Ever since the advent of democracy, numerous nations have abolished monarchies and become republics. When the people say 'we've had enough', the writing is usually in the wall. The king doesn't have much of a choice. And in numerous cases where there has been a reluctance to step down from the throne, the crowns have been forcibly snatched -- alas, sometimes with the head still inside. Rare is a King of Bhutan who stepped aside voluntarily, and enforced parliamentary elections.
But not since the Iranian revolution of 1979 has there been bloodshed in the process of transfer from monarchy to republic.
As the Kingdom of Nepal becomes the Republic of Nepal with King Gyanendra having vacated the palace, we take a look at the four of the youngest republics in the world and how they came to being.
Nepal, King Gyanendra
After 240 years of the world's only Hindu monarchy, King Gyanendra stepped down this week, making Nepal the newest republic in the world.
After the Maoists came to the mainstream in 2007, they withdrew from an interim government demanding that monarchy be abolished. As per the deal Nepal was declared a republic after the Maoists emerged as the single largest bloc in the general election and headed the new constituent assembly.
Before the move, some parties in the ruling coalition said voters should decide on the issue via the new assembly.
Though monarchy was accepted and the people never had a problem till the time King Birendra was in power, popular mood swung after Birendra was killed in a controversial palace massacre in 2001. Also, King Gyanendra's efforts to put down the Maoist insurgency meant he had to go with the Maoists having gained tremendous power -- political and otherwise.
Though the transition itself was bloodless, more than 13,000 lives were lost in the decade-long Maoist insurgency.
Along with the shedding of the royal status, Nepal will also shed another tag -- that of being the only Hindu kingdom in the world. This didn't go down well with militant pro-Hindu outfits who resorted to violence, but couldn't succeed in aborting the birth of the republic.
Text: Krishnakumar P
Image: Former Nepalese monarchs King Gyanendra and Queen Komal ride leave the Narayanhiti Palace in Kathmandu on June 11, 2008. The former king will live as a commoner in a former hunting lodge on the outskirts of the capital.
Photograph: Prakash Mathema/AFP/Getty Images
Also read: Gyanendra: 'Last Hindu Monarch'?
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