Democratic Transition in Post-Gyanendra Nepal

Abstract

Abraham Lincholn

Democratic transition is defined as the ‘interval' between an authoritarian regime and a consolidated democracy. Democratic transition is complete when the institutional structure is established; sufficient agreement is reached about the political procedures to form an elected government, and when a government comes to power through free and popular vote.Democracy and democratization have been perceived in the post-colonial societies as the domain of dream for the peoples and nations. Democracy was presented as an ideal form of government where freedom and justice are institutionalized through constructive interdependence. The 21^st century regarded as struggle for social justice and inclusive democracy. It is democracy who gives a explicit example of accomodating various types of groups on the basis of caste, class, religion. Nepal is a multi-linguistic, multi-cultural, multi-religious and multi-ethnic state. Linguistically, Nepal is divided into two broad categories: (a) Indo-Aryan group, which includes the Newar (3.63%), Nepali (Bahun Chhetri, Thapa, Shah, Rana, etc.) (48.61%), Madhesi (Tarai languages 32.86%), etc., which collectively accounts for nearly 80 percent of the total population of the country; and (b) Tibeto-Burman Mongoloid group, which includes Tamang, Rai, Limbu, Gurung, Magar and Bhote and accounts for nearly 20 percent. The modern history of Nepal begins in 1769 when the late King Prithvi Narayan Shah conquered many princely states to create a single state, the Kingdom of Nepal. But, modernity in culture and developmental sense came to Nepal only after the overthrow of the Rana regime and subsequent establishment of democracy in 1951. However, the real democracy came to Nepal after 2008, when Nepal has ended its 240 years long constitutional monarchy to become a republic state.