Some moments with Kishun jee (Published in Myrepublica 3-19-2011)

	Some Moments with Kishun jee AMBIKA P ADHIKARI “Only the actions of the just; Smell sweet and blossom in their dust.”        - James Shirley Volumes of books will be needed to capture the life history of Kishunji. He was a multi-dimensional man, often larger than life, with a long saga in public life, and with a wide list of impressive achievements in the struggle for democracy and egalitarianism for the Nepali people. My attempt here is to capture just a few episodes of memorable moments about him as a way to pay tribute to this great leader. With the demise of Kishunji an era has ended in Nepal. It was an epoch where stalwarts of democracy, such as Ganesh Man Singh (GMS), Kishunji, and G P Koirala (GPK) struggled for democracy and eventually prevailed. GMS was the epitome of courage, who often said, “I helped in transforming the Nepali people from being mere subjects to full-fledged and free citizens”. GPK gave his life-time in helping Nepalese earn democracy and then implement it, often a harder part. For all his faults, GPK was a principled individual and above all, a man of action. Kishunji brought morality into politics, and as a practicing Gandhian, exemplified to the populace that you can be the most powerful person in country without owning a piece of land or having a bank account in your name. He was a Lal Bahadur Shastri of Nepal, a dedicated visionary, who owned minimal material possessions. Nepal was fortunate to have leaders like GMS, Kishunji and GPK, not to mention the so many other great leaders of their era, such as Bal Bahadur Rai, Bhim Bahadur Tamang, Man Mohan Adhikari, Sahana Pradhan, Basu Risal, and Yog P Upadhyay, just to name a few. Nepal was rich in leadership, and its pursuit for democracy was more potent because of them. We can appreciate how important it is to have a multitude of high level and charismatic leaders, when we see so many countries in Asia and Africa feeling deprived of alternatives in democratic leadership. These nations are still in the clutches of dictators, and people often have to safeguard just a single and fragile symbol of democratic leadership, such as in Myanmar. As Kishunji is no longer with us, I wanted to share some of my impressions and memories of the saintly leader. In doing so, I wish to present a few episodes of my personal experience related to Kishun jee. THE PEOPLE’S MOVEMENT OF 1990 When Kishunji became the first Prime Minister of Nepal after the restoration of democracy in Nepal, he proved that he was the right man in the right time at the right place. Within nine months, he was able to help complete the writing of a democratic constitution, and also to organize relatively free and fair election in Nepal. Given the entrenched power residing in Kathmandu then, and the tendency of our neighboring and international powers to freely meddle in the affairs of Nepal, Kishunji’s keen and principles leadership successfully achieved the two crucial objectives of his government, which was not a small feat. The strength of Kishunji was not in the utilitarian realm of politics, but in providing a moral compass for the messy politics of Nepal. He led his life as per his beliefs that materialism was not the answer for all the problems Nepal was facing. Yet, Kishunji remained humble, and while never losing the big picture, appreciated the minute details of the transition. As students in Boston, a group of us had organized to collect a small amount of money to be sent to help the families of the martyrs of the people’s movement of 1990. We sent a check of a modest sum of US$ 250 in the hand of Dr Arun Joshi, who now works in the World Bank. Arunji later narrated that he was warmly welcomed at the PM’s office, where Kishunji personally signed his name on the back of the check endorsing it to be deposited in the funds for the martyr. This was quintessential Kishunji, wresting long-held power from the clutches of the kings and generals, but personally endorsing a check of $250 for the martyrs! ONTARIO, CANADA IN 1993 AND 1995 Kishunji visited Canada to have cataract surgery, for one eye in 1993 and for another in 1995, both at London, Ontario near Toronto. Dr. Narayan Khadka, who then lived in Ottawa, was instrumental in organizing these visits. Many diaspora members in Canada, including Dr Kunjar Sharma, Dr Kumud Sharma and our families were honored to spend some quality time with Kishunji and discuss the diaspora’s favorite topic – Nepali politics! Kishunji would relish small things, and would oblige people even in their trivial errands. A neighbor of Kishunji in Nepal had asked him to bring some Nepali dried food item to their children in Canada, and Kishunji agreed. That was the level of human instinct simplicity in the towering political figure of Nepal. Kishunji’s humorous and witty personality would keep everyone comfortable and cheerful in his company. While he was staying at a hotel in London, Ontario, Canada’s then Prime Minister Kim Campbell, a single woman was also staying at the same hotel. Kishunji would jokingly tell us that the two single PM’s were staying at the same hotel at the same time! On more serious note, Kishunji would discuss how badly he felt for the plight of the poor and downtrodden in Nepal, and how he wished to make even a small difference in their lives. SECOND TIME PRIME MINISTER When Kishunji became the PM for the second time in 1999, I was living in Nepal and working for an international organization. Just after he won the election in 1999, I visited him at his Bhaisepati residence. In front of many well wishers in the room, he smiled and said, “Do you know, I’ll become the Prime Minister again”. That childlike cheerfulness, interest and excitement represented what was most contagious about the great man. His spartan living, humorous nature, easy access to people, and straight language when he wanted to say something was characteristics of his personality. He would ask some people, who would be in a rush to leave, to have another “half cup of coffee” before leaving him. If his schedule did not allow him to meet an individual, he will personally shout from the window, “Can you come tomorrow?” I once asked him that given his solid achievements when he was the prime minister of the interim government, and his high stature in politics, why he should not become more active in resolving the major problems Nepal was facing, such as poverty and corruption. His response: “A person does one or two good deeds in his life time, and people should not count on only them to solve continuing problems. New leaders should jump in for new problems”. I think it summed up his spiritual philosophy that everyone does his/her part, and the world continues to move forward. No need for any individual to worry about all problems in the world all the time. OTHER SIDES Kishunji is now gone, and it serves no purpose to criticize him, even if he was a public figure. But just to see him as a mortal human is also helpful to gain a total picture of the late leader. In my impression, his management style was rather lax and he would often just go with the flow. His spiritual and philosophical side would often prevail over the mundane, that he would not always handle the affairs of the state as per the practices of modern management. For these types of tasks, GPK was the man, who was so well organized, punctual, business-like and result oriented. The strength of Kishunji was not in the utilitarian realm of politics, but in providing a moral compass for the messy politics of Nepal. He led his life as per his beliefs that materialism was not the answer for all the problems Nepal was facing. Further, that a genuine progress in Nepal would need spiritual enlightenment where people would focus on the quality of life, humor, simple living and appreciating small things, rather than the pursuit of material wealth alone. ambika@alum.mit.edu
Published on 2011-03-20 01:10:43 - MyRepublica