Every year on 15th of Jestha Nepal celebrates “Ganatantra Diwas”, the Republic Day representing the end of the country’s centuries-long monarchy and declaring Nepal as the Federal Democratic Republic. The term “Federal Democratic Republic” has three major meanings associated with it. Number one is Federal State, where power isn’t centralized to one institution but is decentralized into multiple local regions (generally called “states”). Number two is a democratic state, where power is derived from the citizens of that state, who have input into governing processes. And number three is a Republican State, where citizens’ power is wielded through representatives constituting a republic. So, a federal democratic republican state is a state with decentralized government functions and a representative democracy guiding its decisions.
Nepal has experienced a very fluctuating political history from the very beginning. Be that the Kingship, democracy, panchayat system, or republic system, a major revolution has occurred in the process of establishing these.
Rana Regime in Nepal
Nepal was unified by King Prithvi Narayan Shah and since then it was ruled by Shah and they had all the power until the Kot Massacre (Kot Parva), also known as The Court massacre that took place on 14 September 1846. A meeting was called by queen Rajya Laxmi Devi, the second wife of king Rajendra Shah (third Shah Monarch) when her favorite man in power, Gagan Singh Bhandari was mysteriously murdered. With the rage of Gagan Singh’s death, the queen ordered Jung Bahadur Kunwar to assemble everyone for a meeting at Hanuman Dhoka Palace. After Kot Parva Jung Bahadur Rana became the Commander-in-Chief. It was soon followed by another massacre called Bhandarkhal Parva. Jung Bahadur Rana captured all the state power and became the Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief. Rana also established a role of succession to his brothers. All the high-ranking government posts were reserved for the Ranas. Jung bahadur secured the title of ‘Shree Teen Maharaja’ which Shah kings had “Shree Panch” title, thus giving rise to the Rana Regime that ruled Nepal for 104 years as the dictators enjoying unlimited powers and authorities.
Shree, is a Sanskrit term denoting resplendence, wealth and prosperity. Thus in Hinduism anyone with such status is addressed with "Shree". "Shree Panch" or 5 Shrees, Nepali Monanarchs have "shree" 5 times infront of their full name. Similaraly, "Shree Teen" or 3 Shrees for the Ranas.
The First Ever Democracy and Rise of the Panchayat System
The Ranas were overthrown in a democracy movement in the early 1950s with support of King Tribhuvan. Soon after the overthrow of the Ranas, King Tribhuvan was reinstated as the Head of the State. In early 1959, Tribhuvan’s son King Mahendra issued a new constitution, and the first democratic elections for a national assembly were held. The Nepali Congress Party was victorious and their leader, Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala formed a government and served as the Prime Minister. But by 1960, King Mahendra changed his mind, he dissolved Parliament dismissing the first democratic government.
In 1961, King Mahendra appointed a council of five ministers to help run the administration. Several weeks later, political parties were declared illegal. At first, the Nepali Congress leadership propounded a nonviolent struggle against the new order and formed alliances with several political parties, including the Gorkha Parishad and the United Democratic Party, which had been strong critics of the Nepali Congress when it ran the government. Early in 1961, however, the king had set up a committee of four officials from the Central Secretariat to recommend changes in the constitution that would abolish political parties and substitute a “National Guidance” system based on local Panchayat, led directly by the king. Adopted on the second anniversary of the royal coup, the new constitution of 1962, created a four-tier Panchayat system. At the local level, there were 4,000 village assemblies (Gaun Sabha) electing nine members of the village Panchayat, who in turn elected a mayor (Sabhapati). Each village panchayat sent a member to sit on one of seventy-five districts (Zilla panchayat), representing from forty to seventy villages; one-third of the members of these assemblies were chosen by the town panchayat. Members of the district panchayat elected representatives to fourteen zone assemblies (Anchal Sabha) functioning as electoral colleges for the National Panchayat, or Rashtriya Panchayat, in Kathmandu.
