Dipendra of Nepal

Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah (Nepali: दीपेन्द्र वीर विक्रम शाह) (27 June 1971 – 4 June 2001) was the 13th King of Nepal. He reigned from 1 to 4 June 2001 whilst in a coma following an incident in which he fatally shot his father (the reigning king) and other family members.

King Dipendra received his early education at Budhanilkantha School, Kathmandu. Later, he attended Eton College in England. After Eton, he attended Tribhuvan University in Nepal and later joined the Military Academy, Kharipati, Nepal. He studied Geography at Tribhuvan University for his master's degree and was a PhD student at the same university. He received military training from Academy of Royal Nepalese Gurkha Army, and piloting training from civil aviation Department.

Dipendra was interested in the fields of social service and had a keen interest in sports. He used to attend various national and international sports ceremonies where Nepalese players participated. Dipendra became a keen karateka when he was studying in England and had received black belt at around the age of 20. He was a patron of the National Sports Council and Nepal's Scouts.

Dipendra also wrote articles that were published in Nepalese periodicals. His writings were often on the motifs of nationhood and nationality.

Official reports state that Dipendra massacred his own family members including both his parents because of anger over a marriage dispute. Dipendra's choice of bride was Devyani Rana, daughter of Pashupati Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana, a member of the Rana clan. According to the official account, Dipendra was denied his choice of a wife by his mother Queen Aishwarya. After an alcohol and hashish binge, he massacred his family in a much-publicised incident and then shot himself. Among the dead were his father King Birendra, mother, brother, and sister. Dipendra was proclaimed King as he lay comatose in a hospital bed, but died of his injuries on 4 June after a three-day reign. He was succeeded by his uncle, Prince Gyanendra.

National honours

• Sovereign of the Order of Nepal Pratap Bhaskara
• Sovereign of the Order of Ojaswi Rajanya
• Sovereign of the Order of Nepal Taradisha
• Sovereign of the Order of Tri Shakti Patta
• Sovereign of the Order of Gorkha Dakshina Bahu
• Most Glorious Mahendra Chain
• King Birendra Investiture Medal (24/02/1975)
• Commemorative Silver Jubilee Medal of King Birendra (31/01/1997)

Foreign honours

•  Denmark : Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog (17/10/1989)
•  Germany : Knight Grand Cross Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (1997)
•  Japan : Knight Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum (12/04/2001)

• ^ "Royal Ark". Royalark.net. Retrieved 2 December 2014.