Whence Big Brother?

As a Nepali prime minister (PM) functioning under a womanizing and wining (alcoholic) king, how would you rule? You’ve spent most of your childhood in India, and done schooling there. Then you become the PM a few months after the overthrow of the 104 year old Rana regime. For the few educated colleagues, you have only those that studied in Tri-Chandra College or in India. Since the Rana rulers functioned as the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary combined, you have to start from zero to build a democratic setup in the country. Where would you seek guidance?



In his book, A Role in a Revolution, Matrika Prasad Koirala (MP) states that for tuition in state-craft, he turned to his big brother, Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru. The Indian PM’s special role as such began even before the “Delhi Compromise”. The Nepali Congress (NC) leaders didn’t get to meet Tribhuvan in the Indian capital, so Nehru called the shots.




First, communications went haywire. Matrika writes: “There was a telephone call from Delhi to the residence of General Subarna at Patna, that His Majesty had sought for the leaders of the insurrectionary force and they were asked to proceed to Delhi. This piece of news was withheld from General Mahabir by the womenfolk, who had received the message.”



Second, when MP, BP, and Subarna Shumsher did get to Delhi, Punditji didn’t allow the three to meet the king. He didn’t see the NC leaders for two days, and then granted audience to MP alone. Nehru chided MP for about one and half hours on the “errors of BP and Subarna.”



Third, PM Mohan Sumsher’s representatives, Generals Kaishar and Vijaya Shumsher, met the king to their heart’s content. Thus, in reality Nehru engineered the “Delhi Compromise.” Given his strong personality, Nehru dictated the future course of our country with a Rana-NC coalition government. Ganeshman Singh refused to join this cabinet, and NC ministers quickly brought about the downfall of Mohan Shumsher.



Enter MP Koirala as the PM in a new non-Rana cabinet. Tribhuvan knew that BP could do the job better, and had the support of the Nepali Congress for premiership; but MP showed more loyalty to the crown. Not surprisingly, BP and his followers responded with hostility towards MP’s leadership. MP resigned on August 6, 1952; and formed his own National Democratic Party. MP’s tactical resignation allowed himself to get rid of the NC yoke and emerge as the leader of a new party. Tribhuvan asked him to form the third government. He remained the PM till March 2, 1955, when Crown Prince Mahendra accepted his second resignation. Then, Tribhuvan was fighting for his life in a Swiss hospital.



Jawaharlal Nehru acted as the big brother for MP mainly because the latter requested help in all areas of Nepali political life. Although Nehru had already shown his nasty side in Delhi, MP had no choice but to seek his guidance. More so because BP, his step-brother (BP’s mother was Krishna Prasad Koirala’s second wife), remained uncooperative. Before August 6, 1952, MP served as the President of the Nepali Congress and also the PM of the government. BP argued that he should get the post of the President, and MP should remain content with premiership. During the interim period (till the CA election takes place), MP made it clear that he himself should hold both positions. Though almost servile to the king, MP dealt firmly with his younger step-brother.



Initially, Nehru acts as the benevolent benefactor. In a letter on January 27, 1952, Nehru readily extends help with the construction of the first road linking Kathmandu with India (now the Tribhuvan Rajpath), and turning the Gauchar meadow into a proper airport. During that very month, Dr K I Singh fled to China. MP requests Nehru that the Indian Military train the Nepal Army so that such escapes can’t take place in the future. Nehru obliges. He urges BP and MP to work together. He also advises that King Tribhuvan, who had a playboy reputation, and Nepali ministers shouldn’t visit Calcutta often. They should get on with their tasks.



In April 1952, calling India the “elder sister”, MP asks for about 200 Indian bureaucrats to run everything from the Nepali judiciary to the post office. Nehru wisely sends a team of 4/5 Indian officials to assess the situation. (If Nehru wanted to take over Nepal, he could have begun by sending the personnel that MP asked for. Indian army advisors already functioned in the country.) In a letter dated April 23, Nehru rejoices over the progressing Nepali democracy. However, two months later, Nehru complains that Nepal has made no progress towards the CA election and an active Advisory Council. Nehru’s brotherly concern consisted in (sometimes) writing three letters per day for Nepal—two for MP and one for Tribhuvan.



Gradually, Nehru the big brother turns to a bully. He mentions that Mrs. Roosevelt (the American President’s wife) will soon visit India, but can’t see any reason why she should come to Nepal! On April 25, in letters both, to king and the PM, Nehru states that Nepal should co-ordinate its foreign policy together with India, and consult it before employing foreign workers. Why? Because Nepal doesn’t know them as well as India. Also asking loans from both the USA and India confuses all, so Nepal should consult her southern neighbor first. On the Tibet/Bhutan issues, Nepal should seek India’s advice. Mahendra Bikram Shah, the Nepali ambassador to India, writes to MP that Nehru once remarked, “What Tibet is to China, Nepal is to India.” The ambassador also complains that many times India, considering Nepal too an “inner line area” like some sensitive Indian states, canceled visas the Nepali embassy in Delhi had given to western visitors.



Nehru whines that Nepalis blame India for all mishaps; but don’t keep promises themselves. Foreigners pour into Nepal, but MP’s government hasn’t asked India’s advice on these. He warns, “History and geography have thrown India and Nepal together. We cannot forget that history or change geography.” He complains about the lawlessness in the Tarai. Finally, Nehru thinks MP just can’t to do the job. His advice? The “only alternative appears to be for the King to take charge temporarily, with the help of advisors, pending the formation of a stable ministry.”



MP shows his irritation at Nehru as well. Replying to hinted charges of misuse of Indian aid, he says that “such money is being spent by the Indian Officers concerned and not by the Nepal Government directly.” MP also complained that an Indian pilot with his air-crew failed to respect his commands, and then India suspended all flights to Nepal. (These resumed after punishing Nepal briefly.)



As Nepal’s first big brother, Nehru deserves credit for giving good advice and sound help. Other Indian PMs have continued this tradition. History, geography, and India’s superiority ensure that this won’t change. However, Nepal should ever remain vigilant that the big brother doesn’t turn into a bully, encroaching on her sovereignty.

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