When was Girija Prasad Koirala born?

Girija Prasad Koirala was born on 4 July 1924 in Saharsa.

What positions has Girija Prasad Koirala held?

Positions held by Girija Prasad Koirala include: President of Nepal (2007–2008); Prime Minister of Nepal (2006–2008); Prime Minister of Nepal (2000–2001); Prime Minister of Nepal (1998–1999); Prime Minister of Nepal (1991–1994).

Where did Girija Prasad Koirala study?

Girija Prasad Koirala was educated at Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, Adarsha Higher Secondary School.

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Girija Prasad Koirala

गिरिजा प्रसाद कोइराला

Nepalese politician (1924 - 2010)

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Nepal Ratna Girija Prasad Koirala (Nepali: गिरिजाप्रसाद कोइराला ; 4 July 1924 – 20 March 2010), affectionately known as Girija Babu, was a Nepalese politician. He headed the Nepali Congress and served as the Prime Minister of Nepal on four occasions: from 1991 to 1994, 1998 to 1999, 2000 to 2001, and 2006 to 2008. He was the Acting Head of State of Nepal between January 2007 and July 2008 as the country transitioned from a monarchy to a republic.

Quick facts

Born: 4 July 1924 wd
Place of birth: Saharsa wd
Died: 20 March 2010 wd
Place of death: Kathmandu wd
Citizenship: Nepal wd
Occupation: politician wd
Political party: Nepali Congress wd
Education: Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, Adarsha Higher Secondary School wd

Public office

President (15 January 2007 – 23 July 2008)
Prime Minister (25 April 2006 – 18 August 2008)
Prime Minister (22 March 2000 – 26 July 2001)
Prime Minister (15 April 1998 – 31 May 1999)
Prime Minister (26 May 1991 – 30 November 1994)

Officeholder record, tenure and sources →

Positions held wd

President of Nepal (15 January 2007 – 23 July 2008)
Prime Minister of Nepal (25 April 2006 – 18 August 2008)
Prime Minister of Nepal (22 March 2000 – 26 July 2001)
Prime Minister of Nepal (15 April 1998 – 31 May 1999)
Prime Minister of Nepal (26 May 1991 – 30 November 1994)
acting president

About

Koirala, who was active in politics for over sixty years, was a pioneer of the Nepalese labour movement, having started the first political workers' movement on Nepalese soil, known as the Biratnagar jute mill strike in his hometown, Biratnagar. In 1991 he became the first democratically elected prime minister in Nepal since 1959, when his brother B. P. Koirala and the Nepali Congress party were swept into power in the country's first democratic election. He was the most prominent and consequential political leader in Nepal from 1990 to 2008.

Early life and education

Quoted from Wikipedia: Girija Prasad Koirala (CC BY-SA 4.0); each sentence links the source Wikipedia cites for it. Checked 7 November 2026.

Koirala was born on 4 July 1924 in Saharsa, in the Bihar and Orissa Province of British India into a Bahun family. Dawn
His father, Krishna Prasad Koirala, was a Nepali living in exile. The Hindu
In 1952 Koirala married Sushma Koirala, headmistress at the local school for women in Biratnagar. The Kathmandu Post
Sushma died in a kerosene-stove explosion in 1967. NNDB.com
He along with his daughter Sujata were followers of the Indian spiritual leader Sathya Sai Baba. Hindustan Times
With other leaders of the Nepali Congress Party (NCP), Girija Prasad went into exile after his release in 1967 and did not return to Nepal until 1979. Britannica

Career

Koirala became involved in politics in 1947, leading the Biratnagar jute mill strike. The Hindu
Later, in 1952, he became the President of the Morang District Nepali Congress and held that office until he was arrested and imprisoned by King Mahendra following the 1960 royal coup. The Hindu BBC News
Upon his release in 1967, Koirala, along with other leaders and workers of the party, was exiled to India until his return to Nepal in 1979. The Hindu
Koirala was General Secretary of the Nepali Congress Party from 1975 to 1991. opmcm.gov.np
He was subsequently elected as the leader of the Nepali Congress parliamentary party and was appointed as prime minister by King Birendra. BBC News
This led to the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist)-led coalition coming to power in the elections that followed. BBC News

Key decisions and achievements

In 2015, he was posthumously awarded with Nepal Ratna Man Padavi, the highest honour to a Nepali citizen by the Government of Nepal. The Kathmandu Post

Notable statements

Koirala, speaking to the Constituent Assembly shortly before the vote, said that "we have a big responsibility now"; he said that Nepal was entering a "new era" and that "the nation's dream has come true". english.aljazeera.net

In the news All news →

Pushpa Bhusal becomes first woman to secure Nepali Congress vice-president post through a reserved quota11 October 2026

Questions

When was Girija Prasad Koirala born?: Girija Prasad Koirala was born on 4 July 1924 in Saharsa.
What positions has Girija Prasad Koirala held?: Positions held by Girija Prasad Koirala include: President of Nepal (2007–2008); Prime Minister of Nepal (2006–2008); Prime Minister of Nepal (2000–2001); Prime Minister of Nepal (1998–1999); Prime Minister of Nepal (1991–1994).
Where did Girija Prasad Koirala study?: Girija Prasad Koirala was educated at Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, Adarsha Higher Secondary School.

Sources

Last updated 31 October 2026 · facts checked 7 November 2026

Cite this page

"Girija Prasad Koirala". DigiNepal. Last updated 31 October 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/girija-prasad-koirala. Retrieved 7 November 2026.

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Text from the Wikipedia article Girija Prasad Koirala, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: The Prime Minister of Nepal, Shri Girija Prasad Koirala being seen off by the Union Minister of Water Resources, Prof. Saif-ud-din Soz at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on April 06, 2007 (cropped).jpg — Ministry of External Affairs, GODL-India.

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