‘Black Day’ Observed Nationwide to Protest 1960 Coup Against Democracy

Nepal is observing ‘Black Day’ nationwide today, marking the anniversary of the coup d’état orchestrated by King Mahendra on Push 1, 2017 BS (December 15, 1960), which dissolved Nepal’s first democratically elected government and parliament. The coup, executed with the support of the then Royal Nepali Army, led to the arrest of Prime Minister BP Koirala and other democratic leaders, subsequently introducing a party-less Panchayat political system in Nepal.

On this day nearly six and a half decades ago, Prime Minister BP Koirala, along with other leaders, was detained while attending a program organized by Nepal Tarun Dal, the youth wing of the Nepali Congress. They were initially imprisoned in Singha Durbar and later in Sundarijal, where the premises became known as Bandi Griha (detainee home).

During their imprisonment in Sundarijal, BP Koirala authored several seminal literary works, transforming his detention into a productive literary period. His contributions include Shwet Bhairabi, Modiaain, Teen Ghumti, Sumnima, and Babu, Ama Ra Chhora. Political memoirs such as Atmakatha, Atmabritanta, Jail Journal, and Feri Sundarijal further solidified his legacy in Nepali literature and politics.

Leaders detained alongside BP included then Speaker Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, Ganeshman Singh, Surya Prasad Upadhyay, Diwan Singh Rai, Ra Narayan Mishra, and Yogendraman Sherchan.

Nepali Congress and Nepal Tarun Dal are leading today’s commemorations by organizing various programs across the country, highlighting the historical significance of the day. Nepal Tarun Dal has termed the event a “black mark against democracy” in Nepal’s political history.

The observance serves as a reminder of Nepal’s struggle for democracy and the sacrifices made by leaders during the autocratic reign of the Panchayat system. The literary and political contributions of BP Koirala and other detained leaders continue to inspire democratic movements in Nepal to this day.