{"id":"girija-prasad-koirala","type":"person","url":"https://diginpl.com/people/girija-prasad-koirala","language":"en","name":"Girija Prasad Koirala","name_en":"Girija Prasad Koirala","name_ne":"गिरिजा प्रसाद कोइराला","description":"Nepalese politician (1924 - 2010)","headline":"Nepalese politician (1924 - 2010)","also_known_as":[],"summary":"Nepal Ratna Girija Prasad Koirala, 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.","summary_more":[],"facts":[{"key":"born","label":"Born","values":[{"text":"4 July 1924","date":"1924-07-04"}],"source":{"label":"Wikidata","url":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q220991#P569"}},{"key":"birthplace","label":"Place of birth","values":[{"text":"Saharsa","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1949422"}],"source":{"label":"Wikidata","url":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q220991#P19"}},{"key":"died","label":"Died","values":[{"text":"20 March 2010","date":"2010-03-20"}],"source":{"label":"Wikidata","url":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q220991#P570"}},{"key":"deathplace","label":"Place of death","values":[{"text":"Kathmandu","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3037","page":"https://diginpl.com/places/kathmandu"}],"source":{"label":"Wikidata","url":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q220991#P20"}},{"key":"citizenship","label":"Citizenship","values":[{"text":"Nepal","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q837"}],"source":{"label":"Wikidata","url":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q220991#P27"}},{"key":"occupation","label":"Occupation","values":[{"text":"politician","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q82955"}],"source":{"label":"Wikidata","url":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q220991#P106"}},{"key":"party","label":"Political party","values":[{"text":"Nepali Congress","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q216660"}],"source":{"label":"Wikidata","url":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q220991#P102"}},{"key":"education","label":"Education","values":[{"text":"Kirori Mal College","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6415943"},{"text":"University of Delhi","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q665105"},{"text":"Adarsha Higher Secondary School","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q93479831"}],"source":{"label":"Wikidata","url":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q220991#P69"}},{"key":"positions","label":"Positions held","values":[{"text":"President of Nepal (15 January 2007 – 23 July 2008)","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q153756","start":"2007-01-15","end":"2008-07-23"},{"text":"Prime Minister of Nepal (25 April 2006 – 18 August 2008)","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q30100626","start":"2006-04-25","end":"2008-08-18"},{"text":"Prime Minister of Nepal (22 March 2000 – 26 July 2001)","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q30100626","start":"2000-03-22","end":"2001-07-26"},{"text":"Prime Minister of Nepal (15 April 1998 – 31 May 1999)","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q30100626","start":"1998-04-15","end":"1999-05-31"},{"text":"Prime Minister of Nepal (26 May 1991 – 30 November 1994)","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q30100626","start":"1991-05-26","end":"1994-11-30"},{"text":"acting president","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3153784"}],"source":{"label":"Wikidata","url":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q220991#P39"}}],"office":{"profile":"https://diginpl.com/next/explore/person/girija-prasad-koirala","holdings":[{"position":"President","page":"https://diginpl.com/next/explore/office/president","start":"2007-01-15","end":"2008-07-23","current":false,"acting":false,"source":null},{"position":"Prime Minister","page":"https://diginpl.com/next/explore/office/prime-minister","start":"2006-04-25","end":"2008-08-18","current":false,"acting":false,"source":null},{"position":"Prime Minister","page":"https://diginpl.com/next/explore/office/prime-minister","start":"2000-03-22","end":"2001-07-26","current":false,"acting":false,"source":null},{"position":"Prime Minister","page":"https://diginpl.com/next/explore/office/prime-minister","start":"1998-04-15","end":"1999-05-31","current":false,"acting":false,"source":null},{"position":"Prime Minister","page":"https://diginpl.com/next/explore/office/prime-minister","start":"1991-05-26","end":"1994-11-30","current":false,"acting":false,"source":null}]},"sections":[],"cited":[{"id":"early_life","title":"Early life and education","items":[{"text":"Koirala was born on 4 July 1924 in Saharsa, in the Bihar and Orissa Province of British India into a Bahun family.