Girija Prasad Koirala, better known as G.P. Koirala, was a Nepalese politician who served as the Prime Minister of the country at four different times. He also acted as the ‘Acting Head of State’ when the country was in a state of transition from monarchy to a republic. He was active in the politics in Nepal for more than sixty years and started his political career by organizing the ‘Biratnagar jute mill strike’ in his hometown Biratnagar. He became the Prime Minister of the country when the Nepali Congress headed by his brother B.P. Koirala came to power. His family was one of the most influential in the country’s political and cultural scene. He and his two elder brothers along with a cousin had been the Prime Ministers of Nepal at different times. His elder brothers Matrika Prasad Koirala was the Prime Minister of the country from 1951 to 1952 and again from 1953 to 1955 while Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala was the Prime Minister from 1959 to 1960. Some of the family members who did not join politics went on to carve out a niche for themselves in the world of arts and media. His daughter Sujata Koirala was also involved in politics and rose to become the Deputy Prime Mister of the country at one point of time.
