The story of Durga Prasad Subedi, the husband of Sushila Karki, Nepal’s first female Prime Minister, is a fascinating tale of political activism and controversy. Subedi, a former student at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) and a young Nepali Congress leader, was one of the key players in a dramatic event: the 1973 hijacking of a Royal Nepal Airlines plane. The incident involved the famous Bollywood actress Mala Sinha, who was also on the flight.
The hijacking, which occurred on June 10, 1973, involved Subedi and two other individuals. Their primary objectives were to challenge King Mahendra’s rule and to collect funds for the Nepali Congress. The plane was carrying a substantial amount of government money, approximately 32 lakh rupees, intended for transfer from banks in Biratnagar, Nepal, to Kathmandu. The hijackers diverted the plane to Forbesganj, Bihar.
The hijacking was a landmark event, marking the first instance of its kind in Nepal’s history. The plane landed in Forbesganj, and the funds were subsequently transported to Darjeeling by road. Nagendra Dhungel and Basant Bhattarai were the other individuals involved in the hijacking. Girija Prasad Koirala and Sushil Koirala, later Prime Ministers of Nepal, were the masterminds behind this audacious operation.
Following the hijacking, Subedi remained hidden in Varanasi. His life took a turn when he was arrested in 1975 during the Emergency. After spending two years in jail, he was handed over to the Nepali authorities. The other hijackers were convicted and imprisoned as well, but they were released after the Emergency in India ended. Professor Deepak Malik, a retired professor from BHU and former director of the Gandhi Studies Institute, noted that Karki and Subedi met during their university studies.
Adding another layer to the story, Sushila Karki, now 73, made history as the first female Chief Justice of Nepal. Her tenure began on July 11, 2016, but was cut short when an impeachment motion led to her suspension. She was born on June 7, 1952, in Biratnagar, Nepal.
In an interview, Karki highlighted her friendly relationship with India and attributed it to her time at BHU. She expressed her positive views on the relationship between India and Nepal and praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She also discussed the importance of maintaining contact between the two nations and the policy-making process in international affairs.