Sita Dahal is lying in a semi-conscious state on the bed. She has been kept in a room at the Prime Minister's Official residence in Baluwatar. A nurse is attending to her.
However, instead of improving the situation, Sita's body is getting weaker and weaker.
“She can't talk or walk. Her limbs do not move, she cannot see with her eyes,” said a Maoist leader who met her a few days ago.
Her appetite has decreased. She tries to recognize those who come to meet her, but in vain. She cannot sit on her own.
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ keeps visiting Sita’s room to understand the condition of his wife. He gets upset when he sees his wife's deteriorating condition.
However, he encourages Sita, "Don't panic, it will be fine."
Sita does not know that Prachanda became the Prime Minister for the 3rd time.
She has not regained consciousness since he fell unconscious on December 5 and was treated at Mediciti Hospital in Lalitpur.
After Prachanda moved to Baluwatar on December 25, Sita was also brought along with him. Prior to that, she was being cared for at her residence in Khumaltar.
Sita’s role as counselor
Prachanda was making final preparations for the civil war when she had to take care of three daughters and a small son.
At that time, Prachanda was the General Secretary of CPN (Mashal).
In 2049 BS, the eldest daughter Gyanu got married.
Prachanda formed CPN (Unity Center) by forging alliance among CPN of Nirmal Lama, CPN (Masal) of Haribol Gajurel and the group led by Dr. Baburam Bhattarai.
When the People's War started, the name of Unity Center was converted into CPN (Maoist).
General Secretary Prachanda, who studied intensively on the international practice of war, the use of military strategy, weapons and military squad building, completed the final preparations.
Prachanda's security concerns increased with the preparations for war. Hence, he changed shelters to stay safe and to further the war.
Two daughters Renu and Ganga had to finish their studies. Son Prakash was very young.
He said to Sita, “Anything can happen in war. You will take care of the children.”
However, Sita offered to accompany her husband to the war.
Sita then joined the war along with Prachanda.
The People's War started on February 13, 1996 (Falgun 1, 2052). Maoist rebels attacked police stations simultaneously in some places in the west and east. Prachanda and Sita were in Kathmandu during the period.
After that, Sita moved to various places in Rolpa, Rukum, Kathmandu and Lalitpur. As the war intensified, they settled in different cities of India.
The Maoist leaders say that Sita supported Prachanda in all the ups and downs of the war and saved him.
"Sita Dahal's main role was to protect and develop the headquarters by continuing the people's war," a Maoist leader told Nepalkhabar.
"Not only being the chairman's madam, Sitaji really had the ability to be an advisor, some of the steps taken according to her advice proved to be correct," says the leader who is also an office-bearer of the party.
Through the peace process, Maoists started parliamentary politics. In the first Constituent Assembly election on April 10, 2008 (2064 Chait 28), Maoists won a historic victory. Maoists came to power. Criticism of the Maoists increased as deviations came with the power struggle.
"However, Sita Dahalji reminded Prachanda not to forget that he is coming to power to serve the people," says the leader.
In the past few years, Prachanda has not even been able to listen to Sita's speech, let alone her advice.
Misfortune befell on Sita's life
Just before the election of the second Constituent Assembly, the eldest daughter Gyanu was diagnosed with breast cancer.
This caused great stress to Sita Dahal. All measures of treatment for the daughter were explored. She was treated in the country and abroad (India), but in vain. The cancer was not cured.
On March 27, 2014, Gyanu died at the age of 40 at Om Hospital in Kathmandu.
Sita was devastated by the sudden death of her daughter.
She started showing signs of Parkinson's disease.
In the election of the second Constituent Assembly, the CPN (Maoist) was reduced to the third party. Prachanda was facing tensions including party splits. He could not devote much time to Sita's care.
Prachanda was very happy and so was Sita when the Constitution of Nepal was promulgated on September 20, 2015. However, the pain of losing her daughter made her lose her temper at times.
At that time, son Prakash started to see Prachanda's secretariat again. Prior to that, Prakash was also in the Secretariat when he became the Prime Minister for the first time. However, after marrying Bina Magar, he announced on January 25, 2014 that he would not stay in the secretariat.
Then he started taking care of his mother. A helper was always at home. Sita was not left alone.
