KING BIRENDRA
Name: Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev
Born: December 28, 1945
Died: June 1, 2001
Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev (December 28, 1945 -June 1, 2001)
was King of Nepal from 1972 until 2001, and the son of King
Mahendra, whom he succeeded. He was made a British Field Marshal in 1980. He is
the most internationally well-known Nepalese king in modern history due largely
to his highly publicised death.
Birendra was more open to parliamentary democracy than his father, and
granted a democratic government after a people's movement in 1990. However, the
quarrels between various political parties and numerous social problems led to
the Nepalese Civil War, a conflict between Maoist rebels and monarchist
government forces, which lasted from 1996 until 2006. He is widely considered to
be best king to ever reign in Nepal, and was seen as a symbol of National unity
by his subjects.
Nepal's stability was threatened even more when he and most of his family (including
Queen Aiswarya) were massacred at a royal dinner on 1 June 2001 allegedly by
Crown Prince Dipendra. A section of Nepalese people believed that King Gyanendra
(Birendra's brother) was the main conspirator. However, according to
published reports from eyewitnesses and the results of an investigation carried
by a two man committee made up of the Chief of the Supreme Court Keshav Prasad
Upadhaya and the speaker of the House of Representatives Taranath Ranabhat,
his eldest son and heir, Dipendra, was the gunman.The motive given for
Dipendra's actions were a clash with his mother over his wish to marry Devyani
Rana. Dipendra also had a history of alcohol and illegal drugs abuse and had
also suffered from depression in the past.Dipendra was proclaimed king but
died a few days later of self inflicted gunshot wounds. King Birendra's brother,
Gyanendra, then became king.
Name: Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev
Born: December 28, 1945
Died: June 1, 2001
Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev (December 28, 1945 -June 1, 2001)
was King of Nepal from 1972 until 2001, and the son of King
Mahendra, whom he succeeded. He was made a British Field Marshal in 1980. He is
the most internationally well-known Nepalese king in modern history due largely
to his highly publicised death.
Birendra was more open to parliamentary democracy than his father, and
granted a democratic government after a people's movement in 1990. However, the
quarrels between various political parties and numerous social problems led to
the Nepalese Civil War, a conflict between Maoist rebels and monarchist
government forces, which lasted from 1996 until 2006. He is widely considered to
be best king to ever reign in Nepal, and was seen as a symbol of National unity
by his subjects.
Nepal's stability was threatened even more when he and most of his family (including
Queen Aiswarya) were massacred at a royal dinner on 1 June 2001 allegedly by
Crown Prince Dipendra. A section of Nepalese people believed that King Gyanendra
(Birendra's brother) was the main conspirator. However, according to
published reports from eyewitnesses and the results of an investigation carried
by a two man committee made up of the Chief of the Supreme Court Keshav Prasad
Upadhaya and the speaker of the House of Representatives Taranath Ranabhat,
his eldest son and heir, Dipendra, was the gunman.The motive given for
Dipendra's actions were a clash with his mother over his wish to marry Devyani
Rana. Dipendra also had a history of alcohol and illegal drugs abuse and had
also suffered from depression in the past.Dipendra was proclaimed king but
died a few days later of self inflicted gunshot wounds. King Birendra's brother,
Gyanendra, then became king.