May 27, 2007
Nepal King Fulfills
117-year-old Indian's Wish By Sudeshna Sarkar
Kathmandu
After almost a century, a 117-year-old Indian woman in Nepal finally
had her two biggest dreams fulfilled - becoming a bona fide Nepali
citizen and getting an audience with King Gyanendra.
Though she was born in Sunsari district in southern Nepal and lived
there all her life, Kamaladevi Pathak, whose parents were of Indian
origin, did not have a Nepali citizenship.
This year, when a growing movement in the Terai made the government
of Nepal issue citizenship certificates to hundreds of
citizenship-less people in the plains, Kamaladevi finally became a
bona fide citizenship with a state-issued certificate testifying it
- at the ripe age of 117.
Brimming with happiness at the better late than never state
recognition of her rights, the 117-year-old, now looked after by her
grandson Surendra, told the media - who came flocking to meet the
centenarian - that she had one last wish left.
Though there is a growing demand for the abolition of monarchy in
Nepal, in the plains, a large percentage of the people still favour
monarchy and the older generations still believe the kings are
descended from a Hindu deity.
Kamaladevi was widely reported by the media as saying that she
wanted to meet King Gyanendra once, to thank him for her
citizenship.
The reports caught the eye of the Narayanhity royal palace in
Kathmandu and the king, now stripped of his official duties and
privileges by the new coalition government, issued an invitation to
Kamaladevi.
Last week, for the first time in her life, Kamaladevi boarded a
plane with her grandson that flew her from the Biratnagar airport to
Kathmandu.
In Kathmandu, the grandmother and son were put up in a guesthouse
and on Tuesday, the king granted them an audience.
"The king was wonderful," the ecstatic elder citizen told the media
after the meeting. "He was very gracious and smiling during the
audience."
Wearing a simple white sari with a red border, Kamaladevi went to
meet the king with a local shawl wrapped round and her head covered.
She carried a garland of yellow flowers and was allowed to put it on
the king, also dressed in white. She also held the king's arms, a
privilege allowed to few.
"You are a great man," she told him. "Do great things so that
everyone sings your praise."
When the smiling king asked her if she wanted anything, she said at
her age there was nothing she wanted for herself but she would like
jobs for her grandchildren.
The entire cost of the trip, including the airfare and
accommodation, was borne by the palace, the local media said Sunday.
The palace also thoughtfully arranged a visit for her to Kathmandu's
famed Pashupatinath temple, reports said.
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