"Some legends about King Mahendra" Pushparaj Pradhan (Thursday, 26 September 2013)
Late Marich Man Singh was doing his graduation course in India. King Mahendra, immediately after introducing the Panchayat System in Nepal, visited Delhi and also visited the place where Singh was studying. A programne of meeting with Nepali students by the King was scheduled at the University. The programme was organized at a hall of the University, where, Marich Man Singh was also present. The first question asked by the King to the Nepali students was, "Do the Indians humiliate you even after the introduction of the Panchayat System?" Singh was inspired from that question. Singh, who was a communist, felt that the Panchayat system was introduced to strengthen Nepal's sovereignty and independence. This fact was told by Singh to this scribe.
According to Dr Tulshi Giri, when the draft of the Panchayat System took its final shape, at midnight, an ADC came to his residence and said, "The King is outside, please come out immediately." The King was waiting for him while sitting at the driving seat of a jeep. The King asked him to sit-down and the King started to drive the jeep. Several rounds were made around the Tundikhel and discussions were held on pros and cons of the Panchayat System. This was King Mahndra's style to consult with others on any new issue.
King Mahendra was on a visit to Pokhara along with BP Koirala in a car. A gate was constructed to welcome the King. That gate was constructed by using banana plants. When BP saw bananas at the gate, he said, "Oh bananas". King Mahendra was a jolly person and immediately commented, "Brhahmans run behind sweet" (Jaha Gulioy Tyaha Bahun Bhuliyo). BP appreciated such a joke and said, "Your Majesty, the taste of beaten rice with curd and banana is always mouthwatering".
King Mahendra didn't allow anybody, even the Queen, when he was holding meeting with anybody. The King had special relations with BP Koirala. Koirala was even allowed to go to the kitchen and taste the food cooked by Queen Ratna.
King Mahendra was worried from the gentleman character of the then Crown Prince Birendra. He used to ask his close aides whether Birendra could rule the country as he is very much a gentleman!
I have visited many times the residence of Rameshnath Pandey, a journalist turned politician. He was a blue-eyed boy of King Mahendra. One can see many photographs of Pandey along with Kings Mahendra, Birendra and Gyanendra. Along with the arrest of BP Koirala, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, Pandey, a young guy, was also sentenced to jail in Sundarijal (now BP Koiala museum). It is said that Pandey was sent to that jail to monitor BP's activities in the jail by the King. Pandey has written a book which is yet to be published. Perhaps, he will disclose his role during that time. On many occasions, Pandey had met King Mahendra privately. Sometime, Pandey was assigned some difficult task from the King. Pandey used to say that he worked as a bridge between the King and BP Koirala.
Lilaraj Bista, was appointed as the Bada Hakim (Chief Officer) in different parts of the country and later was assigned as the zonal commissioner and also became nominated member of the Rastriya Panchayat. Bista and Bishwabandhu Thapa were rewarded with land in Chitwan. Bista, when he was zonal commissioner for Mechi Zone, the referendum of 2036 BS was organized. My wife Jasuda was an active campaigner of the Panchayat. In that connection, she had good relations with Bista. When Bista came to Kathmandu, on many occasions, we have had lunch at his residence in Baluatar during that time. Once, Bista showed a big yellow plate and said that the plate was gifted by King Mahendra saying, "If you face any problem, you can use this plate." That plate was of pure gold.
Once King Mahendra was on a visit to Chitwan for hunting. During that time, Rom Bahadur Thapa (father of my colleague Lok Deep Thapa) was the in-charge of the Police in that region. He was a tall and very handsome fellow. King Mahendra was pleased from his service and he was immediately promoted him. Later, Thapa became IGP of the Nepal Police and also the Consul General to Calcutta.
Source: http://www.peoplesreview.com.np/index.php/articles/those-were-the-days/item/234-some-legends-about-king-mahendra
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