nepal || publisher =The Hindu | date =2001-07-27 | url =http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/07/27/stories/05272524.htm | accessdate =2007-12-25 }}</ref>
In November 1950, during a political plot, both his father and his grandfather [[Tribhuvan of Nepal|King Tribhuvan]] along with other royals fled to [[India]], leaving the young Gyanendra as the only male member of the Royal Family in Nepal. He was brought back to the capital Kathmandu by the Prime Minister [[Mohan Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana]], who had him declared king on [[7 November]], [[1950]].<ref name=Chowdhuri/> After opposition to the hereditary rule of the [[Rana dynasty|Rana]] Prime Ministers from India, a deal was reached in January 1951, and his grandfather King Tribhuvan returned to Nepal and resumed the throne.<ref>{{cite news | title =Homeward Bound| publisher =Time Magazine | date =1951-01-22 | url =http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,888899,00.html| accessdate =2007-12-25 }}</ref> The actions of Rana regime to depose his grandfather and place him on the throne was not internationally recognized.<ref>{{cite web| last =Buyers| first =Christopher| title =Nepal| publisher =Royal Ark| url =http://www.4dw.net/royalark/Nepal/nepal13.htm| accessdate =2007-12-25 }}</ref>
He studied with his elder brother King [[Birendra of Nepal|Birendra]] in [[St. Joseph's College, Darjeeling]], India; in 1969, he graduated from [[Tribhuvan University]], [[Kathmandu]].<ref name=CNN/>
King Gyanendra served as chairman of the Advisory Committee for the Coronation of his brother Birendra in 1975. He is also a keen [[conservationist]] and served as Chairman of the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation from 1982 until his ascension of the throne in 2001.<ref>{{cite web| title =Royal Biography of Nepal | publisher =MeroNepal.com.np | url =http://meronepal-com-np.f2g.net/atglance/royalbiography.html | accessdate =2007-12-25 }}</ref>
Gyanendra married [[Queen Komal of Nepal|Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah]] on [[May 1]] [[1970]] in Kathmandu; they have two children
*[[Paras, Crown Prince of Nepal|Crown Prince Paras Bir Bikram Shah Dev of Nepal]] (born [[December 30]] [[1971]])
*[[Princess Prerana of Nepal|Princess Prerana Rajya Laxmi Devi of Nepal]] (born [[February 20]] [[1978]]).
==Succession==
{{main|Nepalese royal massacre}}
The events surrounding the Royal Massacre on [[June 1]], [[2001]] have proved very controversial in the country. A section of people still believe that King Gyanendra is the mastermind behind the royal massacre because all other royal family members were killed during the incident whilst none of his family members were.<ref>[http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0706/S00029.htm Nepal's Royal Massacre in Its Sixth Year ]</ref> This theory is held among some sections of the population, mainly due to the fact that Gyanendra succeeded the massacred Royals to the throne. A two man investigation team made up of [[Keshav Prasad Upadhaya]], the then Supreme Court Chief Justice and [[Taranath Ranabhat]], the then speaker of the house of representatives carried out the week long investigation into the massacre.<ref> [http://edition.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/south/06/08/nepal.royal.probe/index.html Nepal massacre inquiry begins, at long last] </ref> The investigation concluded after interviewing more than 100 people including eyewitnesses and palace officials, guards and staff that Dipendra had carried out the massacre, though Gyanendra's role, if any, has not been discounted.<ref> [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/1387953.stm Prince blamed for Nepal massacre] </ref> As his nephew lay in a coma Gyanendra was named regent but following Dipendra's death on [[June 4]], [[2001]] Gyanendra ascended the throne.<ref> [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/1366170.stm Nepal mourns slain king] </ref> Recently, a Nepali writer, Ashutosh Shrivastav, in his article published that India and Nepali political parties could jointly have committed this crime [http://www.telegraphnepal.com/news_det.php?news_id=3609]. The writer has exposed the Indian expansionism over Nepal[http://newsblaze.com/story/20080619175135tsop.nb/topstory.html]. This is a developing story and more news is expected to come.
