Nepal Celebrates 19th Republic Day, Former President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav Reflects on Journey

Lalitpur. With the strength of the seven-decade-long struggle of the Nepali people and the People's Movement of 2062/63, Nepal was declared a Federal Democratic Republic by the first meeting of the historic Constituent Assembly held on Jestha 15, 2065. Subsequently, on Shrawan 6, 2065, Dr. Ram Baran Yadav was elected as the first President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal.

With the declaration of the republic and the establishment of the presidential institution, the federal system of governance was implemented. The constitution of Nepal was promulgated by the Constituent Assembly on Ashwin 3, 2072, by the hand of the first President Dr. Yadav himself, institutionalizing the Federal Democratic Republican system. Today, the 19th Republic Day is being celebrated in memory of the day the republic was declared. Presented here is an edited excerpt of a conversation with Dr. Yadav, the first President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, as the country completes 18 years of the republic's attainment and celebrates the 19th Republic Day.