75-year-old Congress membership certificate presented at 15th General Convention

KATHMANDU: Delegates and party workers at the Nepali Congress’ ongoing 15th General Convention were moved when a 75-year-old historical document was presented at the event.

Party President Gagan Kumar Thapa honoured veteran leader Mathura Prasad Shrestha during the convention after he appeared with an original early membership certificate of the Nepali Congress, issued in 2008 BS.

Shrestha, then 18, from Tamghas Sahu Tol of Gulmi, had obtained the party’s initial membership by paying an annual contribution of Rs 1 or Rs 1.25.

The historical certificate, numbered 28317, shows that Shrestha, now 94, received the membership at the age of 18 on Chaitra 26, 2007 BS, from then-party president Matrika Prasad Koirala.

The certificate bears the signatures of Koirala as party president and Mahendra Bikram Shah, founding general secretary of the Nepal Democratic Congress. The document also notes that the general secretary was referred to as the prime minister at the time.

During the inaugural session of the General Convention, Thapa honoured Shrestha with a shawl in recognition of the historical document and the contribution of the veteran party member.