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VOL. 28, NO. 17, Jan 02, 2009 (Paush 18 2065 B.S.) |
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Everlasting
Resonance
Ignoring and undermining what legendary leader B.P. Koirala visualized 38 years ago when returning home after his eight years long exile to India, Nepali Congress got involved in the process to declare Nepal as a federal republic under the leadership of B.P's own brother Girija Prasad Koirala who argued that only removal of monarchy could bring much needed political stability and democracy in Nepal. Although seven months have already passed since Nepal became a republic following the proposal accepted by the first meeting of Constituent Assembly, there is neither any sign of peace, stability nor stable democracy. Tthe crisis visualized by B.P. Koirala comes true as Nepal is now facing the challenges not only to safeguard democracy and democratic rights but its own identity. Although in this hour of crisis national reconciliation is more relevant than any time in the past, unfortunately, there is no leader like B.P. who can pursue this with same vigor and dedication
By KESHAB POUDDEL
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BP Koirala: A legendary leader |
"Today, our country is in a national crisis. All have realized that this crisis is getting heightened since the last few years. As a result, the very national identity has been endangered…the lack of national unity is a major factor for such a national crisis as a result of which foreign elements have started to become successful to play their dirty games and making Nepal a center of international conspiracy."
What legendary leader B.P. Koirala said in his statement on December 30, 1976 upon arrival in Nepal after eight years long exile in India has come true to today's Nepal. From rebel turned prime minister Prachanda to foreign minister Upendra Yadav, leader of regional based political party Madhesi Janadhikar Forum, every one is talking about the national crisis and meddling of external elements in national level as well as party's internal politics.
Not only other leaders, even Nepali Congress leader Girija Prasad Koirala, who expressed that it was his happiest moment of life when CA abolished monarchy on his proposal, said that democracy and the country is in crisis.
With his full determination and dedication to his cause, B.P. Koirala – who had never compromised his faith and ideal of patriotism and democracy- returned to Nepal ignoring the capital punishment in 1976. Koirala saw national crisis and identity of Nepal as more important than his own personal life.
Unfortunately, B.P.'s own brother Girija Prasad Koirala played an instrumental role to bring the country into present constitutional chaos where red-tagged hardliner communist CPN-Maoist is ruling the county and upsurge of regional armed groups and political parties is threatening the very existence of Nepal.
Similar to B.P.'s return from exile, Nepal is again facing a crisis. During B.P.'s time the politics was under the grip of extreme rightists led by Dr. Tulsi Giri and now the politics is under the grip of extreme leftists led by Prachanda while the South Asian regional situation is as hostile now like it was in the past because of cold war.
This visualization of national crisis and his policy of national reconciliation makes B.P. Koirala relevant all the time in Nepalese politics. Names of many Nepalese politicians including his own brother G.P. Koirala, who claimed to have abolished monarchy and led two revolutions, is fading out of memory of the people but B.P is
still remembered for his noble ideals and commitment for patriotism and liberal democracy.
"Since we have given up the B.P's policy, our party has lost our identity. Today, we are nowhere in terms of ideology," said Govinda Raj Joshi, member of central working committee of NC." In a federal democratic republic, I don't know how will our party fit and where we will make our position."
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GP Koirala: Reconciliation or confrontation |
Sandwiched between Asia's two great powers India and China, Nepal has been facing crisis not of its own making but those created due to regional rivalry. "B.P felt that he was used as a bargaining chip in which the greatest loser would be the people of Nepal. After a serious consideration of the regional politics, he took a drastic decision to return back to the country ignoring even the safety of his life. The situation in the region, like the formation of Bangladesh and annexation of Sikkim by a big neighboring country prompted Koirala to return with the policy of national reconciliation," said a political analyst, who was very close to B.P. Koirala. "The horrifying Vietnam war had just concluded. As a political analyst he visualized a new area of confrontation or conflict between two warring camps of cold war. He reached to the conclusion that the next area of conflict between the forces of cold war would be south Asia. In such a situation, he made a very lucid and epic-making statement while coming back to Nepal. He gave a call of national reconciliation and did not wait for response from king of that time. The appeal was to the nation involving all including the King and the people."
Although every politician realized the need for national reconciliation whenever they are in power, they start preferring instability once out of power. However, B.P. Koirala pursued the policy of national reconciliation when he was facing charges of capital punishment. In his statement B.P. Koirala said, "In this hour of national crisis, all of us should get united by forgetting and ending the past unhealthy debates, experiences and differences. Our program should be directed by the feeling that we will no more exist in absence of nation. I don't know what fate awaits me after I return
to the country."
Even following the declaration of republic and sidelining of traditional forces, Nepal's situation has not changed much. Even among the political forces which joined hands to abolish monarchy, there are divisions and disunity.
At a time when the country is full of leaders with vested interest and power hunger, no political leaders has the guts to speak above the party and petty interest. "National reconciliation is still relevant to Nepal but the situation of B.P. Koirala and now is different," Girija Prasad Koirala told Spotlight. "I am urging all political leaders to unite for the cause of democracy and national unity."
As a leader of the largest party, G.P. Koirala with a long history of political struggle has lost the opportunity to be in the government. Unexpectedly, as a revolutionary nurtured in exile, CPN-Maoist leader Prachanda reached to the power with all jubilance but soon after his worries have increased tremendously.
