As Nepal's reinstated parliament gets down to business Sunday under a new government, a sizeable number of people are seeking a change that may make the nation lose its unique position of being the world's only Hindu kingdom. In fact, it may not remain a kingdom even.The Communist party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (UML), the second largest party in the reinstated House of Representatives, says it will press for a secular republic.
Hinduism is the state religion and till 1990, when another pro-democracy movement swept the nation, proselytising was punished by imprisonment.
The family of kings, the Shah dynasty, has encouraged the old notion that the king was the incarnation of Hindu god Vishnu -- in a bid to win subjects' total allegiance.
According to the present constitution, the king and his family members are above law, even in case of murder, manslaughter or fraud. The palace took major decisions after consulting astrologers and god men and offering prayers as well as sacrifices, with the taxpayer bearing the expenses.
The UML is also demanding that instead of being known as His Majesty's Government of Nepal, the government should be known as Nepal government.
In the seven-party alliance, besides the UML, three other smaller communist parties also favour a secular republic.
It is also the demand of the Maoists, who in the coming days might be part of the government.
The first salvo against the king and the crown was fired at the first session of parliament Friday when a tussle between the palace and the parties delayed the session by four hours.
The king issued a proclamation, saying he was appointing Girija Prasad Koirala the prime minister under a provision of the constitution normally used for such appointments.
But the parties returned it to the palace and forced the king to paraphrase it on the ground it was the not a usual appointment since people's protests forced the king's hand.
The house broke off its symbolic ties with monarchy by discarding the ritual of the speaker coming in behind a marshall, who would be carrying the royal sceptre.
Even the MPs discarded their silver badges since they carried the symbol of the crown.
Perhaps the most symbolic revolt against the crown came on Tuesday when jubilant protesters celebrated their victory over Gyanendra in the capital.
Krishna Bahadur Thapa, a 26-year-old student, wore a yellow paper crown - an exact replica of the crown of yak hair, peacock feathers and priceless jewels worn by the king - and imitated the king's gestures amidst laughter and applause.
Thapa's crown had a simple message inked on it: "Democracy. Republic."
(IANS)
