Khula Manch, the victory rally
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This episode of Witness History recounts the pivotal moment on April 9, 1990, when Durga Thapa, a 22-year-old student activist in Nepal, joined a historic victory rally at Khulamansh to celebrate the end of a 30-year ban on political parties and the dawn of multi-party democracy. The episode traces the rise of the pro-democracy movement, sparked by King Mahendra’s authoritarian Panchayat system, which silenced dissent and centralized power. Through coordinated student-led protests, blackout campaigns, and mass demonstrations—culminating in deadly police violence on April 6—Nepali citizens forced King Birendra to concede. The episode captures the raw emotion of liberation, including Durga’s iconic leap in red vermilion, symbolizing joy and defiance. Despite ongoing political turbulence, including a brief royal coup in 2005 and the 2025 Gen Z protests, this day remains a defining moment in Nepal’s democratic journey.
Mass civil resistance, including student-led marches and blackout protests, was instrumental in ending Nepal’s authoritarian Panchayat system.
The 1990 democracy movement succeeded after widespread violence, including the deaths of around 200 people, demonstrating the high cost of political change.
Celebrations at Khulamansh on April 9, 1990, marked a symbolic turning point, with Durga Thapa’s leap becoming an enduring image of national liberation.
King Birendra’s concession to multi-party democracy followed intense pressure from civil society, including lawyers, doctors, teachers, and ordinary citizens.
The legacy of the 1990 movement continues to influence Nepal’s political landscape, including recent youth-led uprisings and electoral shifts.
Introduction: The Rise of Samsung and the Legacy of Power
The episode opens with a promotional segment for the BBC podcast 'Inheritance Samsung,' highlighting the global influence of the Lee family and Samsung in South Korea, setting a thematic contrast with the human stories of political struggle to come.
The People's Movement: From Repression to Resistance
The narrative shifts to Nepal in the 1960s, detailing the establishment of the Panchayat system under King Mahendra, which banned political parties and centralized power, silencing public dissent and creating widespread frustration among citizens.
The 1990 Democracy Uprising: Mobilization and Sacrifice
“We struggled a lot for democracy and the police were over the top. Short-term officers would get together and then follow us when we were alone. They would beat us and put us in jail. Whenever I think about it, I still get upset.”
The Turning Point: April 6 and the Fall of the Monarchy
“In the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal, a 30-year ban on political parties has been lifted. King Birendra has bowed to the demands of the opposition after seven weeks of demonstrations in which about 200 people have been killed.”
Victory at Khulamansh: A Nation’s Jubilant Liberation
“I started chanting, long live Birganesman, long live independence. That is the moment I jump and I don't remember doing it.”
“In the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal, a 30-year ban on political parties has been lifted. King Birendra has bowed to the demands of the opposition after seven weeks of demonstrations in which about 200 people have been killed.”
“I started chanting, long live Birganesman, long live independence. That is the moment I jump and I don't remember doing it.”
“We struggled a lot for democracy and the police were over the top. Short-term officers would get together and then follow us when we were alone. They would beat us and put us in jail. Whenever I think about it, I still get upset.”
Host
Guest
Nepal
place
Durga Thapa
person
Panchayat System
other
King Birendra
person
BBC World Service
organization
King Mahendra Birbikram Shahadev
person
Khulamansh
place
Kathmandu
place
Witness History
media
Ganesh Man Singh
person
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