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Girija Prasad Koirala was not the most successful, popular or upright political leader. It would be dishonest to claim otherwise. But Koirala was one of the most influential leaders and his death will create a vacuum in Nepali politics and the peace process.

Koirala's 60-year political career was testimony to his belief in democracy. He led the worker's movement at the age of 32. He weathered adverse political and economic circumstances and was at one point exiled to India for his democratic beliefs. He was the real guardian of freedom fighters, who were ready to raise arms if BP Koirala asked it of them.

But absolute power corrupts absolutely. Was Girija an exception? Only history will tell. What we can say for sure is that democracy within political parties was never a priority for him, which held up the advance of democracy throughout the country.

He abandoned BP's national reconciliation policy but he did not come up with a better option. A nation is tested in a crisis. What have his successors learnt from him? We will see in their response to this crisis.

Life is a balance sheet of successes and failures. Koirala's is no exception. Yet, he was an audacious freedom fighter and the best farewell would be to fix the problems that we face.

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