On the afternoon of 24 August, the clock was almost 3 o'clock. From the street in front of Koshi Hospital, the chaotic crowd moves towards the west. After a few steps, the old iron gate covered with green color is broken and the chaos enters inside. And the orgy begins. First vandalism, looting, then the team goes out after setting fire. The Koirala residence, which has a political history of more than a hundred years, is engulfed in flames.

Koirala Niwas, a living witness of Nepali political change, is turned into ashes in a moment by the fierce fire. The heart of Biratnagar was shaking in the demonstration after the Gen-G movement, the roar of slogans against the leaders echoed throughout the city.

At that time of turmoil, the historical house that had been blowing the political bugle continuously since 2007 until the declaration of the Republic was dissolved in the flames . Now it will be limited only to the pages of history .

The foundation of 'Shatabdi Ghar'

Around 1986 (year 1929), Jahanian Rana's rule was at its peak in Nepal. The power of the East India Company in the neighborhood is just as strong. In the middle of that harsh time, a simple but meaningful house stood in a corner of Biratnagar.

Krishnaprasad Koirala, who is a simple business of clothes, no one expected that the house created by his own hard work and sweat will one day become an important witness of Nepali political history . It was not only a house made of especially valuable wood, it was the birthplace of Nepali democracy.

Krishna Prasad Koirala was a businessman by profession and also a leader in the role of social reformer. Three of his sons became Prime Ministers of Nepal at different times – Matrikaprasad Koirala (2008), Vishweshwar Prasad Koirala (May 2016) and Girija Prasad Koirala (May 2048). The emergence of three Prime Ministers from the same family is a unique and rare example in history.

Born in Dumja village of Sindhuli, Krishna Prasad later moved to Biratnagar. He earned a huge fortune by taking various customs contracts across the country . He became active in political activities as he traveled to Kolkata during business. Along with the establishment of a school in Biratnagar, he led social reform activities such as spreading awareness among women and encouraging the education of daughters through the Women's Committee. After the

, the Nepali Congress under the leadership of Matrika, BP, Girijas blew the trumpet of revolution against the Rana regime. Who brought the light of democracy and repeatedly resisted dictatorship . 2007, 30 years of Panchayati Kalratri, from the Jan Andolan of 2046 to the second Jan Andolan of 2062/2063, this house became a political center .

This rebel house, which has seen/suffered many rebel movements, was destroyed by the impulse of the Gen-ji rebellion .

The origin of the anti-Rana movement

In 1947, the 'Quit India' movement against the British rule in India was on the way to success. At the same time, the direct impact of the Indian movement started to be felt in Biratnagar and in the heat of it, everyone became united against the Rana regime.

As the anti-Rana activities intensified, a jute mill strike was called. Jute mill is the first industry of Nepal. It was established in the year 1993 . The 'design' of the movement was prepared sitting in the living room of this house. Sitting in Krishna Prasad's room, BP decided the strategy with the labor leaders and said, 'Now this should be a decisive movement.'

Even though he was a businessman, Krishna Prasad's political consciousness was very high. By nature, he was brave and daring. That is why Krishna Prasad once sent torn clothes to the palace to show the suffering of farmers and workers to the then Prime Minister Chandrashamsher. For that reason, Krishna Prasad was exiled to India with his children after Rana Prime Minister Chandrashamsher was executed.

83-year-old Jagat Aryal of Biratnagar Mahanagara 12 remembers, 'Krishna Prasad used to say, the pain of the people must be shown to the court, only then change is possible.' BP lived in captivity for three months in Singha Durbar and then in Sundari Jal .

Even when he was in jail, Koirala Niwas again became a bastion of resistance against Panchayat . In the courtyard of the house, under the leadership of his younger brother Girija Prasad Koirala, the Congress leaders would decide the strategy, hold secret discussions and prepare for the movement. After being released from prison, BP himself started to appear in the front line of the movement .

BP Koirala, the 'people's leader' of modern Nepali democracy, participated in the seven-year revolution while living in this house. In the first general election of 2015, BP won as a candidate from here and became the first elected Prime Minister of Nepal.

This house was also the secretariat of the multi-party campaign in the 2037 referendum.

2042 Satyagraha, resistance to Panchayat oppression, 2046 Jan Andolan and the second Jan Andolan in 2062-63 Koirala Niwas remained the political center of Biratnagar .

The Koirala residence was also a base for constant meetings, secret plans and political discussions. This house witnessed many decisive moments of Nepali democracy. Sometimes the struggle with panchayat dictatorship, sometimes the preparation to spread the light of democracy . Every meeting, every strategy took shape in this backyard . And directed the political direction of the nation.

The common ground of Nepal-India

Koirala residence became a shelter not only for Nepalese leaders but also for important figures of Indian democracy. India's former prime minister and socialist leader Chandrashekhar often visited the Koirala residence. Pana Uranu, a member of the Koirala family, remembers, "Once the Indian leader Chandrasekhar came. He was sleeping in Girijababu's bed . He said that Koirala residence felt like a house.

