Founding leader of Nepali Congress (NC) and the first elected prime minister (PM) of Nepal BP Koirala has been conferred Nepal Ratna, the highest civilian award of the nation. BP's grandson Siddhartha Koirala received the award from President Bidya Devi Bhandari amidst a special program held at the President's Office Shital Niwas on Tuesday.
Siddhartha told Setopati that he went to receive the award as someone from the family was called to receive it. He added that he felt very happy and proud in getting to receive the award on behalf of his grandfather.
The award was conferred on CPN-UML leader Madan Bhandari last year. The previous Oli government had recommended Bhandari for Nepal Ratna while the preceding Sher Bahadur Deuba government had recommended BP's name.
BP was elected the PM after the first general election in 1959. The then king Mahendra staged a coup on December 15, 1960 less than two years into BP's term and jailed him. He then led armed and peaceful rebellion against the Panchayat regime.
He died of cancer on July 21, 1982.
