I am starting a series of talk about the 2007 (2050-51) democratic movement led by the King Tribhuvan. It was an unique movement that was led by the ruler himself.

A foreigner woman was at the palace at that time. Erika Leuchtag had seen Tribhuvan’s involvement in the protest against the rulers. She had written a book on her stay in the royal palace and her acquaints with the King. I am presenting the information given in the book as a weekly series. The series is retelling of the information Erika had told in the book in Nepali language. It is not a translation so, I will be omitting the things that aren’t of value to my viewers.

The first part of the series will premier at Friday – November 9, 2018 – 12:00 AM ET. The first part is how Erika got the invitation and what was the response of her mother and her friends about going to Nepal.

After I recorded the first part, I came to know that Erika was a physiotherapist. I will give this detail in the second part. I haven’t done second part or any other parts yet. I am writing the script as I read through the book.

King Tribhuwan

Tribhuwan Bir Bikram Shah was born on June 30, 1906 and died on March 13, 1955. He was appointed the King of Nepal on 11 December 1911. He was only eight years old when his father King Prithivi Bir Bikram Shah died. Tribhuwan was crowned on 20 February 1913 at Hanuman Dhoka Palace and his mother, Queen Divyeshwari Lakshmi Devi Shah, acted as regent to the king.

Although he was the king, Rana ruled the country. The King was only the stamp pad. Like the king, Rana prime ministers were also hereditary.

In an interesting double marriage ceremony, held in March of 1919m Tribhuwan married two sisters at the same time. He first married the elder sister Bada Maharani Kanti and on the same day he married her younger sister Kancha Maharani Ishwari. In addition to Kanti and Ishwari, he had other junior wives.

King Tribhuvan had three sons and thirteen daughters.

• King Mahendra was Queen Kanti’s son born in 1920.
• Prince Himalaya Pratap was also Queen Kanti’s son born in 1921.
• Prince Basundhara was Queen Ishwari’s son who was also born in 1921.

Tribhuwan’s daughters of two official wives were:

• Princess Trilokya (by Queen Kanti) born in 1923.
• Princess Nalini (by Queen Ishwari) born in 1925.
• Princess Vijaya (by Queen Kanti) born in 1925.
• Princess Bharati (by Queen Kanti) born in 1927.

Children of junior wives were:

• Rajkumari Rajya Lakshmi Devi.
• Rajkumari Divyeshwari (Dibya Shree Malla).
• Rajkumari Praja Rajya Lakshmi Devi.
• Rajkumari Achala Rajya Lakshmi Devi.
• Rajkumari Tika Rajya Lakshmi Devi.
• Rajkumari Bimala Rajya Lakshmi Devi.
• Three more unnamed daughters of King Tribhuvan perished during the Great earthquake, at the Narayanhity Royal Palace, Kathmandu, 15 January 1934.

One of the junior wives was Sarala. I don’t know the names of other wives yet. I will update this post with the links to the newly updated videos and details in coming days.