President lauds role of late leader Pushpalal in 'democratizing' communists

President Ramchandra Paudel has said that Pushpalal Shrestha has made an important contribution to transform the Nepali communists into the democratic process.

Addressing the Pushpalal National Award-2080 Handover Ceremony organized at the Office of the President, Sheetal Niwas, today, he described Pushpalal as a supreme, talented, honest and visionary leader of Nepali politics.

The Head of the State recalled Pushpalal's contribution to the democratic movement of Nepal. He said, "Pushpalal's recognition that the contradictions and the crisis in society can be resolved through the democratic process only and not through violence, was in itself a significant proposal for the communist movement at that time, and this paved the way for an important ideological way to transform the Nepali communists into the democratic process. I think Pushpalal has a big contribution for this."

President Paudel stated that Madan Bhandari and Pushpalal played a role in transforming the communists to the democratic process.

According to the President, Pushpalal made a deep analysis of the economic structure, classes, production system and production of Nepali society, and thereby contributing to the well-thought archiving of the contradictions of society.

He recalled Pushpalal as a noble leader, writer and philosopher. President Paudel opined that it became possible to reinstate multi-party democracy in 2046 BS (1991) after the Nepali Congress and the Left Front joined hands in line with Pushpalal's thinking that the anti-Panchayat forces should together wage a struggle for establishing democracy in the country.

Reminiscing his meeting with Pushpalal in Banares, India, the President said, "He (Pushpalal) equally loved the Congress and Communist activists waging struggle against Panchayat autocracy. We had gone to meet Pushpalal when we were in Banares to meet with BP Koirala. We talked about political movement. Pushpalal suggested us to contact Hiranya Lal Shrestha when we asked him whom to contact in Kathmandu for the movement. He also reminded us to tell Hiranya that Mailadai (Pushpalal) asked us to contact him."

The President reiterated that the federal democratic republic has been achieved today due to the struggle, dedication of the pioneering leaders and great sacrifices of Nepali people. He stressed that the Constitution of Nepal has made the people sovereign in the real sense.

"The Constitution of Nepal has made the Nepali people masters in the real sense of the term. We are in the phase of implementing this very constitution, but still we have not been able to implement it in practical terms so as to give a feel of the same to the people. This is a worrying situation," he said and reminded that true tribute to such leaders as Pushpalal would be only when the fruits of democracy are taken to the doorsteps of the people in a way they will be able to experience them.

On the occasion, former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal said that the Award has started to be given from Fiscal Year 2068-69 BS itself in respect of Pushpalal's contribution to the left-democratic movement of Nepal. Former Prime Minister Nepal is the Chairman of the Pushpalal Memorial Foundation.

He expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation for conferring the Award this year posthumously to Bishwanath Singh who rented out a room to Pushpalal when he was in exile in India. Nepal recalled that the room rented to Pushpalal is not given in rent even now as an honour to Pushpalal.

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Badri Prasad Pandey viewed that the contribution made to the democracy movement by leaders like Pushpalal among others is to be credited for the evolution of the present Constitution.

He stressed that the democratic party and the communist party have collaborated and started the practice of competing in elections for the development and prosperity of the country. Minister Pandey said that the national politics should be guided by the tenets of dedication, struggle and sacrifices as during the time of Pushpalal, adding that true tribute to Pushpalal would be only when we guide politics on the way of knowledge and integrity.

Secretary at the Ministry, Dr Ganesh Prasad Pandey said that personalities who follow the ideal personality of late Pushpalal are awarded.

On the occasion, the Pushpalal National Award, 2080 towards political-ideological genre was presented to Siddhi Lal Singh, the Pushpalal National Award, 2080 towards history genre to Dr Bishwanath Singh, the Pushpalal National Award, 2080 towards the literature, culture and science genre to Chaturbhuj Atreya.

Each of the three awards carries a purse of Rs 100 thousand, according to the Ministry.