Kathmandu: Nepal is observing 'Black Day' nationwide today, reflecting on the dissolution of the country’s first democratically elected government and parliament 63 years ago. The event, backed by the then Royal Nepali Army, marked the imposition of the party-less Panchayat Political System by King Mahendra on Push 1, 2017 BS (1960).

On this day, the first people-elected Prime Minister BP Koirala, along with other prominent leaders, was arrested during a Nepal Tarun Dal program in Singha Durbar. They were detained for months, initially at Singha Durbar and later at Sundarijal, where a senior army official's quarters became known as "Bandi Griha" (Detainee Home).

Despite the grim circumstances, BP Koirala's imprisonment proved to be a transformative period for his literary pursuits. While in Sundarijal, he wrote several renowned works, including Shwetbhairabi, Modiaain, Babu, Ama Ra Chhora, Teen Ghumti, and Sumnima. His biographical and political reflections, such as Atmabritanta, Jail Journal, and Feri Sundarijal, remain cornerstones of Nepali literature and political history.

Other key political figures, including Speaker Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, Ganeshman Singh, Surya Prasad Upadhyay, and others, were also detained during the coup.

Today, organizations like the Nepali Congress and its youth wing, Nepal Tarun Dal, are organizing events nationwide to mark the day as a solemn reminder of the struggle for democracy. These programs underscore the sacrifices made by democratic leaders and the resilience of Nepal’s fight for democratic values.