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.dawn.com/news/822354","title":"Girija Prasad Koirala: The architect of democracy in Nepal","publisher":"Dawn","date":"23 March 2010"}]},{"text":"His father, Krishna Prasad Koirala, was a Nepali living in exile.","sources":[{"url":"http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/21/stories/2010032159310100.htm","title":"G.P. Koirala passes away","publisher":"The Hindu","date":"20 March 2010"}]},{"text":"In 1952 Koirala married Sushma Koirala, headmistress at the local school for women in Biratnagar.","sources":[{"url":"http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2010/03/26/Features/The-private-life-of-GPK/206596/","title":"The private life of GPK","publisher":"The Kathmandu Post","date":"26 March 2010"}]},{"text":"Sushma died in a kerosene-stove explosion in 1967.","sources":[{"url":"http://www.nndb.com/people/826/000214184","title":"GP Koirala","publisher":"NNDB.com","date":null}]},{"text":"He along with his daughter Sujata were followers of the Indian spiritual leader Sathya Sai Baba.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.hindustantimes.com/world/nepal-devotees-await-sathya-sai-baba-s-reincarnation/story-gn1iDMyv7e0q76ipJbNSWK.html","title":"Nepal devotees await Sathya Sai Baba's reincarnation","publisher":"Hindustan Times","date":"25 April 2011"}]},{"text":"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.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.britannica.com/biography/Girija-Prasad-Koirala","title":"Girija Prasad Koirala","publisher":"Britannica","date":null}]}]},{"id":"career","title":"Career","items":[{"text":"Koirala became involved in politics in 1947, leading the Biratnagar jute mill strike.","sources":[{"url":"http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/21/stories/2010032159310100.htm","title":"G.P. Koirala passes away","publisher":"The Hindu","date":"20 March 2010"}]},{"text":"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.","sources":[{"url":"http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/21/stories/2010032159310100.htm","title":"G.P. Koirala passes away","publisher":"The Hindu","date":"20 March 2010"},{"url":"https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8577669.stm","title":"Nepalese ex-leader Girija Prasad Koirala dies","publisher":"BBC News","date":"20 March 2010"}]},{"text":"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.","sources":[{"url":"http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/21/stories/2010032159310100.htm","title":"G.P. Koirala passes away","publisher":"The Hindu","date":"20 March 2010"}]},{"text":"Koirala was General Secretary of the Nepali Congress Party from 1975 to 1991.","sources":[{"url":"http://www.opmcm.gov.np/index.php?param=p7","title":"Opmcm","publisher":null,"date":null}]},{"text":"He was subsequently elected as the leader of the Nepali Congress parliamentary party and was appointed as prime minister by King Birendra.","sources":[{"url":"https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8577669.stm","title":"Nepalese ex-leader Girija Prasad Koirala dies","publisher":"BBC News","date":"20 March 2010"}]},{"text":"This led to the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist)-led coalition coming to power in the elections that followed.","sources":[{"url":"https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8577669.stm","title":"Nepalese ex-leader Girija Prasad Koirala dies","publisher":"BBC News","date":"20 March 2010"}]}]},{"id":"decisions","title":"Key decisions and achievements","items":[{"text":"In 2015, he was posthumously awarded with Nepal Ratna Man Padavi, the highest honour to a Nepali citizen by the Government of Nepal.","sources":[{"url":"http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2014/05/29/top-story/late-gp-koirala-given-highest-national-honour/263335.html","title":"Late GP Koirala given highest national honour","publisher":"The Kathmandu Post","date":null}]}]},{"id":"statements","title":"Notable statements","items":[{"text":"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\".","sources":[{"url":"http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/0A9B5B1F-5BF2-4ACB-A159-700F21DAD3C4.htm","title":"\"Nepal abolishes monarchy\"","publisher":null,"date":null}]}]}],"cited_from":"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Girija_Prasad_Koirala&oldid=1378224030","videos":[],"last_reviewed":null,"organizations":[],"same_as":["https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girija_Prasad_Koirala","https://ne.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A6_%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%87%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BE","https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q220991"],"faq":[{"q":"When was Girija Prasad Koirala born?","a":"Girija Prasad Koirala was born on 4 July 1924 in Saharsa."