All About Falgun 7 Democracy day in Nepal / Prajatantra Diwas Nepal

Here is information of Falgun 7 Democracy day in Nepal or Prajatantra Diwas Nepal. Every year Falgun 7, Democracy day is celebrated in Nepal. It is also called Prajatantra Diwas Nepal.

Falgun 7 is the Prajatantra Diwas of Nepal (Prajantra Diwas Nepal). Falgun 7 is the Democracy Day of Nepal (Democracy Day Nepal). Falgu 7 is the day when Nepal was liberated from 104 years of Rana regime.

Falgun 7 is the day when democracy was established with Kingship back in 1951 A.D (2007 B.S). Democracy Day of Nepal or Prajatantra Diwas Nepal is celebrated every year on Falgun 7th. That is why Falgun 7 is the day of being the celebration as National Democracy day of Nepal (Prajatantra Diwas Nepal).

Yes, this day Prajatantra Diwas is celebrated in Nepal to commemorate the day when Nepalese were released from the clutches of 104-year-long Rana autocracy on February 18, 1951. Prajatantra Diwas is a public holiday in Nepal.

SEE ALSO: Nepal festivals February. Nepal festivals February 2017. Nepali festivals in February. Nepali festivals in Falgun

DEMOCRACY

According to the Oxford Dictionary democracy is, “a system of government in which all the people of a country can vote to elect their representatives”. ‘Democracy’ is derived from two Greek words-‘Demos’ meaning ‘people’ and ‘Kratos’ meaning ‘rule’ is a system of governance in which people directly or indirectly have the share in the administration. It is said that democracy was first practiced in England.

Democracy is a political system based on absolute sovereignty inherent to the people. The best definition is given by the democratic president of United States of America, Abraham Lincoln.

According to him, ‘democracy is the government of people by the people and for the people’. It signifies the political system in which government is formed by the elected representatives.

So, in this system government must work for the welfare of the people. Democracy is one of the best forms of government as it has salient features. It has certain norms and values. In a democratic system, the general election is held periodically.

The leaders are chosen on the basis of a majority of votes cast down by a public. The government is to b chosen by reasons but not by greed and fear. The leaders can misuse the governing power.

The governing power should comp with other parties also. The supreme power provides proper development of the country. It helps to develop the country in a balanced way.

It controls misuse of power also. The democratic constitution provides equal rights to every individual as it is based on the principle of equality, Democracy provides freedom, peace, justice etc. Human rights ca be properly cultivated in a democratic system.

The government can’ ignore the people’s voice because if the government misuses the power it would not be elected in the next election. That is why; the are more responsive to the people.

People can raise their voice from street to the parliament. Each and every individual gets an] equal opportunity to life,   liberty and a pursuit of happiness.   In the democratic system, no discrimination is made. Though democracy is said to be the best system of government, some drawbacks can be seen in its application.

If the ideals of democracy are not properly used, the country suffers. There can be unhealthy competition among the political parties.

Not only that, it is the system of government of popular majority but in the case of our country as the majority of people are uneducated and illiterate; sometimes votes might send to the worst one, as a result, the country is spoiled. The misuse of power in the elections leads the entire democracy and its features to failures.

a Video on Drawing Nepal’s Flag on Prajantra Diwas / Democracy Day

Our motherland Nepal is also ruled by a democratic system. In 2007 B.S. Nepal got democracy for the first time. It was limited in one party system. Again in 2015 B.S. Nepal got democracy for the second time. It again failed because of the political leaders and their self-influenced policy.

In 2046 B.S. after the popular people’s movement, Nepal got another chance to enjoy the democracy in a multiparty system. After Peoples Movement II, our country is now multiparty republican democratic country.

Though there is democracy in a country, the government has not been successful to solve problems of the people.  The people are suffering from the price hike, the gap between the rich and the poor etc. The educated people are unemployed. People’s representatives are being charged with involving in corruption.    There is no   stable government and stable administration.

The popularity of democracy is increasing. Democracy has some demerits which are caused only because of misuse of governing power by political leaders. It is the best political system. In this system, there is no place for violence, injustice etc.

There is the only place for justice, peace, liberty, etc. Therefore, democracy should be in democratic substance, not only in form. For the effective functioning of democracy, factors such as free press, an independent judiciary, and informed citizens are essential.

Rana Regime was at this crucial time that the four martyrs of Nepal were made known which inspired the citizens, even more, to continue what they were fighting for. 4 Shaheed of Nepal were hanged and killed during Rana Regime.

There is a big celebration of Prajatantra Diwas in Tundikhel with Army march and different cultural exhibitions. But the celebration is going to be down. Although the public holiday on the day Falgun 7 is still there. Official celebrations are gone.

Is there democracy in Nepal?

Nepal is a small landlocked country in South Asia. Until 1990, Nepal was a total monarchy state where the King had the absolute power and the executive control over all.

For over two hundred years long period, Nepal remained a feudal monarchy. Before that, Nepal was under the rule of Rana regime when there was no democracy to the people at all. Today, Nepal is the Federal Democratic Republic. However, gaining democracy was not easy for Nepalese. Nepalese struggled twice to get democracy.

People’s Movement of 1990

In 1990 AD, two groups, The Nepali Congress and United Left Front joined to launch a campaign to achieve a multi-party democracy in Nepal. This movement officially started on February 18, 1990. Thousands of Nepalese protested for the reinstatement of multiparty democracy.

In order to stall the movement, the government arrested leaders of both parties, shot and killed dozens of protestors, however, the movement did not stop. At the climax, the protesters surrendered government buildings, urging the king to accept their demands.

Finally, the King removed the ban on political parties and the movement drafted the constitution into effect in November of the same year. This constitution required the monarchy to hand over decisions of government to Nepali people.

February 18 Or Falgun 7, the day the People’s movement of 1990 started is marked as the Democracy Day in Nepal.

2006 Democracy movement in Nepal

In 2001 after the royal massacre, King Gyanendra centralized the power and ascribed himself the position of Head of state, head of government and supreme commander of the army. He granted security power to the army, intellectuals and curtailed civil liberties.

The Maoist violence led the kind, on November 26, 2001, to declare a state of emergency, giving him executive power unsuspending many of the basic human rights. This act of then King Gyanendra led to the initiation of yet another movement.

The 2006 democracy movement in Nepal is a name for the 19-day long agitation of several political parties against the King who ruled the Nepal undemocratically. This movement is also mentioned as Jana Andalon II or People’s Movement II.

After a 19 day long agitation, and movement by Nepalese citizens, King Gyanendra restored the ancient House of Representatives in 2006, April 24. The king called upon all the seven party to take the responsibility of leading the country to the unity while gaining prosperity being the main agenda. The king also asked the alliance to ensure peace and safeguard the multiparty democracy

On December 28, 2007, the interim parliament passes a bill and declared Nepal to become the Federal Democratic Republic. The first meeting of the Constituent Assembly officially implemented that declaration on May 28, 2008.

However, the democracy of Nepal is in the veryprimary state with several unprecedented challenges from several levels. It is very early for Nepal to raise the hope for perfect democracy in near future.

Democracy is usually a self-learning process which takes a very long time of exercise. Having said that, we are sure that the commitment of all Nepalese and the leaders would make the ‘Perfect Democracy’ system in Nepal on all fronts. But, for that, the leaders, as well as the citizens, have an overwhelming job to make the philosophy of democracy go profoundly into Nepal’s social system.

Author: Ashmita Sharma, Rima Pradhan

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