Saroj Prasad Koirala

Saroj Prasad Koirala was a Nepali politician and a martyr. He was assassinated in 1973 when he was in exile in India.

Political life

He joined the Nepali Congress led movement for the overthrow of the dictatorial Rana oligarchy at the age of 14, in 1943 and was arrested a number of times in Nepal for his “anti-government activities”.  At the age of 21, he became the Minister of Public Work of the Nepali Congress’ rebel government in the southern district of Janakpur. After the overthrow of the Ranas, he was elected to Nepal's first parliament in 1959, as a member of Nepali Congress. In 1960 the then King of Nepal, Mahendra Shah, dissolved the parliament and started an authoritarian rule in the country. He arrested all political leaders that he could find. Saroj fled to India along with other NC leaders to escape the arrest and started actively participating in the movement against the King's dictatorship and for restoration of democracy. Soon he started being recognized as a rising star of the Nepali Congress party and a threat to the King's dictatorship. His simplicity, ability to endure extreme hardship and commitment to the democratic cause made him one of the most popular leaders in the party and a prime target of the royal regime.

Assassination

Saroj Koirala was assassinated 18 October 1973 at Madhubani railway station, India.[1] Nepal's King Birendra was in India on an official visit during that time.  Although the assassination was never investigated[2] in India or in Nepal, it is widely believed that the assassin was sent by the then Government of Nepal. After the overthrow of the King's one party dictatorship in 1960, Saroj was recognized as one of Nepal's martyrs.

Recognition

In 2006, Nepal Government recognized his contribution to the country by issuing a postage stamp with his portrait.[3] He is now remembered as Saheed (martyr) Saroj Koirala.

Notes

Saroj Koirala's widow Lila Koirala[4] is a Nepali politician and was once a minister for Women and Social Welfare. Saroj Koirala is a cousin of BP Koirala.[5]

Saroj is one among ten leaders of the Nepali Congress Party that were assassinated or were close to being assassinated during Nepal's Panchayat Period.[6][7]

References
  1. Asian Recorder. K. K. Thomas at Recorder Press. 1974. p. 11808.
  2. Nepal Press Report. Regmi Research Project. 1982-12-31. p. 124.
  3. "Nepal 2017 – Saroj Prasad Koirala Politician 1v Stamp | Phila Art". Retrieved 2020-07-28.
  4. Gellner, David; Hachhethu, Krishna (2008-02-05). Local Democracy in South Asia: Microprocesses of Democratization in Nepal and its Neighbours. SAGE Publications India. p. 58. ISBN 978-81-321-0016-4.
  5. Pokharel, Jagadish C. (2001). The Days of Shame and Pain. Samata Samaj. p. 50.
  6. "Book on slain NC leaders to be launched". GorakhaPatra. Retrieved 2020-07-28.
  7. Nepalko Prajatantrik Andolanka Bir Yoddaharu (Brave Fighters of Nepal's Democratic Movement). BP Ideology National Society. 2019.
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