Parashuram Pokharel, had been continuously struggling for many years to convert the “ Sundarijal Jail” into a place of some historic importance where Koirala had spent most important years of his life. After a continuous struggle of 14 years, finally I was able to establish the Sundarijal Jail as “ B.P. Museum”. During the run, I was badly beaten by Army on 22nd JESTHA 2047. My father including many others were taken to the hospital seeking emergency medical care as they too were badly injured by the Army for the same reason. These are just a few bitter experiences I went through during my journey of converting Sundarijal jail into a museum, but there is still a lot more to share. Undoubtedly, my father was my source of inspiration who always encouraged and supported me in my every steps. Now, I am very proud to say that my hard work has been paid after the official conversion of Sundarjal jail into B.P. Museum, which was inaugurated by the late Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on 24th Bhadra 2061. The inaugural program was honored by most of the senior political leaders of almost all parties. On that very occasion,we put forward a proposal requesting the government to declare B.P. Koirala as a “ Rastriya Bibhuti ” (National Hero). We got written approval for this from most of the political leaders, including Madhav Kumar Nepal, Narayanman Bijukchhe, Bharat Bimal Yadav, Amik Sherchen, Anil Kumar Jha, etc. and we are still hopeful that the government will come up with the positive signal.
“Some unexpected interesting incidences happened during those journeys. When we tried to bring back the bullet proof tank that was used by B.P Koirala in bilateral bullet war with the Ranas during the revolution of 2007 BS to this museum from the premises of the sugar mill in Amarduwa VDC of Sunsari, some miscreant attempted to kill us by setting fire at the place where me with my team were staying. About this I have mentioned in my upcoming book “B.P,Sangrahalaya, Ek Anubhuti” (Yet to publish).”
Thus, B.P. museum helped us to extend our hands of unity and harmony towards Maoist party even during the deteriorating political scenario of the nation. Girija Prasad Koirala publicly appealed UCPN (Maoist) for the first time on 24th Bhadra, 2061 BS to give up the politics of arms and join the peace process from this very place. As a result of this, our country is in this state today.
After long hurdles and struggles, the jail took a shape of a museum, but still the struggle has not been over. We have been working hard for standardizing it as a museum of national as well as international level. We travelled different places in Nepal and India with a pure aim of collecting things related to B.P.
Some unexpected interesting incidences happened during those journeys. When we tried to bring back the bullet proof tank that was used by B.P Koirala in bilateral bullet war with the Ranas during the revolution of 2007 BS to this museum from the premises of the sugar mill in Amarduwa VDC of Sunsari, some miscreant attempted to kill us by setting fire at the place where me with my team were staying. About this I have mentioned in my upcoming book “B.P,Sangrahalaya, Ek Anubhuti” (Yet to publish).
I feel like sharing an event that took place during the process of establishing the museum. Since all the houses in the village were built of raw bricks during that time, I used to go to the jail area with my friends in search of baked bricks for the purpose of gardening. There was a natural-looking shallow well outside the jail in which water droplets kept falling from within. We used to go inside, throw the water and take out the bricks; despite of the fear from the armies. The well had fishes which we would eat burning them on fire. One day, our clothes smelled like the toilet. Finally, I explored that the well was nothing other than the gutter where the litters and excreta of B. P. Koirala and Ganeshman collected as an outlet of the jail’s toilet. This is how I got connected with the jail unknowingly.
While B.P was in Sundarijal jail, he wrote many books namely: Tin Ghumti, Hitler and Yahudi, Narendra Dai, Sumnima, Modiaien, Baba Aama Ra Chhora, Aafno Katha etc.
Furthermore, I believe that Koirala’s formula “Small is beautiful” may be true for the developing nations like ours. And I hope that this endeavor will stand as a proof of his formula.
In 2065, Chinese ambassador to Nepal (name ) handed over the historic picture of B.P Koirala with Ganesh Man Singh and Chou Entai taken in Pokhara in 2016 BS to the museum which was a very unforgettable moment for me. I expressed my sincere gratitude to Chinese ambassador to Nepal Wu Chuntai who visited the museum on the 100th B.P Memorial Day on Bhadra 24, 2070 BS, wrote a message in the museum’s guestbook and handed over a ceramic pot to the museum as souvenir. Similarly, Indian socialist leader and former minister Devendra Prasad Yadav, former minister and member of parliament and also the Indian National Congress leader Harshbardhan, former minister Jaffar Ali and socialist scholar Prof Surendra Singh visited the museum on our invitation. I would like to thank them from the bottom of my heart for spending some time at the museum.
Also, I extend my greatest gratitude towards Honorable President, Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, Honorable Prime Ministers, respected Ministers, all Political Party’s leader, Indian Ambassador Mr. Shiva Shankar Mukharjee, Chinese Ambassador Mr. WU Chuntai, Culture Department Head of American Embassy, Ms. Laura Lucasa and all the visitors to B.P Museum.
