Vive La Democracy

Parmeshwar Devkota

Some people of this country still believe that the terms monarchy and democracy are interchangeable. It is because of their age-old religious inclination to the kingship. Monarchy, which they consider an incarnation of Almighty God Bishnu, is the product of feudal society. Resorting to the old mind-set, the monarch keeps himself high above common people, making his fiats as the law of the land. This does not fit with the modern-day sovereign citizens. So, accepting a monarch amounts to turning the clocks back. 

Democracy, on the other hand, is a political system based on rule by the consent of the governed people. We practice the representative democracy which is exercised via free and fair elections of all levels. Democracy protects the rights of minority, guarantees the rule of law and human rights, among other things. Nepali people have fought for democracy time and again. Their struggles spanned over seven decades before establishing the federal democratic republic. 

Nepalis had first waged armed revolt to overthrow the Rana Oligarchy. The nation plunged into autocratic rule 10 years after the 104-year-old Rana regime was toppled. King Mahendra imposed Pachayat system that was equally despotic and unilateral in handling the affairs of the state. In the period of monarchy, the Nepali people used to live in the constant fear of being arrested, punished and even murdered. The cops in plain clothes used to roam in the villages. This scribe still recalls atrocities carried out by Panchas and Mandales. Petrified by their terrorising acts, our parents used to warn us, "Do not speak loudly, even the walls of the house have ears. If Panchas hear something bad on monarchy from you, they will take you away." 

So, the freedom-loving people gathered courage and began peaceful movement named Satyagraha in the 2042 BS. Though the forgetful Nepali people have soft corner for late king Birendra, many pro-democracy fighters and patriotic people were killed under his nose. Then, banned leftist political forces and Nepali Congress joined hands to end Panchayat system.

Amid political instabilities, the CPN-Maoist, a hard-liner communist group, started an insurgency to abolish monarchy. The Maoist and parliamentary parties came together to do away with the dictatorial rule in 2006. Finally, the Constituent Assembly decided to abolish a 240-year-old monarchy, converting Nepal into a democratic federal republic. 

We are observing the 74th Democracy Day across the country tomorrow by organising various programmes. The political leaders from ruling and opposition will deliver customary speeches, calling for upholding value of democracy. As Jose Marti says, ‘Like bone to the human body, and the axle to the wheel, and the song to a bird, and air to the wing, thus is liberty the essence of life. Whatever is done without it is imperfect.' 

It is difficult to achieve a perfect form of democracy. We fought against Rana Oligarchy and Shah Dynasty for democracy. We are still ready to tame any force which stands in the way of democracy. We have only expectations that the leaders should work to strengthen democracy and speed up development works honestly. If they lose public faith and social dignity, the democracy will weaken.