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Alumni say Nepal’s first woman Chief Justice, who completed her master’s degree in political science from Banaras Hindu University in 1975, was a quiet and diligent student
Nepal’s former Chief Justice Sushila Karki. (Image via X)
Banaras Hindu University (BHU) is basking in pride and nostalgia after its alumnus Sushila Karki, Nepal’s first woman Chief Justice, was picked as the interim head of the Himalayan nation. Karki’s rise to the top post has not only added another feather in BHU’s cap but also brought smiles to the faces of her old associates and fellow alumni, who recalled her innings at BHU and fondly referred to it as her “Banaras Chapter”.
A student of Banaras
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Born on June 7, 1952, in Biratnagar, Nepal, Karki completed her master’s degree in political science from BHU in 1975. After finishing her undergraduate studies in arts from Mahendra Morang Campus in Biratnagar, she arrived in Varanasi in the early 1970s. For three years, she lived in the university hostel, studied political theory and governance, and absorbed the cultural richness of Banaras, now Varanasi.
Her years in the city left a deep imprint not only on her academic career but also on her personal life. It is said that it was at BHU that she first met Durga Prasad Subedi, an active member of the Nepali Congress, who would later become her life partner. Their meeting on the campus tied her story permanently to India’s spiritual and cultural capital.
A quiet and diligent student
Old associates at BHU still remember her as a serious student who largely kept to herself. Anil Srivastava, BHU’s 1985 students’ union president, recalled: “Sushila was a very normal student. She would go from hostel to department and department to hostel. Except for the library, she was rarely seen anywhere else. She did not participate in political activities during her student years. It was in Banaras that she met Durga Prasad Subedi, whom she later married.”
Other alumni echoed similar memories, describing her as a student who lived for her books, divided her time between lectures and the library, and blended quietly into the rhythm of campus life. For them, the news of her elevation has brought back a flood of memories of an era when Nepalese students were a strong presence at BHU.
In a recent interview, Karki herself reflected on her student life in Varanasi with warmth. “I still remember my late teachers, my late friends, and the river Ganga. Besides the Ganga, there was a hostel. And at night in the summer, we would sleep on the terrace.”
She also revealed that she was once offered a chance to pursue doctoral studies and even a teaching position at BHU, but life took her on a different path. “Perhaps my destiny was different. I feel I was destined to be a judge, and that is why I could not pursue my PhD there,” she said.
Her recollections highlight the affection with which she still speaks about Banaras, a city that shaped her youth and where she laid the foundations of her career.
Beyond her academic ties to BHU, Karki’s career in Nepal has been defined by a fearless stand against corruption and political interference. In April 2017, during her tenure as Chief Justice, she faced an impeachment motion in Parliament brought by the Maoist Centre and the Nepali Congress. The move was later withdrawn after strong public backlash and a Supreme Court interim order, cementing her reputation as a woman of integrity.
For many in Nepal, her appointment as interim head represents more than just a political transition. It is being seen as a historic milestone for women’s representation and constitutional equality, as well as a reaffirmation of democratic resilience.
Professor Bhupendra Vikram Singh, who served as coordinator of the Nepal Study Centre at BHU for 12 years, recalled how Karki’s time coincided with visits by senior Nepali Congress leaders to Banaras. “The Koirala family, deputy prime ministers, and MPs from Nepal would frequently visit the campus in those years. Karki’s presence as a student was part of that wider India-Nepal relationship,” he said.
Another alumnus said: “Sushila Karki’s rise proves that the values nurtured in Banaras can resonate on the global stage.” Officials said BHU is now planning to archive the memories associated with Karki’s student years, describing it as “a matter of institutional pride”.
Varanasi, India, India
September 11, 2025, 10:53 IST
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