Your Majesty has recently visited the far-west and mid-western regions. What were the sentiments and desires expressed by the people?
King Gyanendra: What I found were different sentiments but one wish-people wished for peace. Some spoke about personal things, some about their districts, some asked for favours, some gave suggestions but mainly wherever we went the people wanted peace. Peace first and only then development.

There have been more requests for peace than development. How does Your Majesty view this?
This has come from the hearts of the people. The state has given preference to this. Peace is about the mind, it's not just about a peaceful environment. If there is peace of mind this will spread and there will be peace in the environment as well. But the difficulty for us is that unfortunately there are some factors spreading violence. We hear they are raising donations, there is terrorism and the people are terrorised. It's natural that the people want to be able to sleep peacefully at night, to be able to eat two meals a day and go to work peacefully. We hear that terrorists are targeting industries again. When there is a fight between brothers others will take advantage.

What I believe is that if those who have lost their way put the nation and national unity at the centre and think, there will certainly be a way out. There was a time when I used to hear from the people themselves that the terrorists are trying to bring change for the better, that they are doing what the people want but what has happened? When they crossed the line and leaned towards terrorism the people left their side.

Before we used to hear there are 41 demands, this many demands, that many demands. Not that there weren't any good demands, there were good ones as well. Perhaps past governments did not give it enough thought? If they had, perhaps we would not be in the pit we are in? There are many things we have tried to address in our 21-point program. If we can make the nation the centre there will certainly be a way out.

During Your Majesty's visit the people raised different demands about peace and security, about development, slow administration and many have even expressed personal demands. Will Your Majesty give any directions concerning this?
There have been different demands, some are personal too. We will look at it all once we return to the capital. Some will be genuine. We must give special attention to those. Some are about the district, some about peace some about education. The state must give preference to them and think about whether these have
been considered for our main strategy and if not, how to incorporate them.

The state cannot do everything, that is why I have always been stressing participation. Leave it to the people and the people's representatives. But those who call themselves the people's representatives should truly represent the people. They should take people's problems seriously.

The far-west and the mid-west are considered to be heavily influenced by the Maoists but Your Majesty's
visit was conducted amongst the people present in great numbers. What has Your Majesty taken from this?
First of all I would like to thank the people. I have learnt a lesson from them. Even in this heat they stood waiting and sweating. The flowers in their hands had already dried but they were determined to give them. I heard that there were some factions who tried to disrupt this. They were trying to make their presence felt but the people answered them by coming.

I have also learnt patience from the people. They waited patiently to see their king. They had to talk to me even if it was difficult. One should be able to listen to everything, whether good or bad. We might be able to do some things and maybe be unable to do others. Going to the people means this. One should be able to listen to both sweet things and sour words with patience. This was what I learnt.

During the visit Your Majesty met and talked with different members of society: the intelligentsia, the old, physically challenged. What difference have you found after the Royal Proclamation of February First?
One thing I experienced is that the confidence level of Nepalis has increased, so has their nationalism. After February First we have also heard that services are now a little faster. Some said that they have decreased. For those who are in the service of the people and the country and are not providing that service to the people I will warn them-now is not the time to show this attitude. The people must receive services. Those responsible must do the people's work. They can't say 'this is difficult' or 'that is difficult'.

How should the media operate considering the present state of the nation?
I feel this is the most difficult question. (Coughs) This has given me a cough. How they should operate is not something I have to tell them. Our wish is that those who have taken the responsibility should work in a disciplined way considering this crucial time that we are going through. I have said this before and I would like to repeat it again-terrorism must not be encouraged. We must not forget that the country is still in a crisis. The crisis has not been averted. Did the 'fourth estate' keep quiet only during the emergency? I did not think so. The country is in a difficult state, we must all think about it and we must all aim for this target-how to make the country peaceful, stable and democratic. We need democracy. But without making democracy strong in the base it is no use just shaking the head.

We must think about it and democracy will have meaning. What is the lesson from the Gita? To do your work, not search for rewards. Once we are born we must do something or the other. Today, the nation has already taken an aim and this was also what we meant in the February First proclamation. Terrorism is unacceptable and how are we going to make democracy strong and able? There are different ways to get to the destination but while walking down that road if we see a turning and worry about it when are we going to reach the destination? We must come out of the habit of getting stuck at each bend.

It is the same thing happening with the political parties and the monarch. They should be clear on three, four points. They must be clear about terrorism. If they can't tell the king they must answer to the people. Then comes discipline and corruption. The parties need to be clear that many things have been politicised. They should have clear views on this. I have heard that civil servants are politicised. I am open from my side, but there must be some basis for talks. I am also responsible to the people.