How Sushila Karki's days in Varanasi paved the way for her rise as Nepal's prime minister

Former Chief Justice of Nepal Sushila Karki, 73, who has now become the country's first woman prime minister to head an interim government, shares a strong bond with Varanasi.

Karki, who described herself in a recent media interview as a "friend of India", pursued her post-graduation from the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi. It was during her stay at the BHU that she also met her life partner, Durga Prasad Subedi.

Dipak Malik, a former professor of political science at the BHU, vividly recalled Karki's stay at the prestigious university.

"Sushila Karki did an MA in political science from BHU in 1975. Back then, Varanasi was the centre of the anti-monarchy movement in Nepal for a long time," said Malik.

He added that Karki, too, got associated with the movement.

Incidentally, renowned writer BP Koirala — who later became Nepal's prime minister — was also active in Varanasi during the same time.

"Between 1940 and 1980, BP Koirala was also in Varanasi, working for the Nepali Congress, with the BHU as its base. Sushila Karki thus got associated with the anti-monarchy movement," he said.

He described Karki as a "very honest and capable leader" and asserted that her election as the interim PM of Nepal is a significant milestone in the country's history. "I congratulate her," he added.

Malik observed that Nepalese youth have raised questions on corruption and economic inequality and said that these issues need to be addressed.