The BP of Nepali politics was Bishweshwar Sahitya. Indian leaders used to come, writers also kept coming. Among them, the famous writer Phanishwarnath Renu . He used to go down to Biratnagar by train to talk about literature with BP. For some time, Koirala used to return to listen to the political and literary beats of the residence. He used to say, 'This house is not only a political center, but also a unique model of South Asian political friendship.' According to

author Chandramani Gautam, from the labor movement of 2003 to the historic people's revolution of 2007, Renu stayed in Biratnagar and was active both intellectually and physically. He was not only a writer, he was also a fighter for the independence of Nepal. "He was even injured by bullets during the violent moments of the movement, but his courage for freedom and social justice remained firm," wrote Gautam.

Biratnagar's leading journalist Anantaraj Neupane, who is knowledgeable about Koirala Niwas, says, 'No one can even imagine that an ordinary merchant's house has become a witness to so many historical-political events and international meetings.' In the year 2051, the then Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala announced the dissolution of the Parliament after his own policies and programs presented in the Parliament were rejected.

The root of this was the internal strife within the party a few years ago. After Koirala became the Prime Minister in the year 2048, the differences between him and the Supreme Commander Ganeshman Singh intensified.

The start of the controversy Who will make the vice president of the National Planning Commission? It was from the topic of  . Koirala appointed Ramsharan Mahat as Vice President but Ganeshman opposed the appointment.

He not only argued that it is not appropriate to appoint a person who lost in the election, he also criticized the trend of always giving priority to only 'Bahun-Kshatriya' in the division of posts .

The disagreement that started like this gradually deepened and finally reached the decision to dissolve the parliament.

Girija Prasad had resigned.

When the Nepali Congress was caught up in internal disputes, the supreme commander of the party, Ganeshman Singh, went on a nationwide public awareness campaign.

At that time Ganeshman arrived in Biratnagar . It was widely understood that his relationship with Girija had soured due to these incidents. Therefore, the general assessment that he will definitely not meet Girija has failed . Singh did not meet Girija but spent that night at Koirala residence. Ganeshman, who slept with Girija at night, held a press conference in the morning. At other times, Girija used to hold press conferences from the bardli of this house and make important political announcements. Sometimes he was criticized for making controversial comments. But at that time, Ganeshman not only opened fire against Girija, but also announced his resignation from the party, which marked the beginning of a new course in Congress politics.

Heritage made of ash

Nepali Congress's priceless archives, historical documents, list of convention delegates, BP's handwritten letters, anti-Rana secret plan notes to rare photographs of different eras were kept in this house .

A few years ago, some old documents were delivered to the BP museum in Sundarijal, but the rest were still here . From the old memories of BP, Girija to the car, everything was destroyed in the fire .

As soon as he came to Biratnagar, Congress leader Shekhar Koirala used to always stay in this house. Just like uncle Girija lived in the past, Shekhar was protecting this house .

BP and Girija's Maila brother is the son of Keshav Koirala - Shekhar . He says, "We didn't even dream that this house would collapse like this." Shekhar is now planning the reconstruction. According to him, this house is not just a pile of wood, bricks and stones, but a living memory of Nepal's democratic journey. He is planning to return it to its old form.

President of Biratnagar Metropolitan Nepali Congress Deepak Chapagain says, "This house is a symbol of fighting against Rana and Raja for the rights of the people". We claim that it was burned in a planned manner in the name of Gen-ji, it was wrong.'

Nepali Congress Sunvarshi leader Yagya Karki recalled that he used to come to Koirala Niwas many times when he was a student and said that his mother cooked and fed him food. He said, ``Rice was always cooked for everyone in this house . Even if they came and ate it.'

Even during the Panchayat period, this house, which was the 'star' of attacks many times, could not be saved this time. "Earlier, the locals used to protect themselves from every attack, but this time no one could protect them," he says.

An eyewitness who runs a shop in front of the Koirala residence remembers, "Suddenly an unstoppable crowd came". The crowd was not in a position to listen to us.'

The state was responsible for protecting historical heritages. However, the state itself was innocent before that chaotic crowd. The security personnel had surrendered. That one day was mob rule. The decision made by the mob was the final decision,' said Uma Pokharel, an old resident of Biratnagar, emotionally, 'Mob has destroyed the center of democracy.' But its contribution is still vivid in the consciousness of the Nepali people. Whether it is the rebellion of Gen-Ji or the movement of the next generation, the path of democracy will re-sprout on the ashes of this memory .

000

Pana Uraon's guard

2034 year . Koirala Niwas, an old house near Koshi Hospital in Biratnagar.

Pana Oran, a tribal girl, knocked on the door for the first time in that house.

At that time, Jannayak BP Koirala was alive, this house was the center of political tug-of-war .

From that day to this day, Pana has been living as an invisible shadow of this house for almost five decades.

In the meantime, how many members passed away, how many new ones were born, how many political storms came and went. But Pana's life remained stuck with the same old door, the same bugle, and the courtyard.

Pana did not get married, did not create a separate world . Because while guarding the Koirala residence, she did not find leisure.