Let people decide fate of Nepal Monarchy: Ex-Crown Princess Himani

Telegraph Nepal

In a rare interview, former Crown Princess Himani Shah talked to Bhuwan Sharma for the Naya Patrika National Daily. Mrs. Shah is the Chair woman of the Himani Trust, Nepal.

Below the excerpts-Ed.

Q: Well! You have kept engaged yourself in the social sector but a section of the people opines that you have been practicing politics through the Himani Trust. What it is in essence? Will you shed some light?

Mrs. Shah: To establish intimate relations with the common people, one doesn’t need to establish a Non Governmental Organisation-NGO. I always go to the people. I am always with them. I was with the people even long time back. There is no need to have a medium as such in going to the people. Wherever I have gone, people have provided me with great love. They are sympathetic towards me. Nepalese brothers and sisters have bestowed their immense love for me. Moreover, my inner desire to go to the people prompted me to establish the Himani Trust. I think that if the general people are benefitted from my involvement in the societal works then I am there to serve and thus there is the existence of the Himani Trust. I just want to serve the people. I belong to a family which remained active in social activities and so my entrance in this sector. I have been inspired by my own family members.

Q: You have been working in Dolkha district and claim that you were working in favour of the society, however, a section of the local people takes your activities as a political one. What say you?

Mrs. Shah: No! It is not like that. Had I wished to join politics, I could have opened a separate party itself on my own. Why I preferred the Trust then? The Trust has been in existence solely for serving the people and the society. I just want to remain in societal works and nothing more than that. I haven’t heard so far of any protest as such of my engagement there. I am fortunate enough to bag immense sympathies from the local people in Dolakha. The people there continue to greet me with affection.

Q: Are you interested in politics or not?

Mrs. Shah: I see to politics much the same way as other common Nepali population has been watching. Like the common men, I am also abreast with the course of Nepali politics. But this doesn’t mean that I wish to join politics.

Q: So how you take the prevailing politics of Nepal?

Mrs. Shah: To be candid, the country’s politics is not moving as per the people’s aspirations. The general population is not happy with the politics what we have at the moment. I share people’s sad feeling.

Q: How do you feel while mixing with the people as ex-Crown Princess?

Mrs. Shah: It is not that I have mixed with the people only in the recent days and years. I used to go to the people even then. I feel immense pleasure whenever I mix up with the local Nepali brothers and sisters. When I meet them, I feel that I am their daughter or say in-law. I take it that way. This gives me immense pleasure.

Q: You were having the title of Crown Princess. Now how do you feel when people take you as ex-Crown princess?

Mrs. Shah: I am least concerned in this matter.

Q: Don’t you think that a day may come when you will regain your lost title?

Mrs Shah: Well! It is an issue solely to be decided by the people. Their preferences and wishes count. What the people prefer and long for, let it happen. I think this issue better be left to the will of the people. Let them decide as to what they want. Moreover, for the decision of this issue, one has to allow the population to forward their own verdict. One has to go to the people. We must abide by the people’s verdict.

Q: Why you preferred Dolakha for the initiation of the activities sponsored by your Himani Trust?

Mrs. Shah: Nothing like a surprise.

One has to initiate activities from somewhere. Once I visited Dolakha and met the local inhabitants there. During my meet with the local people, they not only exhibited sympathies and care for me but also talked of their prevailing pressing problems. I felt that my societal jobs should right begin from Dolakha district. We are at the moment concentrating our entire efforts to make NAMDU as a model village. The experiences gained from this village will carry us to some other places. Our policy is to make serious efforts in the sectors such as, education, health, youth and development.

Q: What about the money in the Trust? Is it your private investment or some funding from outside as well?

Mrs Shah: At the moment we have a purse of five million rupees in the Himani Trust. This is the money collected so far from our own executive committee members. But the process of receiving support is in progress. Himani Trust is receiving funds. Some international donors and a few INGOs have expressed their willingness to support us. Definitely, we need financial support in the process of accomplishing community works.

Q: Have you approached some donors for extending support to your Trust?

Mrs. Shah: Yes! We have approached some. The ocean itself is the collection of drops.

Q: Your husband, ex-Crown Prince Paras Shah, quite often remains in controversy. How do you feel as and when such controversies crop up?

Mrs. Shah: How and why he is dragged into controversies too should be taken into proper account. Had those controversies been based on facts then it would have been taken as a normal affair. But the controversies crop up, more often than not, by exceeding the realities. It exceeds the reality as such. When the media raises such issues which were not based on facts and realities, it pains me. So I think such issues be only raised by the Nepali media only after examining the facts and the existing realities. This is how take it.

