King Birendra was born in December 28, 1945 / 14th Poush 2002. When Birendra was born his grand father Tribhuvan was king of Nepal and his father Mahendra was crown prince of Nepal. Birendra was educated at St. Joseph's College in Darjeeling, India, and at Eton College (1959-64), the University of Tokyo (1967), and Harvard University (1967-68). He ascended to the throne in 1972, just two years after marriage, as a result of the sudden death of his father, King Mahendra.

Birendra continued the autocratic tradition of his father, who had dissolved the elected parliament in 1960 and banned political parties in the constitution of 1962; indeed, for a time, Birendra was one of the world's few remaining absolute monarchs. He managed to defend Nepal's independence against encroaching influences by India, China, and the Soviet Union.

In 1990 a popular pro democracy movement erupted into bloody riots between police and demonstrators. On April 8, Birendra acceded to the opposition's demand to lift the ban on political parties, and on November 9 he promulgated a new constitution that preserved his status as chief of state but confirmed multiparty democracy, a separation of powers, and the protection of human rights.

Later on, Birendra was more open to parliamentary democracy than his father, and granted a democratic government after a people's movement in 1990. However, the quarrels between various political parties and numerous social problems led to the Nepalese Civil War, a conflict between Maoist rebels and monarchist government forces, which lasted from 1996 until 2006. He is widely considered to be best king to ever reign in Nepal, and was seen as a symbol of National unity by his subjects (with the exception of the maoists, of course).

Nepal's stability was threatened even more when he and most of his family (including Queen Aishwarya) were massacred at a royal dinner on 1 June 2001 allegedly by Crown Prince Dipendra. A section of Nepalese people believed that King Gyanendra (Birendra's brother) was the main conspirator. [1] However, according to published reports from eyewitnesses and the results of an investigation carried by a two man committee made up of the Chief of the Supreme Court Keshav Prasad Upadhaya and the speaker of the House of Representatives Taranath Ranabhat [2] his eldest son and heir, Dipendra, was the gunman. [3] The motive given for Dipendra's actions were a clash with his mother over his wish to marry. Dipendra also had a history of alcohol and illegal drugs abuse and had also suffered from depression in the past. [4] Dipendra was proclaimed king but died a few days later of self inflicted gunshot wounds. King Birendra's brother, Gyanendra, then became king.

Generally seen as a benevolent monarch, King Birendra ruled absolutely for 18 years before the people's movement of 1990 convinced him to lift the ban on political parties and hand over sovereignty to the people. That single fateful decision, made on the night of Chaitra 26, 2046 B.S, changed the course of history in Nepal. It effectively undid his father's legacy and ushered in pluralistic democracy.

Nepal today is an infant but vibrant democracy thanks to king Birendra's wise decision - a direct result of the people 's movement spearheaded by the Nepali congress and communist forces.

Earlier in 2036 B.S after a students' campaign crippled the nation; the king showed he had democratic credentials by ordering a general referendum on the Panchayat system in which the voters were free to choose between a reformed Panchayat and multiparty democracy.

In the 10 years since democracy firm returned to Nepal in 1990 King Birendra has remained one of the few personalities who has stuck closely to the letter and sprit of the constitution further bolstering his democratic credentials.

The dignified manner in which he accepted his reduced powers endeared him to the people. His popularity was demonstrated by the crowds on the streets of Kathmandu which greeted him recently on his 55th birthday.

Birendra was described by the international press as an absolute ruler during the years from his accession in 1972 to 1990, when a popular movement spearheaded by various political parties forced him to accept a new constitution acknowledging the supremacy of parliament.

Birendra himself resented being called an absolute ruler and maintained that he presided over a democracy, although one in which representatives to the assembly were indirectly elected.

He wielded ultimate power, dismissing prime ministers from time to time and keeping political parties at bay. He justified his political decisions by maintaining that his poor and backward country could not afford a democracy based on party politics, but needed firm and decisive government.

Although deeply committed to Nepal's development, he was unable to solve the country's chronic economic problems nor the corruption in government that beset South Asian nations. The unstable governments that followed under parliamentary rule have had no more success than the king did.

Even after the transfer of power to parliament, the Nepalese army remained loyal to King Birendra. Yet he never made any attempt to recover his former position by force.

A senior politician in Kathmandu mentioned that the king had resisted deploying army troops to combat Maoist rebels demanding the abolition of the monarchy and who control large areas of Nepal.

Even when Congress campaigned against Birendra's rule, it would always stress that the monarchy was a vital symbol of Nepal's unity and independence.

Birendra always tried to steer a middle course, beset by the conflicting pressures of Nepal's two gigantic neighbors, India and China. He succeeded for the most part until a rift in the late 1980's with Rajiv Gandhi, then Prime Minister of India, abetted an economic crisis which fueled the movement against Birendra in 1990.

Birendra was a traditional monarch even with reduced powers, still surrounding himself with elaborate protocol, retaining an important religious role, and keeping well away from the press.

He was reported to believe that the monarchy's survival lay in maintaining a certain mystique. The way he chose to perform his role suited his own reserved personality.

With Birendra s death, Nepal has lost a well-loved king. For all the criticism heaped on him before he accepted parliamentary rule, he proved himself in the end to have been wise and statesmanlike, deeply understanding his people.

His Late Majesty acquired his early education at St. Joshep's School, Darjeeling and higher education at Eton College, England, (1959 A.D.-1964 A.D.), University of Tokyo (Japan) and Harvard University (USA), (1967 A.D.-1968 A.D.).