National 2 (Spotlight Weekly)

Symbol Of Simplicity

The former prime minister's frankness and probity have endeared him to many

By KESHAB POUDEL

In one of his books, the BBC's former India correspondent Mark Tully describes Krishna Prasad Bhattarai as a simple leader of Gandhiji's stature. In his home country, Bhattarai draws more criticism than compliments.

Bhattarai : Affable personality

Bhattarai has led a long struggle to modernize the Nepalese political system. Moreover, he has embarked on a mission to transform a society that was isolated for centuries from the outside world. It easy to call Bhattarai unsuccessful or incapable. But is there any leader who has produced any better results?

Some of Bhattarai's old colleagues have accused him of betrayal, faintheartedness and hypocrisy. Others have used even worse language to condemn the former prime minister. Admittedly, Bhattarai is neither God nor
a man from another planet. He is a simple human being who has no hesitation in speaking his mind.

Unlike most Nepalese politicians, Bhattarai always writes and speaks with boldness and candor. "Is there anyone who shuns praise? No one wants to listen to criticism. As a common man, I am also not untouched by these weaknesses," Bhattarai says in a compilation of interviews with prominent historian Dr. Rajesh Gautam. "Karma Yogi Rajnitigya Krishna Prasad Bhattarai (Politician of Action Krishna Prasad Bhattarai)" pulsates with man's simplicity and frankness.

Those two qualities continue to be closely associated with Bhattarai even at this age when he has been moving in and out of hospitals. The sole surviving founder member of the Nepali Congress, Bhattarai does not want to exercise needless control over his words. That is probably why he hardly cares about the reactions his comments produce.

In a country where literacy remains low, the economy is primitive and society is feudal, it is not easy to set democratic principles. Bhattarai, too, has struggled long with this reality. Whatever Bhattarai achieved in
the last 12 years is nevertheless unprecedented. In a country when a modernizing monarch like King Birendra had to face hostility until the very end, it is easy to imagine the difficulties a common man faced in
transforming a society governed by tradition.

In his prison diaries, "Jail Journal", B.P. Koirala clearly presents Bhattarai's temperament and simplicity and his abiding faith in the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita. In his long life, Bhattarai has striven to
follow the philosophy of the Gita and preach it to whoever is willing to listen. He has been severely criticized for his approach to politics, but Bhattarai remains undaunted.

At this late stage of his political career, Bhattarai's political party is engulfed in a major power struggle between his contemporary Girija Prasad Koirala and young leader Sher Bahadur Deuba. The pressure on Bhattarai to unite the party is immense. Deuba's recommendation to dissolve the lower house of parliament and call fresh elections prompted his expulsion from the party. Ever since, the Nepali Congress has been teetering on the brink of a major split. Bhattarai averted a similar situation in 1995 through his amiable disposition and profound political foresight.

Although he lost the first parliamentary election in 1960, Bhattarai was subsequently nominated to parliament and became speaker. After the political change of 1990, Bhattarai held the post of interim prime minister. But he lost the 1991 general election to a relative newcomer, communist leader Madan Bhandari, who was killed in a mysterious motor accident two years later.

Bhattarai was defeated in the by-election by Bhandari's widow Vidya Bhandari in 1994. He was elected to the House of Representatives from the Parsa constituency in the 1998 election and became prime minister for nine months. A forthright man, Bhattarai never claimed that his victory was the result of his hard work. In fact, he thanked Koirala for ensuring his success.

From a severe critic of the monarchy during the decades when political parties remained banned, Bhattarai has turned himself into a staunch advocate of the institution. When he returned home from London after
undergoing medical treatment late last month, Bhattarai pledged to commit himself to the service of the country and the royal family.

Many people accuse Bhattarai for failing to perform his role with seriousness. But they overlook the difficulties of modernizing a feudalistic society where modern institutions are virtually non-existent. Had Bhattarai found support from key institutions, he certainly could have done much well.

It is said that society gets its leaders in accordance with its surroundings and that people get the leaders they deserve. Even if popular leaders of the western world had to work in a traditional society like Nepal, they would not have been able to produce results any different from what Bhattarai has delivered.Modernization and democratization are processes that demand strong institutions. It is virtually impossible to produce positive results in the midst of traditional attitudes. A political process needs a cognitive atmosphere to produce the desired results. Nepal's modernization endeavor has had to pass through internal and external hostile forces.

Unlike other Nepali Congress leaders, Bhattarai has never hesitated to correct his mistakes once he realized them. This is one of the reasons why Bhattarai has been able to avert major crises in his party.

Although many admirers of Bhattarai have turned hostile, the former prime minister still has a major role to play in his party. Many followers believe he alone has the almost-magical powers to unite the two warring factions. Despite Koirala's insistence on upholding the expulsion order against Deuba, it would not be easy for him to stand before Bhattarai.

Bhattarai (left) with Koirala : Divided they stand

Bhattarai's natural tendency to make light-hearted comments has often made him unpopular. Whether in diplomacy or in personal life, Bhattarai uses similar standards of behavior. Living in a beautiful Bungalow at
Bhainsepati, Bhattarai repeatedly claims that he prefers to listen from his followers. He may have proved incapable of running the administration during his second term as prime minister, but no one has been able to accuse him of any wrongdoing.

Bhattarai could stay out of the controversy money inevitably brings because he never had to raise money for the organization. Koirala, on the other hand, had to do all the fund-raising work during the Panchayat period and
after.In his political career, Bhattarai has made numerous statements without gauging the ramifications. Be it on his personal life, political events or any other matter, Bhattarai has always spoken his mind. Had he measured his words a little more carefully, Bhattarai would probably still have been prime minister.

Born in December 22, 1924 in the northern Indian city of Varanasi to a family that had been exiled from Nepal, Bhattarai always took important issues rather simply. His response to the current crisis in the ruling party comes in that tradition. "I am hopeful that our honorable party president Girijababu will withdraw the action [against Prime Minister Deuba]. The present dispute in the party will be settled within a week," Bhattarai said a week ago.

Bhattarai lived for a long time in his sister Sakuntala Devi's house in Kupondole before moving to the Bhainsepati residence. He served a total prison term of 13 years and nine months, which also contributed to his
remaining a bachelor.

Bhattarai still visits New Road to buy newspapers and get his pan, a practice that was his hallmark during the Panchayat days. Over the years, he has won many new friends and lost an equal number of others. But that has not distracted him from his core mission of modernization and democratization.