Q: How much pleased with your own family life?

Mrs. Shah: I am fully satisfied and happy.

Q: Don’t you think that your husband should abandon his drinking (alcohol) habit?

Mrs. Shah: Each and every Hindu woman would want their husband refrain from drinking habit. So I could not be an exception. I too want what other Hindu wives think.

Q: Were you in pains when the Nepal Royal institution was sidelined?

Mrs. Shah: It is a matter again related with the Nepali population. Whatever has happened, has already happened. My contention is that whatever the Nepali people think of this institution, it should be honoured.

Q: Are you interested in religious affairs?

Mrs. Shah: Yes! I have interest in religious affairs. I wish to participate in the religious events.

Q: Do you visit the temples?

Mrs. Shah: I go to the temples. Mainly I prefer Lord Shiva temples. I visit Pasupatinath temple.

(Text courtesy: Naya Patrika daily dated, June 1, 2011. Thanks).

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Comments

Posted on - 2011-06-02 by nepal
Yes, now we see long list of Ex-PM. This is not over. Govt. spends 10Lakh per day on per PM for their security and their pity expense. AND THIS IS OUR MONEY THEY ARE USING IT.

Posted on - 2011-06-02 by Janardan
Monarchical insitution was not ordinary thing that is why people should have right to giver their verdict over monarchical institution without delay. Otherwise it should be mentioned in draft constitution. Without monarchical institution present Nepal could not stand. That is why 240 year old monarchical institution had no rihgt to abolished my New Nepal political actors of Nepal. We hope New Nepal political actors realize and correct their past mistakes without bias.

Posted on - 2011-06-02 by Manish
she has been doing good things for the welfare of the society...we love her and we want to see constitutional monarchy in the country.

Posted on - 2011-06-02 by eddy
Under international convention regarding the use of Royal Titles for the deposed Royal family members - she is HRH Princess Himani, former crown princess of Nepal. She is certainly not "Mrs Shah"

Posted on - 2011-06-02 by Capt. Nepali
She was born a Princess, married to a Prince, So that makes her a Princess whether we like it or not. Once a princess, always a Princess. There are those who refuse to accept it. But then they are also those (probably the same idiots) that believe absurd thing like Sujata is a princess and Koirala is a dynasty. People will believe what they will. People also experience mass hallucinations from time to time. What we need is a little less Gai-Jatre democracy. We need army rule. We need to investigate the fake princess Sujata and the chor prince Rubel!! LONG LIVE PRINCESS HIMANI!!

Posted on - 2011-06-01 by Hari Bindass
What did the nations get from republican state, except for a long list of Prime Ministers. Was this the Nepali people fought for??? What did the public get? Not even a forum to earn their livelihood. We know no one would provide food in a plate for the hungry stomach but at least in King time there was peace and people could sell their sram and sip and earn their daily meal. But now no job, no peace, no chaiiin. nothing left all tahas nahas. Nepalese lost their religion. nepalese lived in fear, Nepalese starting to fight with their own kith and kin in the name of ethinic group, religion party, politics. No development. It was like from Pan to fire state...

Posted on - 2011-06-01 by bj
Stupid and dumb interview - as if she has never had a drink. This is why I don't like these planted interviews. The interviewer should have asked - does she not drink? Obviously she does so why should she wish her husband not to? She should have probably said that she wishes him not to drink in excess. By the way are'nt they separated anyway? I don't know why she's standing up for that dumb arse when he's whoring around. She should dump him for good and fight for her son or daughter to take up the monarchy cause instead. He's just a gone case loser.

Posted on - 2011-06-01 by Nepalese of Nepal
Yes! Ex-Crown Princess Himani right. The Nepalese people only is great for NEPAL.

Posted on - 2011-06-01 by prasad
We dont need King nor corrupt leaders... we are not interested in democracy nor autocracy....only thing we want is development in Nepal.. not any leaders..If anybody speaks of development then ITS GREAT!!!... If anybody speaks about power or government, we dont care...one fine day... all people of nepal are going to say "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH"..."Now its our TURN to slap all of the leaders and those speaking for power and minister post or throne, with our SLIPPERS and Sandals"... Thats sure to happen one day.. JAI NEPAL.. we still live; we still are awake; we still are watching; Just Testing these stupids, as who is better... we are going to kick all of you.. Nepelase people are alive; the blood is alive, one day we gonna kick you ALL!!!!!!!!!