6 min read
This article is more than 1 year old
Philanthropy or rebuilding the royal image? Nepal’s last crown princess visits Australia
Himani Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah, who was Nepal’s last crown princess before the abolition of the monarchy in 2008, recently visited Australia to garner support for her social work. But did she achieve her objective?
Published 18 August 2022 1:49pm
Updated 18 August 2022 5:23pm
By Dinita Rishal, Abhas Parajuli
Source: SBS
Image: Himani Shah (center), former crown princess of Nepal at a women empowerment event in Sydney organised by Himani Kosh Australia on 10 August 2022. (SBS Nepali/Dinita Rishal)
Highlights:
- Former Nepali crown princess Himani Shah visited Australia for the first time
- A trust in her name was established soon after the abolition of monarchy
- Ms Shah attended several events in Sydney organised in her honour
During her time in Sydney, Himani Shah attended events in her honour, including a women’s empowerment forum and a fundraising dinner for flood-affected communities in Nepal.
On Wednesday, August 10, she participated in a women’s empowerment seminar by Himani Kosh Australia (HKA), the Australian chapter of the eponymous Himani Trust.
Ms Shah established the trust in 2010, just as the decade-long Maoist conflict ended the monarchy in the Himalayan nation between India and China in 2008.
The event in Sydney brought together a panel of women from different backgrounds, including Natalie Ward, the NSW Minister for Women’s Safety and the Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence.
Attendees at the women empowerment event organised by Himani Kosh Australia in Sydney on 10 August 2022. Credit: SBS Nepali/Dinita Rishal
“Being a woman from and in Nepal, we have to think many times before doing many things,” the former royal said.
Highlighting the position of women in patriarchal and developing Nepali society, Ms Shah said women have to learn from each other’s success.
We should be able to learn that one woman’s courage is another woman’s inspiration.Himani Shah
Anjana Basnet Karki, who runs the Australian chapter of Himani Trust, said women of migrant backgrounds also face enormous challenges in Australia.
“When you come to Australia from Nepal, one person has a lot of responsibility. From family, studies, bills, everything,” she explained.
No one is going to inspire you. First, you have to be yourself. The inspiration will be within you when you go headfirst into your challenges.Anjana Basnet Karki
Accidental crown princess
FILE PHOTO: Paras Shah, with his wife Himani Shah at an event in 2000 in Nepal. (Photo by Dipesh Tuladhar/Getty Images) Credit: Getty Images/Getty Images
Her estranged husband, and once heir apparent to the Nepali throne, Paras Shah, has been one of the most controversial royals in modern times.
Mr Shah has had a colourful life, from
However, came in 2000 when he allegedly hit and killed a local artist with his car a few hundred metres from the then Royal Palace in Kathmandu.
The dynamics of the Nepali royal family changed dramatically on June 1 2001, as the Maoist insurgency was paralysing the country.
That evening, King Birendra Shah, his wife, Queen Aishwarya Shah, and several other Nepali royal family members were killed in a massacre that occurred during a family gathering at a residential quarter within the heavily guarded royal palace.
File Photo: A soldier stands guard in front of the Royal palace. EPA/NARENDRA SHRESTHA Source: EPA / NARENDRA SHRESTHA/EPA
Himani Shah and then prince Paras Shah escaped unscathed, while her father-in-law, Gyanendra Shah, the only surviving brother of then King Birendra Shah, was away in the popular tourist city of Pokhara.
An official probe into the massacre named King Birendra's son, the then Crown Prince Dipendra, as the sole perpetrator.
Dipendra Shah was also declared as king, despite being incapacitated after allegedly shooting himself at point-blank range, with Gyanendra Shah being named regent by the Royal Council.
After Dipendra Shah’s life support was switched off, Gyanendra Shah was crowned king as the Nepali population grieved the loss of two kings within three days.
Many in Nepal question the official version of events as Dipendra Shah, who visited Australia during the Sydney Olympics in 2000, was a very popular royal and heir apparent to the throne.
Dipendra Shah with Mandawuy Yunupingu and Ray Martin at a function on September 29, 2000, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Peter Carrette Archive/Getty Images) Credit: Peter Carrette Archive/Getty Images
Amid the ever-raging Maoist insurgency, King Gyanendra lost the confidence of the country’s mainstream political parties and thereafter lost his throne.
This resulted in the kingdom being declared the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal in 2008.
Philanthropy or rebuilding the tarnished royal image?
Nepal's former crown princess Himani Shah during her visit to Sydney, Australia on 10 August 2022. Credit: SBS Nepali/Dinita Rishal
“As a former member of the royal family, it has always been my sole aspiration to work for Nepali citizens and Nepal,” Ms Shah said in her speech at the women’s empowerment event in Sydney.
Also present at the event was Dr Aparna Shah, a dermatologist and STD specialist, and an executive of the Himani Trust.
Outlining some of the serious issues facing women in rural Nepal, she said the organisation is on the ground working for the people.
“To improve women’s health, we need to address issues related to reproductive health, maternal deaths, malnutrition, and non-communicable diseases through quality and affordable health services under universal health coverage,” she said.
A holistic, comprehensive approach beyond reproductive health is needed. Violence against women and girls is one of the top priority areas requiring more and continued effort in Southeast Asia.Dr. Aparna Shah
However, not everyone in Australia’s Nepali community welcomed the former crown princess’s visit.
On Facebook, Xetryy Sameer questioned the motive of such an event.
He wrote, “By conducting a seminar in a 5-star hotel in Australia, will it empower women from Humla [and] Jumla [rural parts of Nepal], your highness?”
Unanswered questions
Tim James MP (L), Nepal's former crown princess Himani Shah (C) and Mark Coure MP (R) at the fundraising dinner held at NSW Parliament by Himani Kosh Australia. Credit: SBS Nepali/Dinita Rishal
Ms Karki told SBS Nepali that the funds raised at the event would help children in flood-affected areas of rural Nepal.
She said the trust’s Access To Clean Drinking Water Project aims to distribute self-filtration water bottles said to remove up to 99 per cent of bacteria from water.
NSW Minister for Multiculturalism Mark Coure and Willoughby MP Tim James were present at the event.
According to Mr Coure, Australia and Nepal are great friends.
We Australians want to do what we can to extend our helping hand to this beautiful country and its wonderful people.Mark Joseph Coure, NSW Minister for Multiculturalism and Minister for Seniors
Some quarters of Nepali society have questioned Ms Shah’s social work, but the local Nepali community has largely shied away from criticising her visit and activities in Australia.
Nanda Gurung is the president of the Australian branch of the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA), which represents the Nepali diaspora globally.
He argues political affiliations should be pushed aside in instances like these.
Mr Gurung, who identified himself as a democrat to SBS Nepali, said, “There is no doubt that they are former royals. But everyone should support humanitarian work, shouldn’t they?”
Whatever the political history is, she [Himani Shah] is a Nepali citizen. And NRNA is always ready to support a good social cause.Nanda Gurung, NRNA Australia President
SBS Nepali reached out to the Overseas Nepali Forum, the local fraternal organisation of one of the major communist parties in Nepal. They refused to comment about the events.
Om Dhungel, a Bhutani refugee and community leader in Western Sydney, emphasised the focus should be on supporting the cause.
“Who is leading [that] cause does not really matter,” he told SBS Nepali.
Ms Shah returned to Nepal in the week.
Share
