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Popular Struggles and Movements
How did the struggle of the Nepali people become a source of inspiration to democrats all over the world? Explain.
Nepal witnessed an extraordinary popular movement in April 2006. The movement was aimed at restoring democracy. This struggle for democracy became source of inspiration to all democrats all over the world.
(i) Nepal won democracy in the year 1990 though the king remained the head of the State. The real power was exercised by popularly elected representatives. King Birendra accepted this transition from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy.
(ii) King Birendra was killed in a mysterious massacre of the royal family in 2001. King Gyanendra, the new king of Nepal was not prepared to accept democratic rule. As a result, in February 2005, the king dismissed the then Prime Minister and dissolved the popularly elected Parliament.
(iii) The movement of 2006 was aimed at regaining popular control over the government from the king. All the major political parties in Parliament (Seven Party Alliance of Nepal) called for a 4 day strike and this protest soon turned into indefinite strike in which many other organisations joined hands.
(iv) People defied curfews and took to the streets. Even the security forces found themselves unable to take on more than 1 lakh people who gathered almost every day to demand the restoration of democracy. They stuck to their demands of restoring the parliament, power to an all–party government and a new constituent assembly.
(v) On the last day of this protest movement, the king was forced to meet all the demands of the people. As a result, SPA chose Girija Prasad Koirala as the Prime Minister and the restored parliament passed various laws taking away most of the powers from the king.
Sponsor Area
| List-I | List-II |
| 1. Organisations that seek to promote the interests of a particular section or group. | A. Movement |
| 2. Organisations that seek to promote common interest. | B. Political parties |
| 3. Struggles launched for the resolution of a social problem with or without an organisational structure | C. Sectional interest groups |
| 4. Organisations that mobilise people with a view to win political power. | D. Public interest groups |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
|
(a) |
C |
D |
B |
A |
|
(b) |
C |
D |
A |
B |
|
(c) |
D |
C |
B |
A |
|
(d) |
B |
C |
D |
A |
Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:
|
List-1 |
List-ll |
|
1. Pressure group |
A. Narmada Bachao Andolan |
|
2. Long-term movement |
B. Asom Gana Parishad |
|
3. Single issue movement |
C. Women’s movement |
|
4. Political party |
D. Fertilizer dealers’ association |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
|
|
(a) |
D |
C |
A |
B |
|
(b) |
B |
A |
D |
C |
|
(c) |
C |
D |
B |
A |
|
(d) |
B |
D |
C |
A |
Mewat is one of the most backward areas in Haryana. It used to be a part of district Gurgaon and Faridabad. The people of Mewat felt that the area will get better attention if it were to become a separate district. But political parties were indifferent to this sentiment. The demand for a separate district was raised by Mewat Educational and Social Organisation and Mewat Saksharta Samiti in 1996. Later Mewat Vikas Sabha was founded in 2000 and carried out a series of public awareness campaigns. This forced both the major parties, Congress and the Indian National Lok Dal to announe their support for the new district before the assembly elections held in February, 2005. The new district came into existence in July, 2005.
In this example what is the relationship that you observe among movement, political parties and the government? Can you think of an example that shows a relationship different from this one?
Nepal witnessed an extraordinary popular movement in April 2006. The movement was aimed _________.
SPA was a __________.
Identify the element which is NOT shared both by the movement in Nepal and the struggle in Bolivia.
Sponsor Area
Sponsor Area