महाराज
वीरेन्द्र वीर विक्रम शाह देव
शासनकाल २८ डिसेम्बर १९४५ – १ जून २००१
महाराजाधिराज वीरेन्द्र वीर विक्रम शाह देवको जन्म २८ डिसेम्बर १९४५ मा काठमाडौंको नारायणहिटी दरबारमा भएको थियो। उहाँ तात्कालीन श्री ५ युवराज महेन्द्र वीर विक्रम शाह र उनकी पहिलो श्रीमती, श्री ५ युवराज्ञी इन्द्र राज्यलक्ष्मी देवी शाहका ज्येष्ठ सुपुत्र हुनुहुन्थ्यो।
“म जनताको दुःखबाट अवगत छु, तर म उनीहरूको साहस र दृढ संकल्पबाट पनि अवगत छु।”
“We must all work together to preserve our natural environment, and pass on a clean and healthy planet to future generations.”
His Majesty is often referred to as the “People’s King”. Although he inherited a country under absolute monarchy, he was a democratic sovereign at heart. He was the first Shah King to receive international education in prestigious institutions such as Eton and Harvard. He also spent much of his youth extensively exploring the country as well as foreign nations.
HM King Mahendra with Crown Prince Birendra.
EARLY LIFE
His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev was born in the Narayanhiti Royal Palace in Kathmandu on 28 December 1945. He was the first-born son of the then HRH Crown Prince Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah and his first wife, HRH Crown Princess Indra Rajya Lakshmi Devi Shah. He was followed by 2 younger brothers, HRH Prince Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah and HRH Prince Dhirendra Bir Bikram Shah, and 3 younger sisters, HRH Princess Shanti Rajya Lakshmi Shah, HRH Princess Sharada Rajya Lakshmi Shah, and HRH Princess Shobha Rajya Lakshmi Shah.
EDUCATION
His Royal Highness spent his early years as a student studying at St Joseph’s School, a Jesuit school in Darjeeling, with his brother, Prince Gyanendra. In 1959, Prince Birendra was enrolled at Eton College in the United Kingdom, becoming the first Nepali royal to study abroad. At Eton he developed a talent for painting in his spare time. In 1964, he returned to Nepal and spent some time exploring some of the most remote parts of the country, incognito. In 1967 he spent a year at Tokyo University and followed it with a course in international affairs at Harvard under Henry Kissinger, the former American Secretary of State.
In 1964, he returned to Nepal and spent some time exploring some of the most remote parts of the country, incognito. In 1967 he spent a year at Tokyo University and followed it with a course in international affairs at Harvard under Henry Kissinger, the former American Secretary of State.
FAMILY LIFE
On 27 February 1970, HRH Crown Prince Birendra married Miss Aishwarya Rajya Lakshmi Rana. The wedding took place as per Hindu rituals. Since it was the first royal wedding to be attended by foreign royals and dignitaries, it was also one of the most lavish weddings in recorded history of the Shah Kings. A column of gaily decorated elephants lumbered through the narrow streets of Kathmandu, some 500 servants bore dishes of traditional sweetmeats to the bride and almost 200 relatives took part in ritual footwashing of the betrothed couple. “Come let us marry,” pledged the Prince to his bride, “let our children live long lives. Let us live a life—a hundred years—full of love, strength and sentiment.”
The royal couple spent a relatively quiet early married life. Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Aishwarya Rajya Lakshmi Devi Shah went on to become a devoted wife, supporting her husband and when needed advising him too. Within the first year of matrimony, they had their first son HRH Prince Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah. The couple went on to have two more children, HRH Princess Shruti Rajya Lakshmi Shah and HRH Prince Nirajan Bir Bikram Shah.
Their Majesties the King and the Queen are also blessed with two grandchildren, Girwani Rajya Lakshmi Devi Rana and Surangana Rajya Lakshmi Devi Rana, daughters of HRH Princess Shruti.
The royal couple spent a relatively quiet early married life. Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Aishwarya Rajya Lakshmi Devi Shah went on to become a devoted wife, supporting her husband and when needed advising him too. Within the first year of matrimony, they had their first son HRH Prince Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah. The couple went on to have two more children, HRH Princess Shruti Rajya Lakshmi Shah and HRH Prince Nirajan Bir Bikram Shah.
Their Majesties the King and the Queen are also blessed with two grandchildren, Girwani Rajya Lakshmi Devi Rana and Surangana Rajya Lakshmi Devi Rana, daughters of HRH Princess Shruti.
PERSONAL INTERESTS
His Majesty enjoyed traveling, and as a Crown Prince went on trips to Canada, Latin America, Africa, many parts of India, and a number of other Asian countries.
His Majesty was a passionate supporter of Nepalese craftsmanship. He himself enjoyed painting and was also an avid art collector. As a young man, he learned to fly helicopters and enjoyed horseback riding.
