21^st century is known as the era of democratic movements. These movements in Afro-Asian nations started to overthrow despotic, autocratic and other authoritarian governments. Nepal is a small landlocked kingdom in Southern Asia, lying between India to the south and Tibet to the North. Monarchy was prevalent in Nepal since the 18^th century.

During the rule of Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, democratic Maoist movements started mainly because of the influence of India and China. Nepal’s democratic experiment suffered a serious setback in December 1960, when the first elected government led by National Congress leader Koirala was dissolved and the whole party activities were banned in Nepal in later parts of the decade which continued till 1979.

In 1980, limited democracy resulted in the creation of a multiparty parliamentary monarchy. The political war was launched by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) in 1996, with the overthrow of the Nepalese monarchy and establishing a people’s Republic. Maoist insurgency began in 1996 and ended with the Communist victory in 2001

The comprehensive Peace Accord was signed on 21^st November 2006. The crown prince killed king Birendra and the royal family members, bringing the unpopular Gyanendra to the throne. Nepal witnessed a popular movement in 2006. The movement was aimed at restoring democracy.

At the same time, the king reinstated the old Nepal house of Representatives, with an assurance of permanent peace and the multiparty democracy. The king called upon the Seven party Alliance (SPA) to bear the responsibility of taking the nation on the path of national unity and prosperity. The popular Government assumed office on 18^th May 2006 and withdrew all the privileges given to the king unanimously.

The bill included the following.

• Imposing tax on the royal family and its assets. 
• Ending the Raj Parishad, a Royal Advisory Council. 
• Eliminating Royal references from army and Government titles. 
• Declaring Nepal a secular country and not a Hindu kingdom. 
• Scrapping the national anthem until a new one is composed. 
• Eliminating the king’s position as the supreme commander of the army.

This is popularly known as the “Nepalese Magna Carta”.