There have been efforts in the past to discredit King Prithbi Narayan Shah to meet vested political interests. Vandalising his statue was a hollow attempt by the Maoists to push their republican agenda, but it hurt the sentiments of
Nepalis, whose very sense of identity comes from this man ('Prithbi Narayan's message', #308). Maoist rhetoric goes that this country was not unified, but pulled together for one man's ambition. Enough is enough; there is a limit to one's tolerance. We Nepalis know well that Nepal was and is integrated in the real sense by King Prithbi. Our government, which calls itself a Nepali government, should show some respect for the man who made that possible, and restore the idol to its previous self.

Pratt Rana,
via email