And in Prithvi Chowk, the Prithvi’s Statue did not stand…
Suddenly, the group ascended Prithvi Narayan Shah's statue in the middle of the chowk. A cube and a hammer were used to strike the statue's head, waist, and legs.
POKHARA: One morning in 2007. May 1 means Labor Day. This is an important day for communists. However, May 1st, 16 years ago, was a very sad day in Pokhara.
A camp of the Maoist youth organization YCL is located near Prithvi Chowk. To commemorate May 1, a group of YCL members marched towards Prithvi Chowk, yelling slogans. There were anti-king and pro-activists rights slogans.
Suddenly, the group ascended Prithvi Narayan Shah’s statue in the middle of the chowk. A cube and a hammer were used to strike the statue’s head, waist, and legs. The statue was demolished and fell to the ground within minutes.
They kicked the fallen statue one by one. Prithvi Chowk’s statue, broken into pieces, was never raised. Prithvi Chowk has not vanished from people’s minds despite the absence of the ruler of Prithvi.
The government later erected a statue of the first martyr, Lakhan Thapa, there. Although the name Lakhan Chowk appears on some signs, Prithvi Chowk is more well-known. This intersection also serves as the beginning of the Prithvi Highway in Pokhara, Kathmandu.
Photos: Sudarshan Ranjit
-Prakash Dhakal
