A sensitive mind: Working with GPK

Like his maverick and cerebral brother BP Koirala, late Girija Prasad Koirala also took keen interest in matters of foreign policy and diplomacy. He always loved interactions with diplomats and foreign dignitaries. When I had opportunities to be present on such occasions, I often noticed that his face would light up in their midst and he was all smiles. He clearly enjoyed their company immensely. Perhaps, such occasions offered him an escape from the otherwise strenuous and humdrum domestic politics. Dressed immaculately in white “daura suruwal”, which complimented and even accentuated his tall and towering personality, he was such a pleasant sight to watch. Found often rapt in listening to their views and comments, he would, however, never let them prevail upon him. He took thorough briefings about the possible issues from as many sources as possible to get better perspectives on them. He was also a great listener. He listened to everyone’s views carefully but always allowed his own reasoning and discretion to dictate him. He would not comment on any issue unless he was absolutely sure of himself.

A man of few words, he always spoke with conviction and clarity. Without mincing words and beating about the bush, he went straight to the point. He was equally witty and showed remarkable dexterity in conducting himself on such occasions and would often enliven the interactions with interesting repartees. Maintaining confidentiality of such interactions was a strict priority with him and only the trusted ones were allowed, even from the foreign ministry, into such meetings. But once the trust was established, there was no retracting. It would last lifelong. I came to know about these attributes of him much later, which helped me win his trust later on.

I want to recount one incident to illustrate the point. I had just been appointed chief of protocol. Girijababu did not know much about me personally. I had briefly met him after my appointment as a matter of courtesy. Then the 15th SAARC Summit happened in New Delhi in 2007. I was also in the delegation. As chief of protocol, I had to coordinate, among others, his to and fro visits, setup bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the Summit with the visiting high-level dignitaries, escort the visitors into and out of the meeting room.

One of those meetings happened to be with Richard A Boucher, the then US Assistant Secretary of States for South and Central Asian Affairs. The US had recently been given observer status to the SAARC Summit. Boucher had come to attend the Summit. At an appointed day and time, I received him at the entrance of the hotel. Other members of our delegations were already in the room along with the PM. I escorted the guest and accompanying members into the living room, presented them to the PM and the rest of our delegation members. After they had taken their seats, I was about to leave the room. But the foreign secretary motioned me to stay on, which I complied. Tea was served and after the exchanges of pleasantries, Girijababu suddenly looked around and asked if he could now begin. Nobody could figure out who the query was directed at, nor could surmise the import thereof; they just nodded in response. I also did not have an inkling of that enigmatic question. Then he was blunt; he turned first toward his personal secretary standing close by , then to me and said in Nepali: Both of you, please leave the room. Everybody was shell shocked, myself included. But luckily, the visitors did not get wind of what was going on. We quietly left the room, nonplussed.

Later on, the foreign secretary came to my room and we had a long discussion on this. He related to me similar incidents that had occurred in his earlier foreign trips with Girijababu and how he always wanted to keep the contents of such talks absolutely confidential. “It could be that he was perhaps not familiar with you enough and therefore may have felt uncomfortable to talk in your presence,” the foreign secretary had added. It was only then that I could see his behavior in a better light – the trust deficit was the primary reason. Surprisingly, even those who had worked so closely with him were taken off guard by this incident. Nevertheless, it also gave me a glimpse of and a rare insight into his amazingly sensitive mind and mannerisms.

With time, my interactions with him grew as did his trust in me. At that time, he was also performing as acting head of state. In that capacity, he had to sign Letters of Credence and Letters of Recall for newly appointed ambassadors from Nepal and receive credential letters from incoming foreign ambassadors. I had to plan and organize the first-ever credential presentation ceremony for him. In this connection, I had to frequently meet and take his advice. I could see now his trust gradually growing in me. He began to open up, appreciate, and even relish my viewpoints. I had now no inhibition to put my views across to him. Far from resenting them, his face would radiate with approving smile and it was with his complete trust that I organized his first-ever credential receiving ceremony, as acting head of state. That was a historic and unprecedented event in the more than two-and-a-half-century history of Nepal where a commoner prime minister, rather than the monarch, was receiving credentials.

Girijababu had created yet another history by being that uniquely privileged person. It was also a happy coincidence that the Chinese ambassador happened to be the first ambassador to present him his Letter of Credence. I was happy and am proud today to have planned, organized and been a part of that rare historic event. I retired a little while before he stepped down as the PM. But his trust, love and affection for me continued undiminished till he succumbed to that inevitable decree of fate. It is sad to think that he is no more. Yet, he lives eternally in my thoughts and in my heart, just as he does to all the Nepali people. May his soul rest in peace!

(Writer is former Chief of Protocol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.)

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