Suntalabari folks remember their leader Nembang

The entire country including Ilam plunged into sorrow after the death of Constituent Assembly Chairman Subash Chandra Nembang on Tuesday. Nembang was born at Suntalabari of Ilam Municipality-7 in Ilam, the district in Koshi Province.

After hearing the sad news Krishna Shrestha of Suntalabari went to Nembang's house on Wednesday morning. Shrestha, who is also the neighbour of Nembang, said, "I stayed at home the whole day yesterday. I went to the house where Nembang was born early in the morning today. I looked around the padlocked house. I became nostalgic remembering the good times of the past."

Overcome with emotion, he lamented that the nation will not get a leader like him again. "He was an ornament of our country. He has done many works worth remembering in Ilam as well. He has made important contributions for the development of not only Ilam, but also of Jhapa, Panchthar and Taplejung," Shrestha said.

According to him, Nembang has made unparalleled contributions in the construction of a road in the western region of Ilam constituency number 2. The road was constructed with an investment of around Rs 6 billion.

Similarly, Shrestha said, Nembang made significant contributions for construction of the road from Sanima Hydro to Ilam via Soyang. He believes that this road will provide big support for the development of important places of Ilam and promoting business in the district.

Sushila Nembang of Suntalabari said structures like cold storage facility, city mart, Gautam Buddha Conference Hall were constructed with Nembang's crucial support. She shared that the late Nembang brought projects for construction of roads linking various villages with the city by liaising with the donor agencies.

Nembang played a crucial role in upgrading the Ilam Hospital into a quality health facility, besides expansion of telephone and electricity services in the district, Sushila recalled leader Nembang's contribution for the development of the district.

Recalling the past, the 92-year-old Rana Bahadur Limbu of Suntalabari village said, "Nembang did not like quarrels and he used to cry if people started fighting in the village. He had a reserved character."

Limbu further shared that Nembang visited him during the last election and had asked for blessings. "I am still alive but now I am very saddened from the demise of Nembang", mentioned Limbu.

Born on March 11, 1953, Nembang had spent his childhood at Suntalabari in Ilam. He had pursued his school education and higher education from Suntalabari as his father, Ram Bahadur Nembang, was a judge in the court there.

Ilam is now plunged into sorrow from the passing of the House of Representatives elected in parliamentary election for the fifth time from Ilam Constituency-2.

Nembang had won the election held in 2079 BS with a margin of 114 votes preserving the legacy of his 30 years. He had received 30,020 votes.