‘Lok’ is a Nepali word for ‘the people.’ People across the country are celebrating 19th Loktanra Day (Democracy Day) on Thursday. Democracy Day is observed in remembrance of April 24, 2006, when then-King Gyanendra Shah reinstated the dissolved parliament of 2002, stepping down from executive power and marking the defeat of autocracy.
On that day, former King Shah declared:
“Recognizing that the source of state power is the Nepali people themselves, and that Nepal’s sovereignty and state authority rest with the people, the House of Representatives has been reinstated per the public sentiment expressed through the current people’s movement.”
The declaration led to the summoning of the House of Representatives meeting on April 28, 2006, backed by a people’s movement involving seven political parties and the then-rebel Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), which was actively protesting against autocracy.
Nepal observes two Democracy Days. The other one, known as Prajatantra Day, is observed on February 19. ‘Praja’ means subjects of the monarch in Nepali. The day marks the end of the 103-year-long Rana Regime and the introduction of parliamentary democracy in the country.
