Page 28 - All About History - Issue 18-14

Eye Witness

ROYAL MASSACRE

Queen Aishwarya
Rajya Laxmi Devi
Crown Prince Shah
Dipendra The Nepalese queen had
According to Prabal Baniy, been convent-educated in
who used to work for the India and Nepal, graduating
Royal family, Dipendra had a with a Bachelors’ in Arts in
sadistic streak as a child and 1967. Considered determined
was frequently seen being and forceful, the queen
cruel to animals. The prince King Birendra had taken a hard line
attended Eton college and Bir Bikram against the pro-democracy
was in the Nepal military Shah movement of 1990 and was
academy, so had experience The 11th king of Nepal, Prince Nirajan Bir extremely critical of her son’s
of weapons. He officially King Birendra ascended Bikram Shah Dev relationship with Devyani
ruled Nepal for three days the throne in 1972 Aged just 23 when he was Rana, which is thought to be a
while he was in a coma in a after the death of his killed, Nirajan was next in reason behind the massacre.
Nepalese hospital.
father, King Mahendra. line to the throne. He was
A liberal reformer, shot dead alongside his
his reign saw mass mother in the palace garden. Princess Shruti
demonstrations in favour Rajya Laxmi
of democracy culminate Devi Shah
in the introduction of free
elections in 1990. Born in 1976, she was
the younger sister of
Prince Dipendra. She had
remonstrated Dipendra
some months previously
over his relationship with
Devyani Rana, urging him
to end the relationship.

28