43rd BP Memorial Day being marked today

Kathmandu, July 22: The 43rd Memorial Day of the first elected Prime Minister, BP Koirala, is being celebrated today by organizing various programmes across the country, recalling BP contributions to Nepal's political, literary and social sectors.

Born on Bhadra 24, 1971 BS, Koirala passed away on Saun 6, 2039 BS. The founder of the Nepali Congress, BP Koirala, had also established his fame as a proponent of the principles of 'nationality, democracy and socialism' and 'national reconciliation'. Koirala became the first elected Prime Minister of Nepal in Jestha 2016 BS after the parliamentary elections of 2015 BS.

He has also contributed significantly to the field of Nepali literature. A pioneer of psychological realism in Nepali literature, Koirala has to his credit one and a half dozen of works including 'Tin Ghumti', 'Modi Aayin', 'Hitler Ra Yehudi', 'Sumnima' and 'Narendradai' among others. 

During his premiership, BP pushed forward the land reforms programme of abolition of birta system and the notion that the tillers should own the land.

On 1 Poush, 2017 BS, after the popularly-elected government was overthrown by then King, Koirala and other leaders were imprisoned in the Singhadarbar. 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 been now transformed into the BP Museum. The museum shares a collection of important things of 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 Nepali Congress to raise funds for the revolution in 2029, are also kept in the museum. 

On the occasion of BP Memorial Day, Nepali Congress, 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 Archeological Officer Bhisma Baskota said. (RSS)