BP Koirala
Mohan Shumsher | |
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Personal details | |
Born | Benares, Benares State, British India | 8 September 1914
Died | 21 July 1982 Kathmandu, Nepal | (aged 67)
Political party | Nepali Congress |
Spouse | Sushila Koirala |
Children | 4, including Prakash Koirala and Shashanka Koirala |
Parent |
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Relatives | See Koirala family |
Alma mater | Banaras Hindu University University of Calcutta |
Signature | |
Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala (
Koirala was the first
Widely regarded as one of the greatest political personalities in Nepal, Koirala was a staunch supporter of democracy. He asserted that guarantees of individual liberty and civil and political rights alone were not sufficient in a poor country like Nepal, and that democratic socialism was the solution to Nepal's underdevelopment.[4][5]
Early life
The second son of
The British Raj charged him and his brother,
While still a student, he became involved in the
Political career
Following his release, with Indian independence imminent, he set about trying to bring change to Nepal. In 1947 he founded in India the socialist Nepali National Congress, which in 1950 became the
Koirala went back to India, and began looking for arms to storm Kathmandu. Finally, Koirala led the
Koirala led his country's delegation to the
In 1968, the then Prime Minister
After returning from a further medical visit to the United States, he had a series of audiences with
Despite obviously failing health and political strength, Koirala could still draw a great popular support. He addressed one of Nepal's largest public meetings in recent years in Kathmandu's Ratna Park in January 1982. He died on 21 July 1982, in Kathmandu. An estimated half a million people attended his funeral.
Literature
While Koirala is considered one of the most charismatic political leader of Nepal, he was also one of the most well-read and thoughtful writers of
His first stories were published in
Koirala was very busy in the 1950s as he was often found amidst the political situations of Nepal. He was, however, able to write an incomplete novel Hitlar ra Yahudi (Hitler and the Jews) in the form of travelogue. The 1960s were very productive for Koirala in terms of his literary output. He wrote many novels and short stories in jail during 1960–68. They include: Teen Ghumti (Three Turns), 1968; Narendra Dai (Brother Narendra), 1969; Sumnima (A story of the first Kirata woman), 1969; Modiain (The Grocer's Wife), 1980; Shweta Bhairavi (The White Goddess of Terror), 1983; Babu Ama ra chora (Father, mother and sons), 1989; and an incomplete autobiography Mero Katha (My Story), 1983, and many more yet to be published.
Koirala also has dozens of political essays including the following: "Rajatantra ra Lokatantra" ("Monarchy and Democracy"), 1960; "Thichieka Janata Jagisake" ("The Oppressed People Rise"), 1969; "Rastriyata Nepalko Sandarbhama" ("Nationalism in the Context of Nepal"), 1970; "Kranti: Ek Anivaryata" ("Revolution: An Absolute Necessity"), 1970; "Panchayati Vyavastha Prajatantrik Chaina" ("The Panchayat System is not Democratic"), 1978; "Prajatantra ra Samajvad" ("Democracy and Socialism"), 1979; and "Rastriya Ekata ko Nimti Ahwan" ("A Call for National Reconciliation"), 1980.
Koirala's writings (both political and literary) were banned until recently. Nepalese youths spent several years of imprisonment just on the charges of possessing Koirala's writings. Another problem is that his rare and important writings have been scattered all over. Old newspapers and magazines (including the underground publications) have to be researched. Libraries, museums, and archives in
Koirala was the focus of Nepalese politics during the 1950s, 1960s, and the 1970s. Even today, long after his death, people of Nepal feel that the restoration of
As a politician, Koirala struggled throughout his life for the establishment of a multi-party democracy in his country. Traditional forces, still strong to resist such effort, made it very hard for "B. P." to accomplish his political mission. As a social democrat, Koirala differed with communists; as he often said man cannot live by bread alone. He also differed with the capitalists as he thought that unbridled consumerism was immoral, and that the appalling exploitation of the world's resources was short-sighted and unrealistic. He believed that only socialism could guarantee political freedom and equal economic opportunities to the people. He said, "socialism is the wave of the future."
