Nepal is a nation trapped in a vicious cycle of its own making. One day, the streets are filled with protesters waving flags, demanding the return of the monarchy. The next, the same people line up at the ballot box and re-elect the very politicians they claim to despise. This glaring contradiction isn’t just political hypocrisy—it’s cognitive dissonance on a national scale.
You Had the Power, You Still Do—Yet You Cry for a King?
Nepalis have had multiple opportunities to shape their future through democratic elections. Yet, time and again, they choose the same corrupt leaders who have looted the country for decades. The last general election was a perfect example: the same tired faces, the same failed parties, and the same broken promises were all on the ballot—and they won. No one imposed them on the people. Nepalis chose them.
Now, suddenly, a wave of royal nostalgia sweeps across the country, as if King Gyanendra’s rule was a golden era. Have people already forgotten why the monarchy collapsed in the first place? Are they willing to ignore the absolute power, the suppression of democracy, and the disastrous political miscalculations that led to its downfall?
Selective Amnesia: The Convenient Blame Game
Nepal’s political instability is not a mystery. It is the direct result of the choices made by its voters. Yet, rather than holding themselves accountable, many Nepalis are indulging in a collective fantasy: that the monarchy will magically fix everything. This is the ultimate cognitive dissonance.
When democracy was restored in 2008, it was supposed to be the beginning of a new era. But what happened? Nepalis kept electing the same corrupt leaders, expecting different results. The nation had the power to build a functional democracy, but instead, it allowed politicians to turn it into a breeding ground for nepotism, corruption, and incompetence. And now, instead of correcting this mistake by voting wisely in the next election, people are calling for the return of an unelected king?
Protesting Against Themselves
The monarchy debate exposes a deep contradiction in Nepali society. The same people who vote for corrupt leaders are now marching against them. Who, exactly, do they think elected these politicians? A foreign power? Some secret conspiracy? No—it was them.
If Nepal truly wants change, it needs to start with voter accountability. Stop electing leaders based on caste, regional loyalty, or empty promises. Stop expecting corrupt politicians to suddenly develop integrity. And most importantly, stop looking for shortcuts—whether it’s a monarchy or a foreign intervention—to solve problems that require real civic responsibility.
The Real Solution: Fix Democracy, Don’t Ditch It
Nepal’s problem isn’t democracy. It’s how democracy has been used and abused. If Nepalis are serious about change, they need to stop living in the past and take control of their future—by making smarter choices at the ballot box. Elect new faces. Demand transparency. Hold leaders accountable.
The irony of protesting for a monarchy while continuing to vote for the same corrupt politicians is laughable. Nepal doesn’t need a king. It needs voters who actually mean what they say when they demand change. Until then, the protests are nothing more than noise—just another episode in Nepal’s long history of self-inflicted suffering.
Last edited: 09-Mar-25 11:17 AM
