From the lofty ramparts of his fort, five hundred years ago, Man Singh Tomar looked down upon the city. It was a city he had vanquished.
From the lofty ramparts of this fort, Jahangir again looked down at the city. It was a city he had conquered.
From the lofty ramparts of the same fort, the Maratha rulers looked down at the city. It was a city that was now their own.
From the lofty ramparts of this very fort, the current Maharajah looks down at his city. It is a city of which he is now a part.
In democratic India, there lies a place where the Maharajah - still addressed as such by his people though he has no semblance of official royalty - is revered by his people. Where his actions, though he is Hindu, can stop Hindu-Muslim riots. Where the people know that he will always be there - a symbol of unity, someone with whom they can identify, someone who will always listen to their troubles. He is himself a Member of Parliament and a Congress stalwart.
Meanwhile, the Fort looms over the city casting its protective shadow. Reputed to be one of the most invincible forts of India, it stands rock solid – a symbol of permanence, of continuity, of a glorious history and irrefutable values, all personified by its rulers. The fort houses a Sikh gurudwara, displays Hindu palace architecture, modified by Muslim influence and is guarded by gigantic Jain sculpture. This amalgam of religions speaks of historical changes of power, but more importantly, it is a testimony to the religious tolerance displayed by the rulers. From this same fort, Maharani Lakshmibai goaded her stallion to jump off the ramparts to her death below to escape British captors. Her courage is a testimony to the stirrings of Indian nationalism and to women’s equality.
The city, which is synonymous to its pride – the Fort - owes much to its maharajahs. Its industrial development, irrigation projects and education infrastructure were initiated by the then Maharajah in the closing years of the 19th century. The legacy of the present Maharajah’s father, whose political footsteps he follows, reminds all of what the father did for his city as well as for his country. A MP from his city in national parliament for 30 years, thrice a Minister with various portfolios, he is credited, inter alia, with the modernisation of India’s railway system. The city itself now has a literacy rate of 70%, 10% higher than the national average. It boasts at least 42 institutions of secondary and higher education. It is prominent for its health care facilities with leading hospitals and pharmaceutical companies. It is a modern city with well developed transportation infrastructure connecting it to the rest of the country by train, air and roads.
The above discourse on the fort is not just a romantic reflection on days gone by. Obviously, this Fort represents monarchy. It represents the bedrock of strength on which one can build upon. It represents stability and continuity – of culture, values and a way of life in a shifting world. Further, the positive impact of some of the recent rulers of the city personified by this fort is also quite apparent. After Indian independence, the Princely States ruled by the maharajah’s seceded to the Indian Union. It was an inevitable evolution to secure the huge land mass of India as a single united modern country. There was reason and logic to this development.
So when we debate the issue of monarchy in present-day Nepal, there are lessons to be learnt. There is one, and only one, criterion for the validity of the Nepali monarchy – it must remain, if it serves the interest of Nepal. Does it provide value-added to the sovereignty of Nepal? Does it help with Nepal’s standing in the community of 21st century nations as a united political entity? In spite of premature announcements of the death of the Nepali monarchy and its apparent impending “cremation” by the fabled Constituent Assembly, it is time we look at the institution and judge for ourselves whether it serves a purpose for Nepal and its people. When the winter blizzard is oncoming, let us ensure that we not throw away our coats no matter how old and tattered they may be. Those old coats might be just that edge needed to keep away frostbites.
This unnamed place is a testimony to the validity of a Maharajah’s aura over a thoroughly modern city. This is of use to the city. It is now up to the Nepali people to decide whether their monarchy is useful to their country. Mind you, it is up to the people, not to a triumvirate of unelected politicians. If the majority of Nepalis want a republic, so be it – that is democracy in action. But let the choice be THEIRS.
Related Posts:
Unity Call
http://nepaliperspectives.blogspot.com/2007/12/unity-call.html
Where's Nepal heading?
http://nepaliperspectives.blogspot.com/2007/11/wheres-nepal-heading.html
http://nepaliperspectives.blogspot.com/2007/09/we-people.html
4 comments:
This is a nice thought... but when Nepalis go to CA polls, the image that will be in their mind is Gyanendra's. This is why the monarchy is no longer relevant to Nepal. No one can stand Gyanendra - not even his own inner circle.
But Gyanendra's rule was far far and far better than this misrule.
Before this nation collapses on it own weight due to quasi liberals and few elities who think for others - the cry for dead and gone Monarchy will be heard across in wails.
The pretenders of all hue and color- the dimwitted so-called-intellectuals and self proclaimed civil society members( free flea bags and dirty money from NGOs and special groups) will defend their actions in destroying this nation just so that their credential of being mother of all loktrantrabadi remain intact.
The irony is- rickshawalla knows more than these two bits ego filled charcters trying to protet their turf by any means possible even at the cost of a nation. The lynching is the right workd here
Really? Gyanendra's rule was better? Which planet are you from and what makes you say that the turkey-looking, double chinned, brainless goof knows anything about governance or policy? He ruled based on his so-called divinity. We will see now if devine intervention saves this stupid idiot.
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