},{"q":"What positions has Girija Prasad Koirala held?","a":"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)."},{"q":"Where did Girija Prasad Koirala study?","a":"Girija Prasad Koirala was educated at Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, Adarsha Higher Secondary School."}],"related":[{"name":"Bidya Devi Bhandari","url":"https://diginpl.com/people/bidya-devi-bhandari"},{"name":"Ram Baran Yadav","url":"https://diginpl.com/people/ram-baran-yadav"},{"name":"Ram Chandra Paudel","url":"https://diginpl.com/people/ram-chandra-paudel"},{"name":"K. P. Sharma Oli","url":"https://diginpl.com/people/k-p-sharma-oli"},{"name":"Sushila Karki","url":"https://diginpl.com/people/sushila-karki"},{"name":"Pushpa Kamal Dahal","url":"https://diginpl.com/people/pushpa-kamal-dahal"},{"name":"Sher Bahadur Deuba","url":"https://diginpl.com/people/sher-bahadur-deuba"},{"name":"Balen Shah","url":"https://diginpl.com/people/balen-shah"},{"name":"Sushil Koirala","url":"https://diginpl.com/people/sushil-koirala"}],"places_in":[],"nearby":[],"image":{"url":"https://diginpl.com/kb-img/girija-prasad-koirala-004145f301.jpg","width":500,"height":640,"license":"GODL-India","credit":"Ministry of External Affairs","page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File: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"},"sources":[{"label":"Wikipedia (English): Girija Prasad Koirala","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girija_Prasad_Koirala","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/"},{"label":"Wikipedia (Nepali): गिरिजा प्रसाद कोइराला","url":"https://ne.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A6_%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%87%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BE","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/"},{"label":"Wikidata item Q220991","url":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q220991","license":"https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/"},{"label":"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 by Ministry of External Affairs (GODL-India)","url":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File: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","license":null},{"label":"Wikipedia (English), revision used for cited facts: Girija Prasad Koirala","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Girija_Prasad_Koirala&oldid=1378224030","license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/"},{"label":"Dawn: Girija Prasad Koirala: The architect of democracy in Nepal (23 March 2010)","url":"https://www.dawn.com/news/822354","license":null},{"label":"The Hindu: G.P. Koirala passes away (20 March 2010)","url":"http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/21/stories/2010032159310100.htm","license":null},{"label":"The Kathmandu Post: The private life of GPK (26 March 2010)","url":"http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2010/03/26/Features/The-private-life-of-GPK/206596/","license":null},{"label":"NNDB.com: GP Koirala","url":"http://www.nndb.com/people/826/000214184","license":null},{"label":"Hindustan Times: Nepal devotees await Sathya Sai Baba's reincarnation (25 April 2011)","url":"https://www.hindustantimes.com/world/nepal-devotees-await-sathya-sai-baba-s-reincarnation/story-gn1iDMyv7e0q76ipJbNSWK.html","license":null},{"label":"Britannica: Girija Prasad Koirala","url":"https://www.britannica.com/biography/Girija-Prasad-Koirala","license":null},{"label":"BBC News: Nepalese ex-leader Girija Prasad Koirala dies (20 March 2010)","url":"https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8577669.stm","license":null},{"label":"opmcm.gov.np: Opmcm","url":"http://www.opmcm.gov.np/index.php?param=p7","license":null},{"label":"The Kathmandu Post: Late GP Koirala given highest national honour","url":"http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2014/05/29/top-story/late-gp-koirala-given-highest-national-honour/263335.html","license":null},{"label":"english.aljazeera.net: \"Nepal abolishes monarchy\"","url":"http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/0A9B5B1F-5BF2-4ACB-A159-700F21DAD3C4.htm","license":null}],"license":{"text":"CC BY-SA 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/","facts":"https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/"},"attribution":"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.","cite":"\"Girija Prasad Koirala\". DigiNepal. Last updated 7 October 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/girija-prasad-koirala. Retrieved 21 October 2026.","date_modified":"2026-10-07T11:48:10Z","facts_checked":"2026-10-21","alternates":{"html":"https://diginpl.com/people/girija-prasad-koirala","en":"https://diginpl.com/people/girija-prasad-koirala","ne":"https://diginpl.com/people/girija-prasad-koirala?lang=ne"}}