This piece is dedicated to the memory of Shree Prasad Budhathoki, who passed away on March 14, aged 84. I had heard of him through Naru, his brother, who was my classmate in King George’s School Belgaum, India, in the early 50s. So, our bumping into each other by sheer coincidence is worth recollecting.

Once, during my posting in Pokhara in the mid-60s, I was enjoying the locally made booze in one of the indigenous inns when a man in his early 40s, elegantly attired with a lustrous face, walked in and made himself comfortable after placing his order. After scrutinising him closely, the face bore resemblance to my classmate’s face. After mustering courage, I initiated him into conversation which proved my guess right — he was none other than Shreedai about whom Naru often used to talk. We ordered a fresh round of drinks and indulged enthusiastically in reminiscing about Georgian days as he was also a Georgian from Jallundar School. Since then a bond of friendship developed.

After graduating, Shreedai had joined the famed 2/5 Gorkha battalion of the then British Indian army and had seen action on different fronts during World War II. This battalion was considered the jewel among all the Gorkha battalions. No wonder it lived up to its reputation bagging three Victoria Crosses, displaying rare bravery. The recipients were Gaje Ghale, Agam Singh Rai and Netra Bahadur Thapa. Shreedai was wounded. He was made a commissioned officer in 1943 — the first Nepali to become a full-fledged officer in the British Indian army. He retired in 1968 as Lieutenant Colonel, after commanding the 1/5 GR.

After his return to his native country, he was made honorary colonel by the late King Mahendra and was appointed as chief to run the national cadet corps for the first time in Nepal. In 1976, he was nominated as a member of the National Panchayat. He was twice elected as a member of the National Panchayat and twice held ministerial posts.

After the restoration of democracy, he was approached by different parties but he refused to join them. Shreedai, both as a soldier and a politician, was an honest man — a rarity. Lastly, I salute him for all the worthy causes he stood for — Goodbye Shreedai.