==Early reign==
{{Nepalese Royal Family}}
[[Image:Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev.png|thumb|250px|Sketch portrait of King Gyanendra in military uniform]]
During his early years on the throne, Gyanendra sought to exercise full control over the government because of the failure of all parties. In May 2002 he supported the popularly elected Prime Minister [[Sher Bahadur Deuba]] when he dismissed the parliament elected in 1999. In October 2002 he dismissed Deuba and consolidated his power for the first time. During the years 2002 to 2005 he chose and subsequently dismissed three prime ministers, finally dismissing Deuba for the second time and taking over as absolute ruler on [[1 February]] [[2005]].<ref name=CNN>{{cite news|
author=Staff writer|
title= Troubled times saw king's rise|
date=[[2006-04-20]]|
work=CNN|
url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/04/19/nepal.king.gyanendra/index.html}}</ref>
His brother King Birendra had negotiated a [[constitutional monarchy]] during his rule in a delicate manner in which he, as King, played a minor role in government, so King Gyanendra's confrontational approach with the established political parties was met with widespread censure.
When King Gyanendra took complete control for the second time on [[1 February]] [[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 [[Nepalese Civil War|civil war]] led by [[Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)|Maoist insurgents]].<ref>{{cite news|
author=Staff writer|
title=Nepal's king declares emergency|
date=[[2005-02-01]]|
work=BBC News|
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4224855.stm}}</ref>
King Gyanendra promised that "peace and effective democracy" would be restored within three years,<ref>{{cite news|
author=Staff writer|
title=Nepal's king sacks government|
date=[[2005-02-01]]|
work=CNN.com|
url=http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/02/01/nepal.govt/}}</ref>
but the period of direct rule was accompanied by repression of dissent.<ref>{{cite news|
author=Staff writer|
title=Nepal's king acts against dissent|
date=[[2005-02-03]]|
work=BBC News|
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4233729.stm}}</ref> International organizations expressed grave concerns about the safety of journalists, 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<ref>{{cite web|
title=State of Emergency Imperils Information Flow|
work=International Freedom of Expression eXchange|
url=http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/64189/|
accessdate=2006-11-27|}}</ref>
Gyanendra countered, saying that "democracy and progress contradict one another" as a necessary step in restoring peace to the country.
In April 2006 the constitutionalists staged [[Loktantra Andolan|protests and strikes]] in [[Kathmandu]] against King Gyanendra's direct rule. The royal government responded by declaring a curfew, which was enforced with live firearms and tear gas. The government's response drew condemnation from other countries including [[India]] and the [[United States]]. On 21 April 2006 King 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 [[24 April]] [[2006]] King Gyanendra reinstated the previous parliament in a televised address to the nation.
==End of direct rule==
On 10 June 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 he was reduced to a figurehead, though for a time he continued to offer felicitations and to receive diplomats. According to Article 167 of the constitution, all executive powers as well as those enjoyed by the king in the previous Constitution are now vested in the prime minister. All powers of the 239-year-old monarchy were stripped, making King Gyanendra a civilian king under the interim constitution.
Prime Minister [[Girija Prasad Koirala]], who previously supported the continuation of the monarchy, said in March, 2007 that he thought the king should step down.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6456145.stm Nepal's king is made to cut staff]</ref> In June, Koirala repeated his call for King Gyanendra to abdicate in favour of his grandson [[Prince Hridayendra of Nepal|Prince Hridayendra]].<ref> [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article1977459.ece King urged to let boy, 5, be Nepal’s saviour] </ref>
On [[August 23]], [[2007]] Nepal's transitional government nationalised all the properties King Gyanendra inherited from his brother including the [[Narayanhity Royal Palace]]. The move did not affect the properties he owned before his ascension to throne.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6961115.stm Nepal nationalises royal palaces]</ref>
==Abolition of the monarchy==
It was announced on [[December 24]], [[2007]], that the monarchy would probably be abolished in 2008, following the approval, as part of a peace deal with former Maoist rebels, of the Nepalese Parliament in favor of a bill that would see the constitution amended so as to make Nepal a republic.<ref name=abolish>{{cite web| title =Nepalese monarchy to be abolished| publisher =BBC| date =[[2007-12-24]]| url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7158670.stm| accessdate =2007-12-25}}</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7163034.stm Vote to abolish Nepal's monarchy]</ref>
