ABSTRACT
The practice of statecraft at the discretion of rulers continued to influence the structure and function of the armed forces of Nepal for a long time. The succession to high military ranks remained narrow and parochial, and was possible only through matrimonial ties, or by other familial/patronage routes. Any movement for taking power away from the traditional monarchy and giving it to the people was a threat to the high-ranking officers of the Nepalese military. The royal patronage and patrimonial system, which was prevalent in the country between 1951 to 2006 resulted in drawing the military high command closer to the king, who actually manipulated the power of the state during this period by virtue of his clan relationships within the army. Both the king and the military were the beneficiaries of the loyalty of the army to monarchy. This loyalty automatically motivated the military politically even though it continued to verbally advocate its ‘apolitical’ role as not being an ‘instrument of any [political] party’, as expressed by Prajwal Shamsher J.B.R. (Commander-in-Chief’s Speech, 14 May 2001).
