Sushil Koirala : The One Who Devoted Whole Life for Sake of Democracy
Sushil Koirala
Sushil Koirala, Even though the tireless warrior of the democratic movement, the President of the Nepali Congress and former Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, does not have a physical body, his contribution to Nepali politics will remain unforgettable for ages. Sushil Koirala, who played a leading role in drafting the constitution, was the sixth Prime Minister of the Republic of Nepal. Koirala was the country’s chief executive for about 20 months. Koirala died at his residence in Maharajgunj at 12.50 last night due to fever and pneumonia.
Remaining steadfast and inseparable in the principles of nationalism, democracy and socialism, he was elected as the Central Member, General Secretary, Deputy President and Acting President of the Congress from the 12th General Convention. The 76-year-old unmarried Koirala, who has been undergoing treatment for cancer for a long time, was busy preparing and leading the party’s 13th general convention till the last moment. He was again seen as the party’s presidential candidate.
The demise of Koirala, one of the three main leaders in the party, himself, Sher Bahadur Deuba and Ram Chandra Poudel, has caused irreparable damage to the Congress. With his demise, the entire program of the General Convention has been postponed.
Leader of Consensus, Cooperation and Reconciliation
Established as a selfless and loyal leader and rich in simple life and high ideals, Koirala was adamant in politics that all problems should be solved on the basis of continuous consensus, cooperation, reconciliation and unity.
Sushil, the eldest son of father Bodh Prasad and mother Kumudini, was born on 28 July 1996 in Biratnagar, Morang. His ancestral bag is Dumja of Sindhuli. Sushil is also one of the family members connected to Krishna Prasad Koirala who contributed to the democratic movement of Nepal. He has six brothers and three sisters.
After becoming the largest Congress party in the second Constituent Assembly, Koirala was elected Prime Minister on January 11, 2008. After the promulgation of the constitution, he resigned from the post of prime minister as agreed by the three major political parties.
Exile and Prison
Koirala, who spent a decade and a half in exile during politics, was arrested in exile during the armed revolution around 2030 BS. He was lodged in Delhi Jail after his arrest. While in prison, he was subjected to brutal and inhumane torture.
After six years in prison and exile, he returned home during the 2036 BS referendum to form a multi-party referendum and ran around the country with President Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala and leader Girija Prasad Koirala. After the death of Jananayaka Bishweshwar Prasad, he was posted in a European country for party work.
Returning from Europe, he became involved in the movement against the Panchayat system. He also played an active role in the first people’s movement of 2046 BS. In the parliamentary election of 2048 BS, he was elected as a Member of Parliament from Banke Constituency No. 2. When asked for the post of minister at that time, he had given priority to the party over the public post and was assigned to the party’s work.
In the parliamentary election of 2056 BS, he was re-elected as a Member of Parliament from Banke Constituency No. 2. He played an important role in the people’s movement of 1963 BS.
In the first Constituent Assembly election held in 2064 BS, he was defeated by Banke. After that, he won the second Constituent Assembly election held on 4 November 2070 BS from Banke and Chitwan.
Efficient Organizer
Known as a saint, gentleman and loyal leader within the party, Koirala was also an efficient organizer within the party organization.
He has been active in politics since his childhood and had participated in the movement to end the Jahaniya Rana regime in 2007 along with his father Bodh Prasad. Koirala, who has been active in politics since 2010 BS, became a central member of the Nepali Congress in 2036 BS. He had actively participated in the movements of 046 BS and 062 BS from the Satyagraha of 1942 BS.
Sushil, who worked closely with former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, handed over the leadership of the government after fulfilling his vow to give a new constitution to the country by following the path of consensus, cooperation and reconciliation.
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He had closely watched the life of Tarini Prasad Koirala, the founding leader of the Nepali Congress, who led the movement against the Jahaniya Rana regime. Koirala joined the party in 2012 BS. He had taken party membership from the hands of Jananayaka Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala.
He went into exile in India in 2017 after the then King Mahendra overthrew the government led by the first elected Prime Minister Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala.
Koirala continued to agitate against the Panchayat system, saying, “Honesty is the greatest virtue and strength of a politician.” He worked with the late leader Girija Prasad in the armed movement announced by the party at that time.
Koirala at SAARC level
During Koirala’s tenure as Prime Minister, Koirala played a key role in fostering goodwill between the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and the Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif at the 18th Summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in Kathmandu.
Koirala also became the vice president of the Socialist International.
e to BP to Girija Prasad
Koirala worked closely with leaders such as Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala, Suvarna Shamsher Rana, Ganeshman Singh, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and Girija Prasad. He had worked as a journalist. He was also the editor of the party’s mouthpiece ‘Tarun’ magazine.
His writings on democratic socialism guided the party ideologically.
His works were also studied by the then top leaders of the party, Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala, Suvarna Shamsher Rana, Ganeshman Singh, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and Girija Prasad Koirala.
