A Grandmother's Telling Glance: New Light on Nepal's Royal Tragedy

Kathmandu : In an explosive interview that has brought back into the open one of the most tragic incidents in Nepalese history, former Police AIG Surendra Bahadur Shah, who had served as ADC to King Birendra, has come forward with revelations about the 2001 royal palace massacre. His revelations give a ringside view of the chaotic post-night when tragedy struck and changed Nepal's history forever.

Details of the Fateful Night

Shah, who came close to being in the palace that night, recounts how he was invited for dinner by Prince Nirajan on that fateful evening. Nirajan failed to turn up at the appointed hour, Shah relates, and called his colleague Niraj Shrestha at the palace, who told him something was wrong and he should go home. In the dead of night, Shrestha called him again to break the news of the massacre.

"There couldn't have been more shocking news," Shah recalls. He drove immediately to the residence of IGP, where Police Chief Pradeep Shumsher Jabara received him in his bedroom for an urgent briefing about the unfolding crisis.

Critical Hours at Military Hospital

Perhaps the most astonishing revelation is Shah's eyewitness account at the military hospital to which the injured and dead royalty were taken. He describes vividly the most telling moment around 1 AM when Queen Mother Ratna arrived at the facility:

"Dr. Khagendra Shrestha was showing her around, pointing out different rooms - 'This is the King's, this is the Queen's,'" Shah recounts. "But when they reached Crown Prince Dipendra's room, where he lay unconscious, the Queen Mother's reaction was unmistakable - she turned away with absolute disgust."

Shah emphasizes the gravity of this instant: "Though others might have instigated the incident, that one response-a grandmother refusing to look at her dying grandson-said it all about what actually had taken place."

Power Transition and Immediate Response

The interview gives some critical information about the transition of power during the crisis. Shah says that Queen Mother Ratna, following the tradition of the palace, took current charge and issued her first order to the Chief of the Army regarding border security.

"The absence of the king automatically led to the Queen Mother's taking over according to the palace protocol," says Shah. "Her first question was about the border security, which she asked the Army Chief to seal the borders."

Investigation Failures

Shah's testimony also highlights some very serious deficiencies in the official investigation:

- The case was treated as a political affair and not as a criminal investigation

- No autopsies were conducted on the bodies of the victims

- The Chief Justice spearheaded the investigation, and not by police agencies 

- The investigation committee originally consisted of the Speaker and Opposition Leader, with the latter resigning

"It pains me to think about the investigation," Shah says. "Such a case should have been handled by proper investigative agencies, but it was approached politically instead."

Power Dynamics in the Royal Family

Shah sets the backdrop with regard to basic power dynamics inherent in the palace: "King Birendra and Crown Prince Dipendra's relationship wasn't just familial-it had sovereign implications. Throughout Nepal's history, power transitions have often been complicated by succession politics."

Aftermath and Historical Significance

King Birendra, Queen Aishwarya, Prince Nirajan, Princess Shruti, and other members of the royal family lost their lives during the massacre. Crown Prince Dipendra was declared king for a short period while unconscious, until his death finally led to Prince Gyanendra's rise to the throne.

These new revelations from a trusted insider add another layer to understanding one of the most pivotal moments in Nepal's modern history, while also raising fresh questions about the complete truth behind the tragedy that reshaped the nation's political landscape.

"Some things remain unclear," Shah concludes, "but what happened that night fundamentally altered Nepal's trajectory, and its full impact continues to reverberate through our national consciousness."

These exposures, coming from a man who had direct access to the inner workings of the palace and parallel involvement in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, provide new valuable insights into this pivotal moment in Nepal's history, while highlighting the continuing need for a more thorough understanding of the events that led to the end of Nepal's active monarchy.

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