The New Nation - Internet Edition

FORMER king of Nepal Gyanendra Shah Wednesday left the Narayanhiti palace within two weeks of abolition of monarchy and moved to a retreat at the Nagarjun forest. He complied with the 15-day deadline for leaving the palace set by the Constituent Assembly on May 28. On that day, the CA declared the Himalayan kingdom a federal democratic republic. Gyanendra had been living in the Narayanhiti palace since he ascended the throne in 2001 following a palace massacre on June 1 in which the then King Birendra along with the entire royal family was assassinated.

Gyanendra handed over the crown and sceptre to the government for safekeeping.

Many developed countries including Japan, UK, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Thailand and Australia have monarchs as head of the state. Though titular heads, the royals in these countries are the symbols of national unity. Nepalese people have clearly chosen a different option. The political programme of abolition of monarchy seems to enjoy popular support. Declaration of Nepal as a republic not only marked the end of Gyanendra's rule but also the formal abolition of the 240-year-oldmonarchy. Gyanendra, before leaving the palace, formally acknowledged the creation of the republic in Nepal and vowed to serve the country.

Nepal is passing through a transition from monarchy to democracy. The new political system should urgently get institutional shape. The form of government that the country will have is yet to be finalised. The people of Nepal would decide this destiny. In the absence of the King who had been the symbol of national unity for centuries they should create some institutions guided not by emotion but by pragmatism to fill the void.