Kathmandu December 30. Today, is 75th birth anniversary of our late King Birendra Bir Bikaram Shah Dev. Birendra was born in 2002 BS, Poush 14. The supporters of the monarchy are celebrating his birthday in a great manner. The late king Birendra ascended his throne for 30 years. During his rule, he established democracy instead of the Panchayat system in Nepal. The constitution of Nepal was also promulgated on 2047 BS Kartik 23 in his time.

The then supporters of the monarchy were not satisfied with the acceptance of democracy in Nepal. This might be the reason for the mysterious murder of his entire family in 2058 Jestha 19. Birendra is considered a compassionate and benevolent king of Nepal . Moreover, a referendum took place during the time of the late king Birendra . The ban on the parties was relieved.

Birendra succeeded to the Nepalese throne at the age of 27, after the death of his father King Mahendra. On his ascension he was effectively an absolute monarch, as he inherited a country where political parties were banned and he ruled through a system of local and regional councils known as Panchayats.  His first trips abroad as king were to India in October 1973 and China two months later as he believed that Nepal, sandwiched between the two Asian powers, should have good relations with both.

King Birendra announced of Nepal Zone of Peace (ZoP) proposition during his coronation ceremony reception. He formally asked the international community to endorse his proposal that the United Nations should declare Nepal a ZoP, to give a new dimension to Nepalese stance for non-aligned movement.

The stability of Nepal was threatened even more when Birendra and his family (including Queen Aishwarya) were massacred at a royal dinner on 1 June 2001.

Almost all of the Royal family members were killed in the massacre except Gyanendra Shah, Birendra’s younger brother. Dipendra was proclaimed king but died a few days later of self-inflicted gunshot wounds sustained in the massacre. Thus, Gyanendra then became king. After the funeral, He was cremated.

Eyewitness reports and an official investigation (carried by a two-man committee made up of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Keshav Prasad Upadhaya and the Speaker of the House of Representatives Taranath Ranabhat), confirmed that Dipendra was the gunman. Detailed investigation is impossible as the “Tribhuvan Sadan” (the building where the massacre occurred) was demolished by the Gyanendra government which made Gyanendra the most unpopular king.

He was and is loved by the all the Nepalese Citizens. Political analysts often say, if there were no palace massacre, there would still be the monarchy in Nepal.