Bastipur mourns NC leader Giri’s demise

By Santosh Subedi, Siraha, Aug. 22: People in Bastipur, where Nepali Congress leader and socialist thinker Pradip Giri was born and brought up, and Lahan are now mourning his death.

Saddened by the news of Giri’s death, the locals of Bastipur stopped their works on Sunday. They were seen gathered in local tea stalls, resting platforms and other public places, talking about Giri’s contribution to the society and the country’s democratic movement over the years.

All the shops were closed in Lahan Bazaar on Sunday as well. 

Locals were also questioning local journalists whether Giri’s body would be brought to Bastipur for final rituals or not.

“We heard that brother Pradip’s dream was to live his final days at the Ashram near his ancestral home in Bastipur. But an unprecedented incident took place. We are shocked and saddened,” said Sanjay Agrawal, a local businessman of Lahan. Agrawal said that all the locals wished that Giri’s final rituals were performed at the Khatti River nearby the Ashram.

Lahan Municipality has also declared a public holiday on Monday in memory for Giri following which the government offices and educational institutions remained shut.

Siraha district’s Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) also requested all the businesses across the district to remain shut on Monday to mourn Giri’s demise.

Born in a well-to-do family, Giri, however, got involved in socialist movement from his early days. 

Local farmers, people from marginalised communities and even rich people would praise Giri for the equal behaviour they received from late Giri.

Bastipur villagers had been praying to the gods and conducting rituals for the well-being of Giri as soon as they got information of his deteriorating health in Lalitpur-based Mediciti Hospital.

As soon as the news of Giri’s death reached Bastipur, around half the villagers left for Kathmandu by reserving vans at 3 am Sunday morning.

“It wasn’t the time for him to leave us. His ideologies are still relevant for this country. He had even told that he would write an autobiography. When he was thinking of it, he fell ill. I am unaware if he wrote it or not,” said 71-year-old Kumud Ranjan Baral, one of Giri’s childhood friends from Bastipur.

“It was in 1980 when I came to know Giri as he came back from Banaras during the national referendum in 1979. He came and advocated for multi-party democracy. His advocacy pulled us and we started supporting his movement for multi-party system,” remembers 73-year-old Ganga Bahadur Raut aka Basu, an old friend of Giri. 

“The then government couldn’t stand the progressive thinking, ideologies and speeches of Giri and he was chased away. He even was in dispute with the Nepali Congress leaders and was deprived of the party’s membership. But he never strayed from his ideology,” Raut recalled.

It was only in 1989 that Giri was granted membership of Nepali Congress by Ram Prasad Mishra, a local leader from the then Ward No. 6 of Lahan. 

“Even leader Mishra was sidelined by some senior leaders from granting Giri the membership. In 1994’s general election, Giri was given a ticket from the stronghold area of the communists expecting him to lose for sure. However, Giri won the election and his political space became broader since then,” said Raut.

Lahan Municipality Mayor Mahesh Chaudhary said, “Pradip Giri was a source of motivation for youths like us during that time. He used to say that he didn’t want to do active politics but would motivate youths towards politics and sought support for that ideology. Now, we will make sure to fulfil his wishes.”