Dr Dayananda Bajracharya, a senior scientist and professor, seemed to have realized that his last days in this world were near as he used to encourage his pupils and colleagues to work harder to promote Nepal’s science and technological research even in his absence. [break]
Bajracharya, who passed away on Monday morning aged 68, made a huge contribution to the development of science and technology in the country. This contribution will keep his memory alive among people. Though he is known more as a science promoter than a scientist, he played a key role in developing science in the country.
According to his students, Dr Bajracharya had prepared a report with the help of his students on the present status of science and technology in Nepal and he asked them to submit it to every political party so that they would add something from it to their manifestos for the upcoming CA election.
“We have submitted the report in accordance with his suggestion and some of the political parties have included a few lines from it in their agendas,” said Dr. Dinesh Bhuju, a student of Bajracharya and professor at the Environment Department at Tribhuvan University (TU). “He wanted to explore science in every corner of our country. He was the one who developed our science to where it is today.”
According to Bhuju, Dr Bajracharya was very strict and disciplined as a teacher. He never used chalk and duster while taking classes, but used a projector and other materials instead. Though he was strict, he was regarded as the best teacher by students.
“He had a capacity to convince people, something which I think very few teachers are blessed with. Though he has left us, his lessons and suggestions will always be remembered by us,” added Bhuju.
Bajracharya, who served as a vice-chancellor at the then Royal Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) for eight years, published four books on science and technology, including An Experiment in Plant Physiology (course-book) in English and Aadhero Ma Ek Kati Salaai, Baigyanik Goretoma and Chetanako Yatra in Nepali. Likewise, he served more than 41 years as a reader at the Department of Botany at TU.
“It would take a lot of time to persuade him about outings or anything else. He was not an easy-going person but he was very good at his studies, and very health conscious because of his poor health, “ said Dr. Pushpa Ratna Shakya, a childhood friend, adding, “He was very disciplined since childhood.”
Dr Bajracharya, who completed his Ph.D from the University of Freiburg in Germany, was conferred a number of national awards such as the Gorkha Dakshin Bahu and the Mahendra Vidyabhusan gold medal.
Father of two children, he had been suffering from pulmonary disease for many years. He was pronounced dead at Om Hospital & Research Center.
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