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B. P. Koirala's Jail Diary
Published just a few days before his 24th death anniversary, his jail diary is eternal truth
By KESHAB POUDEL
"In the history of every nation, there comes such moment when its people have to risk their lives to safeguard the national identity. Such a moment has come in Nepal today. Our well-wishers had advised us not to return Nepal seeing the dangers involved in it. We would like to tell them that we have taken this historical decision because likely danger to our lives is nothing as compared to the danger to the nation," said B.P. Koirala in the statement he gave on return from foreign exile on December 30, 1976 .
Knowing that he could face even death penalty in Nepal , B.P. Koirala returned to Nepal with the message of national reconciliation to safeguard national unity. "In this hour of national crisis, all of us should get united by forgetting and ending the past unhealthy debates and experience and differences. Our program should be directed to by the feeling that we will no more exist in the absence of our nation," B.P. Koirala added in his statement.
Although he came to Nepal with the call for national reconciliation, he was put in the Sundarijal Prison again along with another Nepali Congress leader Ganeshman Singh where both of them had served more than eight years prison sentence earlier. But, he had never given up his commitment to national unity.
Unlike the present day society where so many so-called revolutionaries who do not have to suffer any kind of mental torture in solitary confinement are portrayed as great leaders, no one was there to show concern over B.P. Koirala's condition in confinement and his commitment to national reconciliation. Even after his death, all politicians pay only lip-service in remembering B.P. but only a few of them remember his most important commitment to national reconciliation.
The diary is eternal truth as there are many important revelations about different situation. One of the interesting revelations in the book is about Ganeshman Singh's determination and commitment to national reconciliation.
In the moment of second thought in the mind of B.P., Ganeshman Singh reinforced his confidence over the call for reconciliation which they had made at the time of coming back to Nepal in December 30, 1976 . (See page 54-55)
 Many distorted versions on the relation between B.P and Ganeshmanji were circulated at that time. But this book shows B.P. Koirala's high regard on the stand of Ganeshman Singh.
After the death of B.P. the confusion was spread in the mind of even the persons of his party men that Ganeshmanji was in favor of confrontation and reconciliation was the line of B.P. But, writing of B.P showed that Ganeshmanji, too, had strong commitments towards the national reconciliation.
Initially, B.P. was put in prison with Ganeshman Singh in Sundarijal together but later on both of them were separated. Despite difficulties and uncertainties of his life in prison B.P. Koirala never doubted his commitment to national reconciliation. Sometimes, he felt frustrated about the role of the King but he soon realized that there was no alternative with the King other than to follow national reconciliation, which he harped till the last day of his death.
Translated from English, the jail diary was transcribed from microfilm. B.P. Koirala was a prisoner of conscience who held the view that the nationalism and democracy are compatible. In his confinement in prison, he mentioned his own health as well as that of his family but his mind was preoccupied by the sense of patriotism and democracy. At a time when his party colleagues and his own brother are leading the course of confrontation, B.P. Koirala's jail diary can be an eye opener to them. Despite harsh punishment and difficulties in his personal life posed by confinement in the prison, B.P. continued to harp the line of national reconciliation.
The diary begins from 30 December 1976 covering events till 29 April, 1979 . B. P Koirala elaborated his roadmap on his diary of 29 May 1977 when he was in the prison of Policy Training Center . He wrote how important his one-to-one meeting with the King would be where he can explain his own roadmap. He declined to send message through a middleman whatever the position he holds. B.P. was cautious that external elements can play roles to divide democratic forces and the King.
Although B.P. died long time back, he is one of the architects of Nepal 's foreign policy along with King Prithvi Narayan Shaha and King Birendra. Koirala's views on Nepal 's foreign policy, particularly, on the relations between two neighbors are still valid (see page 34-35). He holds the view that the monarchy and democracy are two compatible forces and only through the unity between the two forces can Nepal 's independence be guaranteed.
Although many of his party colleagues still celebrate his birth anniversary, death anniversary and national reconciliation day, everybody considers it liability to carry his commitment of national reconciliation. The publication of book at this time of transition will definitely help to understand the importance of B.P.'s views.
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