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As Nepal navigates a political crisis sparked by massive youth-led protests, the leading candidate to steer the country is a figure of unimpeachable integrity: Sushila Karki, the nation's first female Chief Justice. But as she steps into the spotlight, a dramatic and little-known story from her past is re-emerging—a story involving her husband and a political plane hijacking.
The 73-year-old Karki is being looked upon as a stabilizing force after widespread "Gen Z" protests against corruption led to the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and shook the country's political establishment to its core While Karki is celebrated for her fearless anti-corruption stance, her husband, Durga Prasad Subedi, has a history that reads like a political thriller.
The Hijacking for Democracy
Decades before his wife would become the head of the nation's judiciary, Durga Prasad Subedi was a young revolutionary. In 1973, he was a youth leader in the Nepali Congress party, which was engaged in a struggle against the then-absolute monarchy.
In a daring and historic act, Subedi was a key figure in Nepal's first and only political plane hijacking The plan, masterminded by Girija Prasad Koirala—who would later serve as Nepal's Prime Minister multiple times—was not for personal gain but to raise funds for an "armed struggle" for democracy.
On June 10, 1973, Subedi and his associates hijacked a Royal Nepal Airlines flight traveling from Biratnagar to Kathmandu. The target was a large consignment of cash, reportedly 3 million Indian rupees, belonging to the state bank.] Among the 19 unsuspecting passengers on board was the famous Indian film actress Mala Sinha. The hijackers forced the plane to land in Forbesganj, a town in Bihar, India, where they offloaded the cash and escaped
Subedi and his fellow conspirators were eventually arrested in India and spent time in prison for the act. It was a radical move in a desperate time, all in the name of political revolution.
A Legacy of Her Own
Despite this dramatic chapter in her husband's life, Sushila Karki forged her own path, building an independent and formidable reputation within Nepal's legal system. As Chief Justice, she became known as a fearless crusader against corruption, famously delivering landmark verdicts against powerful sitting ministers and officials.
Her integrity is precisely why the youth protesters and political leaders have turned to her now. In a nation reeling from protests that left over 50 people dead and saw widespread chaos, Karki is seen as a leader who can rise above the fractious political landscape.The hope is that she can lead an interim government, restore stability, and pave the way for fair elections within the next year.
Her ascent to the country's highest executive post would not only make her Nepal's first female Prime Minister but would also represent a remarkable turn in a life story intertwined with a revolutionary past. It's a powerful narrative: a woman who dedicated her life to upholding the law, now tasked with leading a nation, whose own family history includes a man who once broke it in the name of democracy.
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