The morning mist still clung to Kathmandu’s ancient temples when the first saffron flags appeared. By noon on March 15, 2025, over 50,000 Nepalis had flooded Durbar Square – not to protest corruption or demand development, but to chant for something unimaginable a decade earlier: “Rajya pharkaun! Hindu rajya pharkaun!” (Bring back the kingdom! Bring back the Hindu kingdom!)
At the center of this sea of red and gold stood 78-year-old former King Gyanendra Shah, his once-controversial figure now transformed into a symbol of nostalgia for stability. The scene marked Nepal’s largest royalist demonstration since the monarchy’s abolition in 2008 – a movement revealing the fragile foundations of the world’s youngest federal republic.
Chapter 1: The Republic’s Broken Promises
A Democracy in Distress
Nepal’s post-monarchy era has become a case study in failed transitions:
- 9 governments in 17 years, with average tenure of 1.8 years
- $3.2 billion lost to corruption (Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority)
- Chronic infrastructure collapse:
- 18-hour daily power cuts during 2024 dry season
- Only 38% of promised earthquake reconstruction completed
- 60% youth unemployment in urban areas
“The politicians promised roads, schools and hospitals,” said retired teacher Laxmi Sharma, holding a portrait of late King Birendra. “Instead we got their Swiss bank accounts.”
The Royalist Resurgence Timeline
2018: First small “Bring Back the King” rallies
2022: RPP (royalist party) wins 15% in local elections
Jan 2025: “Gold Scandal” implicates 47 lawmakers
March 2025: 100,000+ join Kathmandu protests
Chapter 2: The Faces of the Movement
The Unlikely Coalition
The protests unite strange bedfellows:
- Hindu Nationalists
- Demand restoration of world’s only Hindu kingdom
- Funded by diaspora groups in India/US
- Disillusioned Youth
- 58% of graduates unemployed
- Drawn to royalist TikTok campaigns
- Security Veterans
- Ex-military nostalgic for disciplined governance
- Current police reportedly sympathetic
Gyanendra’s Second Act
The deposed king has carefully:
- Positioned as “cultural guardian” not political claimant
- Funded heritage projects like Hanuman Dhoka restoration
- Let proxies like RPP leader Kamal Thapa lead rallies
“We don’t seek the crown – we seek the dharma [righteous rule] the crown represented.”
- Former General Gaurav SJB Rana
Chapter 3: Anatomy of a Protest
Symbolic Theater
The 2025 demonstrations featured:
- Coronation reenactments with tika ceremonies
- Sacred cow processions through government districts
- AI-generated videos of “what if” monarchy continued
The Generation Gap
Over-50s:
- 68% support restoration (IPSOS)
- Display portraits of Birendra as “golden age”
Under-30s:
- Support rose from 9% (2020) to 31% (2025)
- Drawn to royalist memes and “Hindu tech” influencers
Chapter 4: Geopolitical Chessboard
The China Factor
- State media highlighting “cultural continuity”
- Belt & Road projects stalled under republic
- Rumored backchannel royalist support
India’s Dilemma
- Traditionally anti-monarchy but…
- Fears vacuum being filled by China
- RAW reportedly assessing factions
Western Paradox
US/EU promote democracy but:
- Quiet meetings with royalist leaders
- Concern over potential failed state
Chapter 5: Constitutional Realities
Legal Pathways
Restoration would require:
- 2/3 parliamentary vote (currently 25% royalist)
- Supreme Court approval (unlikely soon)
- UN-monitored referendum (6-12 month process)
More Probable Outcomes
- Ceremonial monarchy compromise
- Rollback of federalism to centralized system
- Early elections with royalist gains
Epilogue: The Himalayan Dilemma
As night fell on the protests, 24-year-old IT worker Aaryan Joshi – who never lived under monarchy – told us:
“Maybe we don’t actually want crowns and thrones back. Maybe we just want leaders who act like they deserve them.”
The world now watches whether this mountain nation will turn back time – or forge a new path from the ashes of broken republicanism.
Can failed democracies resurrect monarchies successfully? Share your views below. 👑🏔️
