Tributes To Late Giri

The entire nation is now mourning the demise of Nepali Congress (NC) leader and lawmaker Pradip Giri. A renowned socialist thinker, Giri, 75, passed away while undergoing treatment at Nepal Mediciti Hospital in Lalitpur on Saturday night. He was suffering from pneumonia that caused multi-organ failure. For the past couple of months, he was also fighting a final-stage throat cancer. As his health condition started worsening, he was brought back to Kathmandu a few days ago. His last rites were performed with state honours at Pashupati Aryaghat on Sunday. Though Giri was associated with the NC from his student life, he was equally popular among leaders and cadres of opposition parties because of his in-depth learning and unequalled eloquent skills. In his demise, the NC has lost a prominent leader and socialist scholar while the nation has missed a leader of conviction. He was so intrepid that he did not hesitate in criticising even his party leadership. He was also widely held among socialist leaders from around the world. 

What was more striking was that he never held any position of benefit. However, he was elected to the House of Representatives for two terms from Siraha in 1995 and 2017. He was also elected as a Constituency Assembly (CA) member in 2008 and 2013.  Born and brought into a well-off family at Bastipur of Siraha district, Giri had always stood in favour of the oppressed and underprivileged communities. He was born to father Mitra Lal Giri and mother Punya Prabha Giri in 2004 B.S. He completed his post-graduate degree in Economics and Philosophy from the Jawaharalal Nehru University based in New Delhi of India. As someone who was highly influenced by the Indian socialist movement and Gandhian philosophy, he led a simple life. He remained dedicated to making political and social reforms in the country. 

Many look upon Giri as an epitome of a leader who showed the way for fellow politicians to lead a normal life. He had had a special position in parliament because of scholarly and impressive speeches. Everybody was eager to listen to him cautiously. Having sound knowledge about social democracy, Marxism and other political theories and practices, he was capable of challenging anyone for their biased views. He was morally so high that no one could raise any question against him. At a time when there has been a tendency among politicians in Nepal to use the state’s resources in their medical treatment and others, he never did that. When he had to go to Mumbai for the treatment of his throat cancer, the government offered some financial support. But he refused to take it. 

With a great sense of humour, the scholar has more than a dozen books on economics, philosophy and Marxism to his credit. Some of his dreams could not materialise because of his ill health. Even in the last stage of his life, he had wanted to deliver a powerful speech in parliament aiming at reaching out his message to the masses. He had also planned to write his memoirs and political recollections. Besides, he had envisaged taking Nepali youths to political leadership role. A host of political leaders, including President Bidya Devi Bhandari, former President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, former Prime Ministers Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, Jhala Nath Khanal, Madhav Kumar Nepal and KP Sharma Oli, expressed their grief and sadness over Giri’s demise. We also pray our sincere tributes to the versatile personality.