KATHMANDU, July 22: The 43rd Memorial Day of Bishweshwar Prasad (BP) Koirala, Nepal’s first elected Prime Minister, is being observed across the country today (Tuesday) with various programs held in his remembrance. The commemorations reflect on his enduring contributions to Nepal’s political, literary, and social spheres.
Born on September 8, 1914 (Bhadra 24, 1971 BS), Koirala passed away on July 21, 1982 (Shrawan 6, 2039 BS). A founding leader of the Nepali Congress (NC), he is widely recognized for championing the principles of nationality, democracy, and socialism, as well as for initiating the policy of national reconciliation.
Koirala assumed office as Nepal’s first elected Prime Minister in May 1959 (Jestha 2016 BS) following the country’s first parliamentary elections held in 1958 (2015 BS). Beyond politics, he left a lasting legacy in Nepali literature.
NC celebrating 43rd National Unity and Reconciliation Day today
Regarded as a pioneer of psychological realism in Nepali fiction, Koirala authored over a dozen notable literary works, including Tin Ghumti, Modi Aayin, Hitler Ra Yehudi, Sumnima, and Narendra Dai, among others.
During his premiership, BP pushed forward the land reforms programme of abolition of the birta system and the notion that the tillers should own the land.
On 1 Poush, 2017 BS, after his popularly elected government was overthrown by the then King Mahendra Shah, Koirala and other leaders were imprisoned in the Singha Darbur. A month later, he was imprisoned in Sundarijal jail along with other leaders.
Koirala, who was released from prison for health reasons in 2025 BS, lived in exile in India for eight years. After analyzing that nationality weakened while in exile and fighting for the restoration of democracy, he returned to Nepal with the policy of national unity and reconciliation on 16 Poush, 2033 BS.
The Sundarijal Prison, where the Prime Minister, Speaker of the Parliament and Ministers of the first elected government were imprisoned, has now been transformed into the BP Museum. The museum shares a collection of important things from BP's life.
In addition to the important materials of BP's life, the tanker used in the revolution of 2007 BS, the plane of Nepal Airlines Corporation, which was hijacked by the NC to raise funds for the revolution in 2029, are also kept in the museum.
On the occasion of BP Memorial Day, NC, sister organizations, and BP Museum Management Committee will organize different programmes, Chief Secretary of the NC Central Office, Krishna Prasad Paudel, told the RSS.
Likewise, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has organized a programme to distribute the BP Koirala National Prize, BP Museum's Archaeological Officer Bhisma Baskota said.
