KATHMANDU, April 20: Lexicographer and litterateur Basanta Kumar Sharmma Nepal passed away today at his Maijubahal-based residence in Chabahil. He was 97. He was born the day of Ram Nawami (Chaitra Shukla Nawami) in 1979 BS.

He was in coma since the past two months, following a stroke (brain attack). He had an ulcer and five months ago, he was diagnosed with a problem in his lung. His second son Binay Kumar confirmed his passing away. His last rites are to be conducted at the Pashupati Aryaghat today itself. A Nepali dictionary entitled ‘Nepali Shabdasagar’, containing the highest number of words, compiled by him got published on April 12, 2001 (Chaita 30, 2057 BS).

This dictionary has 125,000 entries in its original edition and the second edition has 141,000 words. He is the translator of the Mahabharat, the great Hindu epic, into four sections in free verse and 135 Upanishad originally in the Sanskrit language. He has 76 publications in his name and 100 manuscripts. He is survived by his spouse, four sons and three daughters. RSS

 
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