Talk of the town man is no more
One of the sharpest pens of the country, noted journalist and litterateur Shiva Adhikari never gave up his fight, be it for democracy or for the creations of literary works, but sadly he gave in to a liver disease.
At the young age of 50, Adhikari took his last breath today afternoon following a two-week-long lever problem at Kathmandu Medical College in the capital.
Adhikari’s indefatigable fight for democracy as a journalist in pre-1990 era was widely appreciated. However, the post-democratic era attached him close to Nepali Congress party. In the meantime, he never let the literary side of his talent to stop flowering.Master of Arts in Nepali literature, Adhikari started his career as a journalist from Suruchi journal of literature in 1974. In the course of his career, Adhikari worked for political weeklies like Nepal Pukar, Rajdhani weekly, Desantar and Suruchi.
Born in Dhading district in 1953, Adhikari lived a simple life renouncing any financial lust.
Adhikari’s most successful spell of the career was during 1985-1995, when Suruchi weekly was published and edited by him. A column, Someone who’s talk of the town (Saharama Jasko Charcha Chaa), was one of the most famous columns in any Nepali newspapers of all time.In a different note, he became successful in the later part of his life as the editor of Gorkhapatra, the government owned national daily, and also as the chief executive of Gorakhapatra Corporation.
Among his great works in literature, there are six anthologies of poems, three dramas, six short plays, six novels and one biography.
Lately he was serving as a councillor at Royal Nepal Academy.
He is survived by two daughters and a wife.
Adhikari’s life-partner Sarala Bista lit the funeral pyre today in the presence of top leaders from all political parties, journalists, litterateurs, family members and friends. A wife lighting the pyre of her husband is a rare tradition in Hindu mythology.The gloomy eyes of Nepali Congress leaders including Girija Prasad Koirala, Sushil Koirala and Narahari Acharya, journalists, litterateurs and relatives at Pashupati Aryaghat were expressing an irreparable loss on Sunday evening.
Nepali Congress General Secretary Sushil Koirala appreciated Adhikari’s relentless contribution for restoring democracy in Nepal. "We are indebted to his pen for our democratic movements," Koirala said.Sri Acharya, a senior journalist and a friend of Adhikari, narrated the past thus. "From my hostel days during SLC exams to present, I have never found Adhikary compromising on the issues of democracy, morality and ethics".
Adhikari was equally pleasing to his colleagues. Journalist Kulchandra Wagle remembers the pleasant times while working as an assistant of late Adhikari in Gorkhapatra. "We enjoyed complete freedom for the first time when he was an editor," Wagle said. "Even the privilege committee in parliament complained about his words used against the parliamentarians."
Harihar Birahi, a senior journalist and former Press Council chairman observes Adhikari as a champion of freedom of expression in Nepal. "He is characterised by his fearlessness, frankness and straightforwardness," Birahi said.
Tara Nath Dahal, president of Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), Rishi Dhamala of Reporters Club and other journalists’ organisations have expressed their profound grief and sorrow over the demise of Adhikari.Posted on: 2004-01-13 03:56
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Abin
His general strike is under way His group should follow their banda ...then mine... so you have to wait to announce a shutdown
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