Man Of Towering Stature

Renowned litterateur and culture expert Satya Mohan Joshi passed away on Sunday morning. The revered literary centenarian was undergoing treatment at KIST Medical College Hospital located at Gwarko of Lalitpur. Having admitted to the hospital on September 23 owing to extreme weakness, he responded to treatments initially. But his health condition got worse from bad later. A week ago, he was taken to the intensive care unit (ICU) for the treatment of pneumonia and atrial fibrillation. As his body was showing some signs of recovery, he was moved out from ICU a couple of days ago. But doctors had to shift him to ICU again as his oxygen saturation level fell sharply. He was also lately found infected with dengue. In the demise of Joshi, Nepal has lost a great literary and cultural icon, and historian. The nation has suffered an irreparable loss. Born to father Shankar Joshi and mother Raj Kumari at Bakhumbahal of Lalitpur on May 12, 1920, Joshi was able to make outstanding feats in the fields of literature, history, art and culture. 

A three-time recipient of the Madan Puraskar for his work on folk studies, Nepali numismatics and the traditions of the Karnali region, he has more than five dozen books on music, drama, culture, and history to his credit. He was presented that prestigious award for his three prominent works-- 'Hamro Lok Sanskriti' in 1956, Nepali Rastriya Mudra in 1960 and Karnali Lok Sanskriti, which is based on his field study of the Khas civilisation, in 1971. Charumati, Sunkeshari, Majipha Lakhe and Bagh Bhairab are some of his outstanding creations. His contributions to Nepali culture, literature and history are so immense that he was able to earn the fame as the Bangmaya Shatabdi Purush (Litterateur Centenarian). As Joshi's father was an officer at the court of Mohan Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana, he had the privilege to get enrolled in the Durbar High School to get a formal education. 

A Bachelor's degree holder from Tri-Chandra College, Joshi dedicated his life to learning and research. He was bestowed an honorary doctorate in literature from Kathmandu University (KU). He led a long life where he witnessed five monarchs, two presidents, five Shree 3 Maharajas and about four dozen governments led by almost two dozen prime ministers. He also saw the collapse of the autocratic Rana regime, the party-less Panchayat system and the monarchy and experienced two mega earthquakes, the Maoist insurgency and a royal massacre. When he was in the civil service in the initial days of his professional life, he played a vital role in the drafting of the first map of Nepal and the conducting of the first scientific census in the country. He was also the first director of the Archaeological and Cultural Department (now the Department of Archaeology). 

People from different walks of life paid last tributes to Joshi at the office of the Lalitpur Metropolitan City (LMC) on Sunday. His body was returned to KIST Hospital instead of cremating as per the Hindu rituals. It was because he and his wife Radha Devi had committed to donating their bodies to the KIST Teaching Hospital for medical research. Meanwhile, President Bidya Devi Bhandari, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, former prime ministers KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, among others, paid their final tributes to the late Joshi. They said that the nation would never forget his invaluable contributions. A contingent of the Nepal Police offered him the final salute at LMC premises. We extend our heartfelt respects to the Centenarian of high national stature.