Prithvi Jayanti: Why does the National Unity Day divide Nepal every year?

Today marks the 300th birth anniversary of the late King Prithvi Narayan Shah , the country’s “founding father.” The nation celebrates the day as Prithvi Jayanti, which is also called National Unity Day. Restarting this year, the government has given a public holiday on the occasion , which was halted following Nepal’s transformation into a republic in 2008.

But, Unity Day is dividing the nation again as many believe King Prithvi Narayan Shah was not the unifier but a conqueror who imposed an authoritarian monarchy over dozens of independent principalities.