Koirala had studied economics, logic, literature, and law. He was a voracious reader of English, German, French, Russian, Hindi, Bengali and Nepali literature. His educational background and artistic abilities were combined in his own works to present a view of life in an artistic, logical and compelling manner. He would thus shake the conscience of Nepali readers by questioning their unreflective acceptance of the traditional value systems.
Koirala's short stories were first published in the 1930s in Hindi and Nepali literary magazines. Koirala first came to notice in Nepali literature because often his characters seemed to have been treated with an understanding of Freudian psychoanalysis. Even when a short story or novel of Koirala was not Freudian in its approach, it was still noteworthy to Nepali readers because he presented an unconventional approach to life.
Legacy
The following institutions have been set up in his memory:
- In 1992, the B. P. Koirala Nepal Health Foundation was inaugurated by the prime ministers of India and Nepal with the objective of supplementing the normal cooperation and interaction at the Government-to-Government level by providing statesmen, media persons, etc. to constantly nurture and further enhance the understanding and friendship between two countries. The trust is a symbol of Nepali renaissance [12][13]
- In 1992, the Government of Nepal has established the B. P. Koirala Memorial Planetarium, Observatory and Science Museum Development Board in 1992 in order to establish Planetaria, Observatories and Science Museums in Nepal & conduct research activities in the area of Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology [14][15]
- B. P. Koirala Memorial Trust (B. P. Trust) was established in 2000 in memory of the late B. P. Koirala. It is the only legal institution approved by the government of Nepal to collect royalties, claim copyrights and allow legal permission regarding B. P. Koirala. B. P. Trust receives financial support from the government. The establishment of this Trust in B. P. Koirala's memory can be considered as a remarkable achievement.[16]
Also, various programs are organized in Nepal as well as outside Nepal to remember his selfless contributions to Nepal.[17][18][19]
See also
- Nepali literature
- Biratnagar jute mill strike
- Girija Prasad Koirala
- Koirala family
Bibliography
- Doshi Chasma
References
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
- ISBN 978-99933-1-308-3. Archived from the originalon 1 February 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
- ^ "Last Days with BP Koirala". Nepal Times. 14 October 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
- ^ "BP And His Thoughts". Archived from the original on 23 July 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
- ^ Chatterjee, Bhola (9 April 2015). "BP Koirala: Bhola Chatterjee". Lagatar. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
- ^ Bhuwan Lal Joshi; Leo E. Rose (1966). Democratic Innovations in Nepal: A Case Study of Political Acculturation. University of California Press. p. 63. GGKEY:5N30S3HU9BC.
- ^ "B.P. Koirala's Atmabrittanta: Late Life Recollections". Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
- ^ Sankya, Jampa (19 August 1977). "King Birendra of Nepal in a fix over former PM B.P. Koirala's release". India Today. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
- ^ A commentary prepared by Bhola Chatterjee, a close friend of B. P. Koirala and renowned Indian journalist from Kolkata, India
- ^ "विश्वेश्वरप्रसाद कोइरालाको कहानी". विश्वेश्वरप्रसाद कोइरालाको कहानी. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
- JSTOR 40874126.
- ^ "BP Koirala Nepal Health Foundation".
- ^ "PM underscores need to adopt BP's path".
- ^ "B.P. Koirala Memorial Planetorium, Observatory and Science Museum Development Board". Archived from the original on 23 July 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
- ^ "B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Science".
- ^ "BP Koirala Memorial Trust". Retrieved 24 August 2019.
- ^ "Country remembers BP Koirala for his contribution". Archived from the original on 24 July 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
- ^ "B.P. Koirala remembered Indian ambassador Rae highlighted B.P. Koirala's contribution". SpotlightNepal.com.
- ^ "B.P. Koirala's National Reconciliation Relevant Forever". Archived from the original on 23 July 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
External links