On [[27 May]] [[2008]], the meeting decided to give the king fifteen days to vacate the palace, and decided that the first meeting would be held the next day at 11AM (but was delayed due to the indecision among the leading parties on power-sharing and the nomination of 26 members of the Constituent Assembly) which was widely believed to abolish the monarchy. <ref>http://telegraphnepal.com/news_det.php?news_id=3489</ref>
On [[28 May]] [[2008]], the monarchy was officially abolished and replaced with a secular federal [[republic]] by an overwhelming vote (560-4) of the Constituent Assembly.<ref name=Fed>[http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2008/may/may28/news18.php "Nepal becomes a federal democratic republic"], Nepalnews, May 28, 2008.</ref> Gyanendra accepted the decision in the following days.<ref>[http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2008/jun/jun02/news07.php "Ex-King Gyanendra says he accepts CA decision; prepares to leave Narayanhiti"], Nepalnews, June 2, 2008.</ref> As he was required to depart Narayahiti, he asked the government to make arrangements for his residence on [[1 June]], and on [[4 June]] the government decided to give another palace, the [[Nagarjuna Palace]], to Gyanendra.<ref>[http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2008/jun/jun04/news08.php "Govt decides to give Nagarjuna palace to ex-King"], Nepalnews, June 4, 2008.</ref>
Gyanendra departed the [[Narayanhiti]] palace in [[Kathmandu]] on [[June 11]], [[2008]] moving into the Nagarjuna Palace. His new residence consists of 10 buildings including the royal residence Hemanta Bas, 3 guest houses (Barsha Bas, Sharad Bas and Grishma Bas), one office secretariat and one staff quarters. Gyanendra and his family moved into the 2-storey Hemanta Bas. Following his departure the Narayanhiti palace was turned into a [[museum]], while Gyanendra's diamond and ruby-encrusted crown and royal scepter along with all the other crown jewels and royal assets, became government property. The Royal family's departure from the palace was reported as being a “major symbolic moment in the fall of the [[Shah dynasty]], which unified Nepal in the 1760s.”<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7447533.stm BBC NEWS, Former Nepal king to leave palace]</ref><ref>[http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world-news/former-king-gyanendra-prepares-to-leave-narayanhiti-palace_10058915.html thaindian.com, Former King Gyanendra prepares to leave Narayanhiti Palace]</ref>
==Conservation trust controversy==
The National Trust for Nature Conservation 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]]. The objectivity of the findings has been questioned as the charity is now run by the [[Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)|former Maoist rebels]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Charles |last=Haviland |title=Nepal royals 'stole charity cash' |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7317597.stm |publisher=BBC |date=[[2008-03-27]] |accessdate=2008-04-20 }}</ref>
==Titles and honours==
*Grand Cross of the [[House Order of Orange]] ([[The Netherlands]]), 1967
*Knight Grand Cordon of the Most Exalted [[Order of the White Elephant]] (Thailand), 1979
*Grand Cross of the [[Ordre National du Mérite|National Order of Merit]] ([[France]]), 1983
*Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished [[Order of St. Michael and St. George]] ([[United Kingdom]]), 1986
*Grand Cross of [[Order of Isabel la Católica]] ([[Spain]]), 1987
*His Holy Majesty, King of the Lands of the Nepalese People and Knight of the Holy and Most Majestic Order of the Rose of Jordan
==Notes==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
*[http://www.nettyroyal.nl/nepal2.html Unofficial translation of the commission report on the palace incident]
*{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4225171.stm|title=Profile: Nepal's King Gyanendra|publisher=[[BBC News]]|date=28 May 2008}}
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6369195.stm King of Nepal is stoned by crowd. BBC 16 February 2007]
*[http://web.archive.org/web/20040220072734/www.nepalmonarchy.gov.np/index.php/king.htm archived biography at archive.org]
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{{Persondata
|NAME=Gyanendra
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=ज्ञानेन्द्र
|SHORT DESCRIPTION=King of Nepal
|DATE OF BIRTH= [[July 7]], [[1947]]
|PLACE OF BIRTH= [[Kathmandu]], [[Nepal]]
|DATE OF DEATH=
|PLACE OF DEATH=
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gynanendra of Nepal}}
[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Nepalese monarchs]]
[[Category:Field Marshals]]
[[Category:Hindu monarchs]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George]]
[[Category:Pretenders]]
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