KATHMANDU, April 9 – Pro-monarchy demonstrations have gained momentum in Nepal nearly two decades after the abolition of its centuries-old Hindu monarchy, as growing frustration over economic hardship and political instability fuels calls for the return of a symbolic royal figure.
Thousands rallied last month in one of the largest royalist protests in recent years, which turned violent and left two dead and over 100 arrested. The unrest reflects a mounting disillusionment with the current political leadership, accused of corruption and failing to deliver economic development.
Once a Hindu kingdom, Nepal became a secular republic in 2008 after Parliament abolished the monarchy following a decade-long civil war that claimed over 16,000 lives. Former King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, now 77, stepped down peacefully but has re-emerged in recent months with a series of public appearances, drawing crowds of supporters.
“It is now time,” Shah said in a statement issued on the eve of Democracy Day in February. “If we wish to save our nation and maintain national unity, I call on all countrymen to support us for Nepal’s prosperity and progress.”
His arrival at Kathmandu airport last month was greeted by thousands chanting, “Come king, save the nation,” underscoring a growing nostalgia for the monarchy, particularly among those disillusioned with democracy’s outcomes.
Supporters, including Rajindra Kunwar, a 43-year-old teacher, said economic hardship is driving the renewed interest. “The country faces instability, prices are high, people are jobless, and there is a lack of education and healthcare,” Kunwar said. “That’s why we need the king back.”
The royalist Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), Nepal’s fifth-largest political force, has seen its popularity grow. It won a single seat in 2017 but secured 14 seats in the 2022 parliamentary elections with a pro-monarchy and pro-Hindu platform.
RPP leader Rajendra Lingden said the party is not advocating for the monarchy to govern but to serve as a guardian of national interest. “The king is linked with our national identity and pride,” Lingden told AFP.
Mainstream political leaders, however, have dismissed the movement. “Monarchy is a failed and outdated concept,” said Rajaram Bartaula, chief whip of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), a key member of the ruling coalition. “Conscious Nepalis of the 21st century will not accept the return of the monarchy.”
Analysts say the monarchy’s revival remains unlikely but note that royalists are capitalizing on widespread dissatisfaction. “Royalists have found the chance to articulate their demands and frustrations, especially in a global climate where right-wing conservative ideas are gaining traction,” said political analyst Hari Sharma.
While the World Bank recently reported that Nepal’s GDP grew by 4.9% in the first half of the 2025 fiscal year, up from 4.3% a year earlier, many Nepalis remain unconvinced by the pace of recovery amid persistent unemployment and inflation.