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Sujata: Follower of reconciliations |
Prime minister Prachanda has been repeatedly expressing his apprehension of losing hold in the government because of known and unknown reason. No political leader of any prominent party in parliament have a sense of grip in the leadership.
Even Nepali Congress leadership is in crisis. "We need to revive party by preaching B.P. Koirala's national reconciliation. The time has come for us to lead the nation wide campaign by taking B.P.'s national reconciliation which is the heart of our party," said Sujata Koirala, daughter of G.P. Koirala.
"After his long experiences, B.P. Koirala realized the importance of reconciliation among the major political forces at that time. People may find inconsistency in his political career. Since 1951 revolution, he has gone though many ups and downs of his political career. On the one hand, B.P. had problems with adjustments with rationale of monarchy due to his radical outlook but, on the other hand, he had continuous problems from India particularly by its bureaucracy with imperialist attitude," said a political analyst, who was very close with B.P. Koirala at his last leg of political career.
"This conflict remained in his whole political career till the end of his life. He reached into a matured stage in his last leg of political career and concluded his last phase of politics by his ever lasting line of national reconciliation which still has relevancy."
Although every one is talking about B.P.'s ideals of national reconciliation, the question is now who is there to pursue his policy with same dedication and commitment? Whatever political system is there, for a small country like Nepal, national reconciliation has no alternative at all. This is why B.P. is always remembered whenever the country faces crisis.
Nationalism and Democracy
The statement B.P. Koirala gave on return from foreign exile on December 30,1976:
After a pretty long period of exile, we are returning to our country. On this occasion, I would like to say a few words to the countrymen.
Today, our country is in a national crisis. All have realized that this crisis is getting heightened since the last few years. As a result, the very national identity has been endangered. Others have also admitted this. All including the King have from time to time referred to the danger posed to national identity. We are returning to home after realizing this grave reality. We think that the lack of national unity is a major factor for such a national crisis as a result of which foreign elements have started to become successful in playing their dirty games and making Nepal a center of international conspiracy. National unity can be achieved only through a collective campaign and efforts of all Nepali people. Such a collective campaign does also lay the grounds for the institutional base for the emotional unity of the Nepali people. If the sloganeering alone could do this, the national unity would not have suffered so much nor our country would have landed in such a miserable condition in the last sixteen years. Today, there is selfishness, communalism, individualistic practices and the tendency to have external-tilt is rampant in the country. In such circumstances nationalism becomes the first casualty.
Till yesterday, our struggle was confined to the attainment of the people’s democratic rights. That’s why, we emphasized more on the democratic side. Today, there is a new dimension added to it. A dual responsibility has befallen the Nepali Congress. This second responsibility is, safeguarding the national identity. We have visualized two fold faces of today’s Nepal: Nationalism and Democracy.
It means the Nepali people should take the responsibility of restoring democracy as well as safeguarding the nation. If we talk of only one responsibility we will be following the wrong track by being one-sided. And, if we emphasized only on the restoration of democracy, we will not be contributing to addressing this national crisis. Moreover, we may even fall into the trap of the foreigners by such one-sided action. Similarly, if we talk of the nationalism only, we will be repeating the same 16-years-old hollow slogans of nationalism, and will be siding with the authoritarianism. Such a hollow slogan of nationalism cannot generate an internal willpower in the countrymen to safeguard the nation. Therefore, we need now to understand that the national unity can be built on the foundation of democracy only. And the foundation of the democracy can be cemented by the economic development and the just economic system. Therefore we feel that nationalism, democracy and economic development are interdependent on each other.
It is well known that the Nepali Congress has taken historical and serious decisions from time to time in the national interest. The decision to wage the 1951 revolution and its executions are some examples. After finding that there was conspiracy to put off the elections forever, it took the leadership of national campaign for the holding of the elections. We received the cooperation from various parties in that campaign. Nepali Congress launched the resistance movement for democracy after the cruel and the fatal blow dealt to democracy in 1960. And today, we have taken this historical decision seeing the crisis the nation is facing. This is in accordance with the tradition of the Nepali Congress.
In the history of every nation there comes such moment when its people have to risk their lives to safeguard the national identity. We think, such a moment has come in Nepal today. Our well-wishers had advised us not to return Nepal seeing the dangers involved in it. We would like to tell them that we have taken this historical decision because the likely danger to our lives is nothing as compared to the danger to the nation. The workers of Nepali Congress have also shown the example of unprecedented courage and love towards nation by returning to the motherland following the party directives.
In this hour of national crisis, all of us should get united by forgetting and ending the past unhealthy debates, experiences and differences. Our program should be directed by the feeling that we will no more exist in the absence of our nation. I do not know what fate awaits me after I return to the country. Through this statement, as the Chairman of Nepali Congress, I would like to appeal to the entire countrymen that let us all unanimously unite in the pious task of defending the nation, its progress, happiness and prosperity of the people. If I get an opportunity, I will put forth my feelings before His Majesty also. The responsibility to save the nation is the common responsibility of all.
Jai Nepal!
Bishweswor Prasad Koirala
Dec.30, 1976
(This excerpt has been reproduced in order to re-emphasize the importance of national reconciliation)
