Kathmandu, Nepal – March 11, 2025: Big crowds of people in Nepal are marching in the streets. They want the king to come back and rule again. These protests started because many feel the government isn’t doing a good job. Nepal got rid of its king in 2008, but now some people think the old way was better.
Former King Gyanendra ShahThe leader of Nepal, Former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, also called Prachanda, spoke about the protests. He said they don’t scare him. He thinks people are mad because the government cares more about giving jobs to its friends than fixing real problems. “The government has ignored what people need,” Prachanda said. “That’s why they’re upset and cheering for the monarchy.”
The protests have been loud and strong. On November 23, 2023, tens of thousands of people filled Kathmandu, waving Nepal’s flag and shouting for former King Gyanendra. Police tried to stop them with water cannons and sticks, but the crowds kept coming. More protests happened in 2024, led by a group called the Rastriya Prajatantra Party. They want Nepal to be a Hindu country again, not a secular one like it is now.
People are frustrated. Since the king left, Nepal has had lots of leaders—over 10 in just a few years. Jobs are hard to find, and many young people leave to work far away. Some say the king could bring back pride and make things stable. “The government promises a lot but does nothing,” said one protester. “We need the king back!”
Prachanda, who used to fight against the king as a rebel, now leads the country. He says the monarchy won’t return, but the protests keep growing. Some groups, like the Citizens’ Campaign, agree with the protesters. They’re tired of corruption and want change. Others, like the Nepali Congress party, say the king’s time is over.
The former king, Gyanendra, lives quietly in Kathmandu. He doesn’t have power anymore, but many still like him. They see him as a symbol of Nepal’s past. The Rastriya Prajatantra Party even held events with him, like unveiling a statue of an old king, to show their support.
Nepal’s neighbors, India and China, are watching closely. India likes that Nepal is a republic now, but some there also want it to be Hindu again. China wants to be friends with Nepal too. This makes things tricky for Prachanda.
For now, the streets stay noisy. People chant for the king and a Hindu state. Prachanda says he’s not worried, but the anger isn’t going away. Will Nepal stay a republic, or will the king return? No one knows yet, but the fight is getting bigger every day.
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