Although it has been an extreme challenge to keep up with
what is happening with Nepal ’s
government, living miles away from Nepal , the name ‘Koirala’ always
seems to be prevalent and familiar. Last
month, it was no surprise to see Sushil Koirala elected as the new Prime
Minister of Nepal ,
after the death of Girija Prasad Koirala in 2010.
As the Prime Minister in Nepal changes almost every year,
and sometimes the former PMs get elected again, it feels like the
same group of competitors are playing musical chair in the race to be the
political leader of the country. However, in the race to grab the ''chair'',
the Koiralas seem to skilfully be hovering around Singha Durbar – Nepal ’s
parliament house, in one way or the other. Looking back in history, the
Koiralas have enjoyed a longer tenure of being the Prime Ministers of Nepal compared
to other Prime Ministers during their time.
From left to right -Matrika Prasad Koilara, Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala, Girija Prasad Koirala and Sushil Koirala
All of the Koiralas, who have been the PMs of Nepal, have left behind intriguing footprints. They all spent some time of their life in
Sushil Koirala, who is the 4th Koirala to take
over the legacy in Nepal ’s
government, has been a part of Nepali Congress since 1952. He is leading the
nation at the age of seventy four, which is normally when people would happily retire if
given the chance. He is known to be a believer of simple living and never got
married. Do the Nepali citizens believe that a 74 year old political leader who
lives with a motto of ‘simple living’ be successful in writing the
constitution of Nepal ?
Time will tell.