Beginning of the Civil War and The Step Toward a Republic State
After many years of struggle when the political parties were banned, they finally mustered enough courage to start a People’s Movement in 1990. Paving way for democracy, the then-King Birendra accepted constitutional reforms and established a multiparty parliament with King as the Head of State and an executive Prime Minister. In May 1991, Nepal held its first parliamentary elections. In February 1996, the Maoist parties declared People’s War against the monarchy and the elected government. The launch of the ‘People’s War’ on 13 February 1996 by the Communist Party of Nepal–Maoist (CPN-M) was a violent expression of dissatisfaction with the pace, extent, and direction of social and political change. The Maoists’ 40-Point Demands presented to the government in the run-up to the war had called for an end to discrimination against women and all class exploitation and prejudice – including the Hindu system of ‘untouchability’. It demanded Nepal to be a Federal Democratic Republic state and demanded the county to be secular.
On 1st June 2001, “The Royal Massacre”, a horrific tragedy wiped out the entire royal family including King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya with many of their closest relatives. With only King Birendra’s brother, Gyanendra, and his family surviving, he was crowned as the new king of Nepal. In 2002, King Gyanendra dismissed the elected government and assumed direct political control before seizing absolute power in February 2005. This led Nepali political parties across the spectrum to join to form the Seven-Party Alliance (SPA), and together they began serious discussions with the insurgent CPN-M.
In 2006, diverse sections of society and political actors joined in a mass mobilization – the second People’s Movement. Daily rallies and demonstrations took place across the country for 19 days until King Gyanendra restored the parliament. Along with the return to power of the SPA, this triggered a succession of significant events: the end of all royal prerogatives; the declaration of Nepal as a secular country; the adoption of a ceasefire; the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) between the SPA-led government and the Maoists; the adoption of the Interim Constitution; and the entry of the CPN-M into the newly renamed Legislature-Parliament. In particular, Clause 3.5 states that: ‘In order to end discriminations based on class, ethnicity, language, gender, culture, religion and region and to address the problems of women, Dalit, indigenous people, ethnic minorities (Janajatis), Tarai communities (Madhesis), oppressed, neglected and minority communities and the backward areas by deconstructing the current centralised and unitary structure, the state shall be restructured in an inclusive, democratic and forward looking manner.’
Nepal transitioned to federalism with the adoption of a new constitution in 2015, bringing a shared sense of hope and optimism to many after more than a decade of political instability. The Second Constituent Assembly promulgated Nepal’s federal constitution, officially becoming the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. With this, Nepal became the most recent country to adopt a federal system of government and join the federal group of states. This moment marked a significant shift towards achieving an equitable governance structure, following decades of struggle and conflict for many ethnic and political communities striving towards a democratic and inclusive foundation for Nepal.
Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal
Now Nepal is officially the “Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal” or Sanghiya Lokatantrik Ganatantra Nepal (सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल).
The main Republic Day celebration is held at the Nation’s capital city, Kathmandu at the Nepal Army Pavilion, Tundikhel. State’s heads; President Bidya Devi Bhandari, Vice President Nanda Kishor Pun, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba along with Nepal Government’s high officials, chiefs of constitutional bodies, industrialists, civil service employees, and other distinguished personalities take part in the ceremony.
Nepal’s security forces showcase various precision drills and parades as a tribute to the country; its unity in diversity, and rich cultural heritage. The Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, and Nepal Police stage musical performances to evoke patriotism and presented Nepal’s favorite Maruni and Kaura dance performances.
Kathmandu and Lalitpur Metropolitan Cities, and Bhaktapur, Madhyapur Thimi, and Kirtipur Municipalities display their traditional attires and cultures. Panchakanya, the five virgin goddesses perform a masked dance called Lakhe Naach, and Astamatrika Naach, the Eight mother goddesses dance.
During the process, The Nepal Army hurls the Flag of Nepal from a helicopter while chief guests release a pair of pigeons to symbolize peace.
The government of Nepal had declared a public holiday to commemorate this day. But since 2019, the public holiday has been canceled, yet the day is celebrated by organizing various programs at workplaces.
