Multi-faceted author Jagadish Shamsher Rana known for his relentless dedication to Nepali literature, art and politics died in Chandigarh, India on Monday. He was 88.

Rana was awarded Madan Puraskar for his literary work ‘Narsingh Awatar’ on October 2, 1981. According to author Balkrishna Pokharel, Rana was the first critic to write ‘Muna Madan Pribhraman’ on Great Poet Laxmi Prasad Devkota’s ‘Muna Madan’.

Moreover, it was Rana who introduced the use of myth in stories and interpreted the same in comparison to the contemporary political situation and issues. Author Yubak Udyanti said, “In his award winning epic ‘Narsingh Awatar’, Rana has used the myth about the Narsingh Awatar of Lord Bishnu and has dealt with then political issues was fight for democracy. He has also used ‘Narsingh Awatar’ to predict the fate of Nepal’s democracy. Rana’s another work ‘Seto Khyak’ also incorporates a myth popular in Newari society.” 

Apart from being a brilliant writer, Rana was also actively involved in painting semi-abstract forms. Talking about his contribution to the modern Nepali art field, veteran artist and former Chancellor of Nepal Academy of Fine Arts, Kiran Manandhar, said, “I knew him for more than 20 years and in the course, he has inspired many Nepali artists working in the modern art field in Nepal as well as in India. Many only know him as a literary figure, but he also an art enthusiast.”

According to him, Jagadish firmly believed in simple living high thinking. “Nepal has lost an intellectual who always worked for the development of Nepali art and literature.”

Since year 2017 BS, Rana lived in Shimla, India and from the year 2046 BS, his journey to Nepal became frequent. According to family sources, Rana died of heart failure and he had been going through treatment Chandigarh since one year.

Rana is survived by his wife and three daughters.