Veteran freedom fighter recalls days of struggle

By Dhirendra Prasad Shah,Rajbiraj, Sept. 21: Lal Dev Yadav, 91, who was voluntarily participating in the Constitution Day celebration programme, in Rajbiraj has the understanding that the Constitution is the foundational law of Nepal. 

Yadav arrived here early in the morning from Nargho, located in Rajgarh Rural Municipality 3, roughly 15 kilometers southwest of Rajbiraj, the district headquarters of Saptari. 

He neither received an invitation nor was provided with any information regarding the rally and interaction programme organised by the District Administration Office on Wednesday morning, said Chief District Officer of Saptari, Kiran Thapa.

Yadav, a freedom fighter who attended the programme, shared that the late leader BP Koirala had established an organsation while he was in Hyderabad Jail in India with the aim of promoting democracy in Nepal.

He explained that democracy was ultimately established in 2007 B.S as a result of a political struggle that commenced in 2003 B.S, which involved the formation of the Nepali Congress within prison and the establishment of a democracy camp in Nyor, border of Saptari.

“Late leaders Koirala and Krishna Prasad Bhattarai also participated in the democracy camp. During that time, the late Koirala stayed at my house for six days,” he explained.

Following the establishment of democracy, three schools were established in Saptari, specifically in Nargho, Kamalpur, and Kathuna. This achievement was significant among the 28 schools established across the country during that period.

At that time, marginalised communities, including labourers, farmers, Haruwa Charuwa (bonded labourers) of the district were deprived of education. The schools were established with the belief that education brings change. 

Lal Dev caught everyone’s attention in the morning procession as he proudly held a pamphlet adorned with pictures of his ideal leaders, BP Koirala, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, Girija Prasad Koirala, and Sushil Koirala, as well as President Ramchandra Paudel.

Initially, the participants in the programme didn’t recognise him, and they didn’t pay much attention. However, as they became more familiar with his activism in democratic movement, eloquent speech, and profound knowledge of politics and history, they started to inquire about his background and expertise.

After the morning procession, Lal Dev was given an opportunity to express his views and was accorded the honor of being a guest speaker during the interaction programme. 

Even though Lal Dev is old, he still looks as energetic as a young individual.  

He recalled that after BP was released from a 20-year prison term in 2036 B.S., he traveled to Rajbiraj, Biratnagar, and Jaleshwor and advanced the ideas of democracy, socialism, and nationalism.

“When I went to Kathmandu to participate in the protest to encircle the Royal Palace, during that time, Nepali Congress leader and current President Ramchandra Paudel gave me one rupee and said, ‘Lal Dev is a Soldier of Democracy,’” he recalled. He was subsequently arrested, along with the current President Paudel, in the Katti of Saptari. He was later released from the prison. 

He also fondly recalled the moment when leader Poudel once descended from the stage and greeted him with a garland during a programme organised in Nargho in support of democracy.

Lal Dev expressed his objection to the government’s failure in issuing political identification cards to political victims like him. He referred to those who observe Black Day on Constitution Day as extremists and stressed the need to amend the errors and weaknesses in the Constitution.

Lal Dev said, “They never discuss how to strengthen and make the Constitution more inclusive or how to reform it; instead, they simply label Constitution Day as a black day. The extremists had infiltrated in this.”

During the same programme, Ashok Kumar Mandal Amar, a Constituent Assembly member, said that all Nepalis had warmly welcomed the Constitution issued by the Constituent Assembly. 

He recalled that the day of the Constitution’s promulgation was joyously celebrated. Referring to the dissatisfaction expressed by certain political parties with the Constitution, he noted that despite participating at the local level and in parliamentary elections, and even holding ministerial positions, these parties were not fully adhering to the Constitution. 

He described this behavior as a double-standard character.

During that occasion, Chief of District Coordination Committee Shiv Narayan Shah and chairman of Civil Society Than Singh Bhansali, collectively said that the Constitution Day should be celebrated to rejoice the significance of the Constitution and to pay respect to the martyrs. 

They emphasised that the Constitution is the fundamental law governing all Nepali citizens.