Dinesh Bhattarai

Forty-four years ago, on this day, Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala, popularly addressed as B.P., issued an appeal for ‘national unity and reconciliation’ to the countrymen on the eve of returning home after eight years of political exile in India. There were seven serious charges of treason and sedition against him in the court of Nepal for his leadership of the democratic movement.

Visionary leader
B.P. Koirala became the first elected prime minister of Nepal following the landslide victory of Nepali Congress in the first ever general elections held in 1959. He sought to modernise Nepal along the path of nationalism, democracy and socialism. He immediately took the task of expanding and diversifying diplomatic relations to highlight nation’s independent identity and project its international image. In 18 months (from May 27, 1959- December 15, 1960), his government established diplomatic relations with 17 countries. The step to establish diplomatic relations with the State of Israel when the rest of Asia and several countries in other continents were reluctant to accord recognition to it is a manifestation of his vision. The growing engagement of countries from across the globe with Israel today shows how visionary was the Nepali leadership.
Before Nepal’s formal integration into the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in September 1961, B.P. Koirala articulated non-aligned foreign policy before the United Nations in 1960, and said, “We do not wish to commit ourselves beforehand to support one side or the other, and we wish to retain our independence of judgment in assessing international issues as they arise.” He added, “We have judged every international issue on its merit without consideration of anybody’s fear or favour.”
Early on, B.P. Koirala clearly understood the Chinese reality when the rest of world particularly the Western world appeared reluctant to engage the People’s Republic of China. He made forceful plea while addressing the 15th UN General Assembly on September 29, 1960 to accept the People’s Republic of China as a respected member. Without China at the UN, the world body, B.P. said, “can neither become universal nor can it reflect the political realities existing in the world.” Today’s reality in foreign policy and diplomacy is the China Reality in the world. There is increasing China reality across the globe today.
In an interview with Mani Rana and Dhruba Hari Adhikary of BBC in 1979, B.P. spoke of South Asian role for Nepal, and said, “We can play an important role in South Asia.” This was much before the emergence of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in 1985. At a time, when there is excessive politicisation of foreign policy for domestic political power, it is worth recalling Bhuwan Lal Joshi and Leo E. Rose’s detailed examination of foreign policy of Nepal. It stated, “The B.P. Koirala cabinet was the only government in the decade of democratic experimentation which did not feel the need to use foreign policy as one means of strengthening its political position.”
B.P. met the Shah of Iran in 1960 and told him, “Monarchy should not be dictatorial it should be constitutional and, the people should be permitted to elect the government of their choices.” Eighteen years later, Shah was toppled by Islamic Revolution. Even his declared protector America was not giving asylum to the deposed Shah.
The Koirala government was abruptly dismissed by king Mahendra on December 15, 1960. What B.P. wanted was the democratisation of the institution of monarchy. Toni Hagen, a Swiss author, wrote: Koirala considered the king “as an integrative and stabilising figure in a country made up of very different ethnic groups and cultures.” Times have shown that those who refuse to be democratised go to disappear. Present day Nepal stands as a testimony to his vision.
The current tides of populism, nationalism, jingoism and identity politics are creating divisions and disputes in societies. It is worth recalling what B.P. said way back in 1979, “I do not propose to say or do anything which I think is not correct, even if it is popular. If democracy has to be saved, we cannot afford to give in to populism.” The call of the time is to closely study and understand B.P. Koirala in the present context.
B.P. Koirala underlined the importance of “national unity,” and exhorted, “the task of achieving national unity is solely, wholly and exclusively ours, and we should concentrate on it, rather than on others to do the job for us.” He feared the absence of national unity would pave the way for foreign powers to start intrigues and make Nepal a centre of international conspiracy. He warned, “The preponderance of self-seeking, communalism (regionalism), individualistic mentality and tendency” leads “to look to foreign hands. In a situation such as this, nationalism becomes the first casualty.” Sadly, this is what is happening in the country today.

Guiding spirit
B.P. remains the guiding spirit of Nepal’s democracy, and balanced foreign policy. No leader of his intelligence, vision, and capacity has emerged to this day. BP was known far and wide not primarily by the power he held, but for ideas he propagated. He lifted the spirit of the nation, with a unique clarity of vision and thinking. He always looked ahead with larger picture and developed deep insights on various issues that affected the country in the long-term.
Nepal's close and immediate neighbours - India and China - have gravitated toward the centre of global attention. Political developments are being closely watched by major world powers - the United States, Britain, Russia, European Union, and other development partners. This brings the complex geopolitics at Nepal’s heartland, heavily impacting and influencing the conduct of Nepal’s governance and international relations.

Fitting tribute
As a country with an extremely sensitive and fragile geopolitical location between the two giant neighbours, B.P.’s insights into national politics and foreign policy stand as guideposts in these challenging times. He was ahead of the curve in predicting the evolving nature of geopolitics. What is needed is skillful statecraft and a near- and long-term strategy with full understanding of the gravity of issues to navigate through complex geostrategic challenges and seize opportunities that come with it.
As we are commemorating ‘national unity and reconciliation day’ today, it would be fitting tribute to B.P. by making a clarion call to embrace for ‘nationalism and democracy first’ above everything else. The narcissist brand of politics exercised by the present leadership is proving to be just the opposite. Fluidity in Nepal provides strategic opportunity for outsiders, who seek to prey on the vulnerabilities and confusion of Nepali leadership. This may momentarily advance their political objectives undermining the long-term interests of the nation.

(Bhattarai, Ph.D., is a faculty member of the Institute of Crisis Management Studies (ICMS), Tribhuvan University. dineshbhattarai@tuicms.edu.np)