Adieu Kishunji

With the death of Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, the last surviving founder-member of the Nepali Congress, an era has come to an end. Kishunji came from a generation that was the first to dream of political freedom and a government elected by and accountable to the people. In the late 1940s, when the Ranas were celebrating the centenary of their rule and the family oligarchy seemed as strong as ever, it needed courage even to think of political freedom, let alone act for it. But luckily, we had a generation of young Nepalis who studied in India, took part in the Indian independence movement, and came back to Nepal to successfully fight to free the country from the yoke of Rana rule. Kishunji belonged to that generation of leaders who fought for freedoms as basic as freedom of expression and the right to choose a government, something we have now come to take for granted.



But Kishunji will perhaps be best remembered for two things-- for his able leadership during the country´s transition from absolute monarchy to a multiparty democracy in the early 1990s, and for his character, for being the person of absolute integrity that he was. Transition from one system to another is inherently a difficult phase in any country´s life. And the transition of the 1990s was no cake walk. It was certainly more difficult than the current transition because all the political forces of today fought together to end monarchy in 2006 and in that sense all of them are agents of change one way or another.



But in the 1990s, Kishunji had to negotiate transition with the monarchy that resented and resisted change. And don´t forget, the monarchy was then down-- thanks to People Power--but not out. Kishunji used his moral strength, his humor-- even his guile sometimes-- to deliver the country what was long overdue: A democratic constitution that granted people their basic rights. If it´s true that, besides for their achievements, people often remember politicians for who they were, they will remember Kishunji for his absolute integrity and high moral standards in public life. They will not just remember, but miss him, since no parallel exists in Nepali politics, nor does it seem likely any will emerge in the foreseeable future.



Kishunji, towards the latter part of his life, maintained a distance from the party that he founded and risked his life for. It was partly because he found himself unable to compete inside the party with the nefarious ways of the late Girija Prasad Koirala. But it´s also true that Bhattarai was fast losing touch with the shifting realities of Nepali society. When the Nepali Congress rightly concluded, based on its historic experience, that monarchy and democracy could no longer co-exist and extended a hand to the Maoists to successfully launch Janandolan II, Kishunji stood on the wrong side of history and batted for constitutional monarchy. He severed his ties with the party completely after it embraced republicanism. He was also against the country going secular and continued to speak up for a Hindu state.



But these are minor aberrations in the twilight of a life dominated by relentless struggle for democracy and freedom. Democratic Nepal owes you a lot, Kishunji. May your soul rest in peace.

Related story

Some moments with Kishunji