Sushila Karki, who once broke barriers as Nepal’s first woman Chief Justice, has again carved history by becoming the country’s first woman Prime Minister, albeit in an interim capacity. At 73, her elevation comes on the back of sweeping protests led by Nepal’s youth that toppled the old political order and demanded credible leadership.
Karki, whose ties with India run deep, recalled her student days at Banaras Hindu University in Uttar Pradesh. “I still remember my teachers, friends. I still remember the river Ganga. Beside the Ganga, there was a hostel. And at night in the summer, we would sleep on the (terrace),” she told News18.
Asked about her expectations from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India, she was measured but cordial. “First, I will say namaskaar to Modi ji. I have a good impression about Modi ji,” she said, underlining that government-to-government relations follow their own course.
“India has helped Nepal at all times… (But) there is a saying (in Hindi): ‘When there are utensils kept together in the kitchen, they do make some sound.’ It happens!” she remarked, stressing that friction was natural in any close relationship.
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She pointed to the enduring people-to-people ties between the two nations. “There is such a good relationship between the people of Nepal and the people of India. Many, many of our relatives, many of our acquaintances… We have so much goodwill, love,” she said.
On foreign policy, Karki was careful not to commit to detail. “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 added.
Her rise as interim Prime Minister follows years of turbulence in Kathmandu. The protests that forced the resignation of KP Sharma Oli were marked by both violence and youthful idealism. Against this backdrop, the choice of Karki, known for her integrity and neutrality, is seen as a stabilising move.
Karki, born in Biratnagar, said her home lies only 25 miles from the Indian border. “We consider them as our own brothers and sisters,” she said of Indian leaders, echoing her lifelong proximity to the cultural and social fabric of India.
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