.The respected and well-known singer Narayan Gopal was perhaps not decorated for being what he is best known as-an artist. He was also the general manager of the Cultural Corporation. All self-respecting artists think it disgraceful to seek favours of the Home Ministry for being awarded. As long as the culture of neglect in the distribution of awards remains, the nation cannot look up to the recipients with respect. The king has to begin reforming the process, because the awards and decorations are awarded on his behalf, and because the queen is the custodian of all national awards. Another reform that needs to happen is more relevant now, on the eve the king's state visit to China. The Panchayati tradition of declaring a holiday on the day the His Majesty begins and ends a state visit abroad is still in vogue. It is time to rethink the rationale and relevance of this tradition. Such a tradition, which directly affects productivity, cannot perhaps be found in any other country of the world. How relevant is it to think that the institution of monarchy can be respected by stopping productive activities, shutting down administrative, educational and other general activities? Is not the continuity of such a tradition equivalent to the waste of "man-days" or "man hours" during a general strike?

There may not be a direct relationship between the decorations and public holidays. But that does not stop anyone from initiating a disciplined, professional and constructive culture. Because these two traditions are associated with the institution of monarchy, no other institution but the monarchy can initiate reform.