Sushila Karki’s neighbours recall her simple life

NEIGHBOURS ON NEW PRIME MINISTER

- Prawesh Lama

For the 30 million people in Nepal, 73-year-old Sushila Karki represents a beacon of hope - a leader many believe could guide the Himalayan nation out of its deepest political crisis in decades, one that toppled a regime after just 27 hours of intense youth-led protests last week.

But, in Dhapasi, a quiet hamlet 8km from the heart of Kathmandu, she's simply known as Aama (mother in Nepali). Until just days ago, neighbours would often spot her on her verandah, calmly chopping vegetables, reading in the afternoon sun or working on her laptop.

Over the past week, Dhapasi, which houses the residence of the country's 42nd Prime Minister, has become one of the most visited spots in Kathmandu and is now heavily guarded by security forces."I never imagined our Aama, my next door neighbour, would be the Prime Minister. Just days before protests broke out on the streets, I saw her chopping vegetables for lunch in her verandah. Her name started circulating in viral messages but we did not know it would happen for sure," said Bhima Paudel, 40, who lives in the house adjacent to Karki's.