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In his speech to his people, the young King, who feels a sense of mission to modernize his country, called for Nepal to enter a "new age" in which poverty and illiteracy would be overcome. Toward that end, he ordered his government to make primary education free to every child (at present only 13% of his 12 million subjects are literate). He emphasized that Nepal would continue to pursue a nonaligned foreign policy and remain scrupulously neutral in matters affecting its giant neighbors, India and China. By tradition the Nepalese have feared domination by India, and were greatly concerned when New Delhi absorbed their Himalayan neighbor, Sikkim, last year.
The King, who was educated at Eton and once studied at Harvard, also made it clear that the monarchy would remain absolute, even though he has set up a commission to study the possibilities of democratic reform. "The throne," he insisted, "embodies this country's sovereignty, integrity and national dignity."