First democratic experimentप्रथम प्रजातन्त्र
Democracy won, a parliament elected — then dismissed at royal gunpoint
King Tribhuvan's return from exile on 18 February 1951 (now Democracy Day) sealed the Delhi Compromise and ended Rana rule. The decade peaked with Nepal's first general election (1959) and B.P. Koirala's Nepali Congress government — and ended when King Mahendra dismissed it all on 15 December 1960.
Delhi Compromise
7 February 1951
Democracy Day
18 February 1951 (7 Falgun) — Tribhuvan returns
First general election
18 Feb – 3 Apr 1959; NC wins 74 of 109 seats
Royal coup
15 December 1960
What happened
In November 1950 King Tribhuvan slipped his Rana minders into the Indian embassy and on to Delhi, while the Nepali Congress launched an armed uprising. Tripartite negotiations produced the Delhi Compromise (7 February 1951): a Rana–Congress coalition under the restored king, and the promise of a constituent assembly. Tribhuvan returned to Kathmandu on 18 February 1951 — celebrated since as Prajatantra Diwas (Democracy Day). The Interim Government Act 1951 replaced the stillborn Rana constitution.
The 1950s were turbulent — cabinets rose and fell, and the promised constituent assembly never met. Instead King Mahendra (acceded 1955) granted the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1959, drafted with British constitutionalist Sir Ivor Jennings: a Westminster-style parliament under a strong crown. In Nepal's first general election (February–April 1959) the Nepali Congress won a two-thirds majority, and on 27 May 1959 B.P. Koirala became the country's first elected prime minister.
Eighteen months later, on 15 December 1960, Mahendra used emergency powers to dismiss the government, jail Koirala and his cabinet, ban parties and suspend the constitution — citing corruption and disorder. Nepal's first democracy had lasted barely a decade; its first elected parliament, a year and a half.
Key events, 1951–1960
The events of this era from the full political timeline — filter by thread.
18 Feb 1951People's movements
Democracy Day — Rana rule ends
After the Delhi Compromise (7 Feb), King Tribhuvan returns; a Rana–Congress coalition takes office under the Interim Government Act.
27 May 1959Elections
B.P. Koirala — first elected PM
Nepali Congress wins a two-thirds majority in Nepal's first general election under the new 1959 constitution.
15 Dec 1960Monarchy
Royal coup
King Mahendra dismisses and jails the elected government, bans parties and suspends the constitution.
Key figures
King Tribhuvan
Reigned 1911–55; sided with the revolution against the Ranas
B.P. Koirala
Nepali Congress leader; first elected PM (27 May 1959 – 15 Dec 1960)
King Mahendra
Reigned 1955–72; granted the 1959 constitution, then staged the 1960 coup
First democratic experiment: frequently asked questions
When did the First democratic experiment era in Nepal begin and end?+
The First democratic experiment era in Nepal ran from 1951 to 1960 (1951–1960).
What defined the First democratic experiment period?+
Democracy won, a parliament elected — then dismissed at royal gunpoint. King Tribhuvan's return from exile on 18 February 1951 (now Democracy Day) sealed the Delhi Compromise and ended Rana rule. The decade peaked with Nepal's first general election (1959) and B.P. Koirala's Nepali Congress government — and ended when King Mahendra dismissed it all on 15 December 1960.
What are the key dates of the First democratic experiment era?+
Key milestones include — Delhi Compromise: 7 February 1951; Democracy Day: 18 February 1951 (7 Falgun) — Tribhuvan returns; First general election: 18 Feb – 3 Apr 1959; NC wins 74 of 109 seats; Royal coup: 15 December 1960.
What was a key event of the First democratic experiment era?+
Democracy Day — Rana rule ends (18 Feb 1951): After the Delhi Compromise (7 Feb), King Tribhuvan returns; a Rana–Congress coalition takes office under the Interim Government Act.
Sources & data note
Dates and figures for First democratic experiment (1951–1960) as documented by the listed sources. Bikram Sambat equivalents are given where customary.