85, having suffered from asthma and pulmonary disease. His funeral was held at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu on 21 March. Upon receiving news of his death, numerous politicians released statements of condolence. The Hindu described him as a "national guardian". Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh released a statement expressing his condolences, saying "Koirala was a mass leader and a statesman, whose knowledge and wisdom guided the polity of Nepal in the right direction at critical junctures in the country's history," while Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations said "Koirala fought fearlessly and at considerable personal sacrifice for justice and democratic rights in his country" and senior Maoist politician Baburam Bhattarai said "Koirala will be very much missed, especially now that the country is nearing the end of the peace process that he facilitated". Awards On 2015, he was posthumously awarded with Nepal Ratna Man Padavi, the highest honour to a Nepali citizen by the Government of Nepal. Bangladesh : Bangladesh Liberation War Honour See also Biratnagar jute mill strike Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala List of prime ministers of Nepal References External links |- |- |- |- |- 1924 births 2010 deaths Deaths from multiple organ failure Followers of Sathya Sai Baba Nepalese exiles Nepalese Hindus Nepalese prisoners and detainees Prime ministers of Nepal Finance ministers of Nepal Prisoners and detainees of Nepal Kirori Mal College alumni Heads of state of Nepal Nepali Congress politicians from Province No. 1 Delhi University alumni People from Biratnagar People educated at Adarsha High School G Nepal MPs 1991–1994 Nepal MPs 1994–1999 Nepal MPs 1999–2002 People of the Nepalese Civil War 20th-century prime ministers of Nepal 21st-century prime ministers of Nepal Bahun Khas people Members of the 1st Nepalese Constituent Assembly