Sushila Karki: Nepal PM, Pledges Warmth in India-Nepal Ties
Sushila Karki Breaks Barriers as Nepal’s First Woman PM, Calls India a ‘Cultural Cousin’
When Sushila Karki was named the new Prime Minister of Nepal on Friday, it marked not just a historic political milestone but also a deeply personal journey that bridges the Himalayan nation and its closest neighbour, India. At 73, the trailblazing former chief justice has become Nepal’s first woman prime minister — an appointment shaped not by the old establishment, but by a wave of youthful protesters who toppled an entrenched political order and turned to her as a symbol of integrity.
But beyond her legal laurels and political rise, Sushila Karki carries a lifetime of fond memories of India, a country she calls a “cultural cousin” to Nepal. She spent her student days at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in Uttar Pradesh, where she pursued her master’s degree. “I still remember my teachers, my friends… and the river Ganga,” Karki recalled in a heartfelt interview. “In summer nights, we would sleep on the terrace of our hostel, under the stars, right beside the Ganga.”
Her hometown Biratnagar lies barely 25 miles from the Indian border, and cross-border bonds were an everyday reality. “We often shopped in the border markets. So many of our relatives and acquaintances are in India. There is so much goodwill, so much love between our people,” she said.
‘Namaskaar to Modi ji’: Sushila Karki on India-Nepal Ties
Asked about her expectations from Narendra Modi and India, Sushila Karki struck a tone of warmth and cultural kinship. “First, I will say ‘namaskaar’ to Modi ji. I have a good impression about Modi ji,” she said, adding that while government-to-government ties have their own complexities, people-to-people bonds have always remained resilient.
“India has helped Nepal at all times,” she said. “But there is a saying in Hindi — when utensils are kept together in the kitchen, they do make some sound. It happens! These small frictions are natural.”
She emphasised that relations between nations are shaped through dialogue and policy. “We have not been in touch with India for many days. We will talk about it. When it is an international matter between two countries, some people sit together and make a policy,” she noted.
Yet she was quick to underline her admiration for Indian leadership. “I am very much impressed with Indian leaders. We consider them our own brothers and sisters,” she said.
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