His Majesty was a passionate supporter of Nepalese craftsmanship. He himself enjoyed painting and was also an avid art collector. As a young man, he learned to fly helicopters and enjoyed horseback riding.
“A nation’s true strength lies not in its military might, but in the moral and spiritual values of its people.”
Upon His Majesty King Mahendra’s death on 31 January 1972, HRH Crown Prince Birendra ascended to the throne as the King of Nepal. The coronation was delayed for three years as the court astrologers advised the most auspicious moment for his crowning being at 8:37 am precisely on 4 February 1975. On the advised date and time, his coronation or the rājyābhiṣeka, took place in Nasal Chowk in Hanuman Dhoka Palace in the presence of statesmen and political leaders from 60 nations.
When His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev ascended the throne, he inherited a country still under absolute monarchy where the nation and its people were run through a system of regional councils, the panchayat. Although democracy was not on his agenda at the time of ascension, development indeed was.
During his reign, he introduced and worked towards policies to support national development through expanding education, infrastructure, industrialization and agriculture across Nepal’s diverse regions.
In the 1980s, pro-democracy protests grew, and in 1990 His Majesty King Birendra responded by lifting the ban on political parties. He held a referendum in which the people chose to establish a multiparty democracy, transitioning the nation to a constitutional monarchy. As a constitutional ruler, His Majesty respected the authority of elected governments and promoted Nepal internationally. He pioneered regional cooperation by establishing SAARC and contributed Nepali peacekeeping forces to the UN. He also helped recognize Nepal as a zone of peace in the UN. Domestically, he championed conservation, creating protected areas and helping secure UNESCO World Heritage status for Nepali natural and cultural sites. Through phases of absolute rule and constitutional monarchy, His Majesty’s overarching focus remained developing, modernizing and securing Nepal as an independent, sovereign nation while embracing democratic reforms.
During his reign, he introduced and worked towards policies to support national development through expanding education, infrastructure, industrialization and agriculture across Nepal’s diverse regions.
In the 1980s, pro-democracy protests grew, and in 1990 His Majesty King Birendra responded by lifting the ban on political parties. He held a referendum in which the people chose to establish a multiparty democracy, transitioning the nation to a constitutional monarchy. As a constitutional ruler, His Majesty respected the authority of elected governments and promoted Nepal internationally. He pioneered regional cooperation by establishing SAARC and contributed Nepali peacekeeping forces to the UN. He also helped recognize Nepal as a zone of peace in the UN. Domestically, he championed conservation, creating protected areas and helping secure UNESCO World Heritage status for Nepali natural and cultural sites. Through phases of absolute rule and constitutional monarchy, His Majesty’s overarching focus remained developing, modernizing and securing Nepal as an independent, sovereign nation while embracing democratic reforms.
His
Queen
Queen
HM Queen Aishwarya Rajya Lakshmi Devi Shah.
HM Queen Aishwarya Rajya
Lakshmi Devi Shah
Her Majesty Queen Aishwarya Rajya Lakshmi Devi Shah was the Queen Consort to His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev from 1972 to 2001. She faithfully served her husband before and after his ascension to the throne on 31 January 1972. In her role as the Queen of Nepal, she supported the crown by heading many national organizations and attending important functions and delegates on behalf of His Majesty. She often accompanied King Birendra on state visits around the world.
Titles &
Honours
Honours
Following his coronation, His Majesty King Birendra received the title of Shree Paanch Maharajadhiraj (His Majesty The King of Nepal). He was also bestowed the Most Glorious Mahendra Chain.
1989
Knight of the Order of the Elephant
1989
Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of Chile
1988
Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Rose
1986
Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
1983
Grand Cross of the Order of the Legion of Honour
1983
Nishan-e-Pakistan
1983
Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Carlos III
1980
Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Makarios III of Cyprus
1979
Knight of the Order of the Rajamitrabhorn
1978
Golden Pheasant Award of the Scout Association of Japan
1975
Sovereign of the Order of Gorkha Dakshina Bahu
1975
Knight Grand Cordon with Collar of the Order of the Chrysanthemum
1975
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau
1975
Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of Romania
1975
Recipient of the Royal Victorian Chain
1974
Collar of the Order of the Nile
1974
Great Star of the Order of the Yugoslav Star
1972
Most Glorious Mahendra Chain
1972
Sovereign of the Order of Ojaswi Rajanya
1972
Sovereign of the Order of Nepal Pratap Bhaskara
1972
Sovereign of the Order of Tri Shakti Patta
1970
Knight Grand Cordon with Collar of the Order of the Million Elephants and the White Parasol
1956
Recipient of the King Mahendra Investiture Medal
CHARITIES &
PATRONAGES
During his reign His Majesty was the Royal Patron and/or the Chairman of several organizations.
THE KING THROUGH
THE YEARS
THE YEARS
OFFICIAL
PORTRAITS
