PM Oli, leaders express condolence over demise of NRM founding chairman Gyawali

Published On: October 14, 2018 09:40 AM NPT

KATHMANDU, Oct 14: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and senior leaders from various political parties have expressed condolence over the demise of the founding Chairman of Nepal Republic Media (NRM) Hemraj Gyawali, who passed away in course of treatment following a mild heart attack, on Saturday evening.

Prime Minister Oli said on Tweeter that he was sad to hear about the demise of NRM's founding Chairman and media entrepreneur Gyawali. "I would like to express my deep condolences to the bereaved family members and relatives," the prime minister added.

Former Prime Minister and the President of Nepali Congress, Sher Bahadur Deuba, said on Tweeter "The founding Chairman of Nepal Republic Media, Hemraj Gyawali's demise is really an irreparable loss. May his soul rest in peace, and may the god give his family the strength to brave this tragedy. We will always be missing him."

Former Prime Minister and Convener of Naya Shakti Party, Baburam Bhattarai, also expressed deep condolences on the demise of late Gyawali.

"I am deeply sad to learn about the demise of leading figure of Nepal's professional journalism, and the Founding Chairman of Kantipur Publications and Nepal Republic Media Hem Raj Gyawali. The Nepali free press and democracy will remember him forever," Bhattarai said.

Gyawali, Nepal’s pioneer in promoting professional media passed away at the age of 79 while undergoing treatment at Shahid Gangalal National Heart Center where he had been taken to after complaining of chest pain.

Gyawali, who remained active in the promotion of private media in Nepal, was the founding chairman of Nepal’s leading media house, Kantipur Publications, for over a decade before starting the NRM. Former senior bureaucrat Gyawali is a well-known figure in the fields of Nepali literature, culture, language and eastern philosophy.

He is survived by his wife, Laxmi Gyawali, and three sons- Binod Raj Gyawali, Achyut Raj Gyawali and Dhruba Raj Gyawali.

While leading the country’s major media houses, he always advocated putting the people first and worked tirelessly to safeguard Nepal’s democracy. He did so by establishing two largest media houses following two popular political movements – Kantipur Publications after 1990’s political change and Nepal Republic Media after the political revolution of 2006. He always inspired journalists to cover issues of the general public and give them proper space in the media.

Born on Chaitra 17, 1995 BS in Gulmi, Gyawali worked as a government official for 27 years and retired as a joint secretary.

Following the people’s movement and restoration of multiparty democracy in 1990, he played a crucial role in promoting professional journalism in Nepal. The Nepali media which was being run largely in a traditional manner was radically professionalized in terms of the quality of content as well as quantity following the establishment of Kantipur Publications.

Following the introduction of a federal republic system in the country in 2008, the NRM was established with Gyawali as its founding chairman with a vision of taking the Nepali media to a further new height. NRM which initially published Nagarik and Republica dailies along with their online editions now publishes the weekly tabloid Shukrabar, monthly magazine Paribar and runs Radio Nagarik.

Gyawali, who had a deep interest in Nepal’s society, culture, literature, language and eastern philosophy, was also active in the study and promotion of of the Sanskrit language. He was the chairman of Jayatu Sanskritum movement for four years. During his tenure, he took important initiatives for the promotion of Sanskrit including convening a national level conference.

Gyawali is also remembered for his initiatives to revive the Sanskrit language in Nepal. He actively wrote articles for Nagarik Daily until a few weeks ago. His last rites were performed at Pashupati Aryaghat late Saturday evening.