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Birth: 8 May 1920, Sindhuli 
Death: 2 June 2022, Kathmandu 

Bhim Bahadur Thapa, the man who left behind cryptic one-word message ‘Khoja’ in Devnagari script on streets, walls and electricity poles across the country, died on June 2 at the age of 104.

Thapa was a wizened old man of bent posture who wandered the streets and neighborhoods with a stick and a bag slung over his shoulders. He had this penchant of writing the word ‘Khoja’ (‘seek’) on whatever space he considered suitable with paint or chalk. 

He was a man on a mission to make people seek knowledge and understanding human life.  

Born to an ordinary family in Sindhuli district, Thapa never got formal education. He was an autodidact, who taught himself to read and write. At a young age, he became a passionate adherent of Karl Marx and his philosophy.

He believed in a casteless and classless society and joined the then Communist Party of Nepal in 1958. Thapa was an active participant in the communist movement of the time organized to protest against the monarchy.   

During his years as a proponent of communism, he was detained on more than one occasion. But one day Thapa had a terrible epiphany: the communist parties of Nepal were faux-Marxists. 

Disillusioned, Thapa left politics for good and in 1978 started his ‘Khoja’ campaign. 

“Searching is an abstract thing, but it has made this world. Every other thing you see on earth is an outcome of searching, hence keep the spirit of search alive until you get your needs fulfilled,” Thapa once said. 

One singular word ‘Khoja’ had a profound political, spiritual and philosophical meaning for those who meditated on it. This was what Thapa wanted: to get the attention of people with this simple word, make them pause for a moment–and think.  

Thapa had fashioned his own flag for the campaign, with the word ‘Khoja’ with a cross of a pick-axe and hoe—in what was a clear indication of Marx’s influence on him. 

To those who asked him about his work, he used to say that it was aimed against the feudal lords who exploited the masses. His goal was to organize his campaign around a group of adherents–just like Rup Chandra Bista did via his ‘Thaha’ movement in the 1970s. 

Many people supported Thapa’s campaign, which lasted for a tad over four decades. But it never grew into a collective movement. 

Thapa was against superficiality and insincerity. He wanted people to reflect, think, and most importantly, seek the truth.   

That seeker of truth is now no more. Thapa is survived by three sons and seven daughters. 

Tirtha Raj Upadhyay, a prominent Chartered Accountant (CA) and founding member of the Association of Chartered Accountants of Nepal (ACAN), passed away on 13 May. He was 74.

Born in Saptari district, Upadhyay spent most of his life working as a CA and as an advisor to large private and government corporations as well as banks. He also served as ACAN’s chairperson.

Upadhyay had played an important role in the drafting of Nepal Chartered Accountants Act (1997). The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nepal (ICAN) formed under the Act not only brought social recognition to but also regulated the accountancy profession.  

There was no institute in Nepal where people could pursue the CA course prior to the Act. Upadhyay was part of the first council of ICAN, where he served in the capacity of both vice-president and president.

In his career, Upadhyay also led Nepal's Accounting Standard Board Nepal, and Nepal Accounting Technician Institute as their chairperson.

His highly successful accounting firm TR Upadhya & Co advised and worked with, among others, Office of the Auditor General, Rastriya Banijya Bank, Nepal Telecom, and Standard Chartered Bank Nepal.

In addition, he led various initiatives like the ‘Public Audit Reform Project of the Office of the Auditor General Nepal 2004-05’. 

Binod Neupane, the current ICAN director, remembers Upadhyay as his guardian and mentor.

“He was a dynamic leader, extremely professional, and highly determined,” says Neupane. “He taught me that one should always look ahead and keep moving.”

Mistakes and regrets, Neupane remembers Upadhyay telling him, are “part and parcel of life which help a person grow and improve”.

“He believed that we need to keep improving on whatever we do and never give up,” Neupane says. “I had talked to him just a week before he left for the US, which was a month ago.” 

Upadhyay and his wife were visiting their two daughters and grandchildren in the US, where he died after falling down a flight of stairs at a shopping center in Clarksburg, Maryland.

Upadhyay suffered a severed head trauma and was put on life support. He died 30 hours later.  

Upadhyay is survived by his wife, two daughters and grandchildren.

Birth: 9 Feb 1948, Saptari

Death: 13 May 2022, US 

Hem Bahadur Lama, Nepal’s tennis patron and veteran film director, passed away on May 16 at the age of 94. 

Lama was born in Bhojpur district, Nepal but spent most of his childhood in Burma, now Myanmar. That is where he learned to play tennis. After returning to Nepal in 1965, Lama began teaching tennis in his free time and later went on to establish a tennis institution, Hem’s Tennis Academy. 

For Nepali tennis athletes and enthusiasts, Lama was the pioneer of the game in the country. He is credited not just for introducing tennis in Nepal but also for training countless players. 

He became the treasurer of All Nepal Lawn Tennis Federation in 1969.  

Besides his contribution to tennis, Lama was also one of Nepal’s foremost filmmakers who launched the career of many actors, including Anshumala Shahi, Sunny Rauniyar, Mohan Niroula, and his son Vijay Lama. They all starred in Lama’s 1984 directorial debut “Adarsh Nari”. 

“I met him at the premier of Adarsh Nari,” says Tulsi Ghimire, a veteran film director. “He was a natural, with an almost instinctive feel for filmmaking.”

“Was there something he could improve on?”, Ghimire remembers Lama asking him after the premier. 

“The making of Adarsh Nari was in itself a milestone in the Nepali film industry. And I told him exactly that,” Ghimire says. 

He adds Lama had a unique approach to direction.

“He once told me that he would close his eyes and visualize scenes before filming,” Ghimire recalls. “He had this uncanny ability to bring his imagination to life on the film-set.”

Lama's passing is a big loss to the Nepali film industry and sporting community.

Many athletes, both from the past and present, and people in the Nepali film fraternity paid tribute to Lama for his contributions.

His son Vijay, who is better known today as an airline captain, was one of his greatest admirers. 

"Dad, I'm not used to living without you. Your memory will haunt me, but I'm sure you're happy wherever you are," Vijay wrote on his Facebook in memory of his late father.

Vijay, who is active in various social media platforms, used to sometimes film his banters with his father. 

Lama was joyful and full of energy even in his dotage. His love for tennis remained intact as well.

Lama breathed his last at Manmohan Cardiothoracic Vascular and Transplant Center in Maharajgunj, Kathmandu. 

He is survived by three sons and a daughter.

Birth: 28 December 1927, Bhojpur

Death: 15 May 2022, Kathmandu

Birth: 6 Dec 1999, Banke
Death: 10 May 2022, Lalitpur 

Sanju Chaudhary, who made history by becoming the only female weightlifter to win a gold medal at the 13th South Asian Games (SAG), died aged 22 from of an apparent suicide. 

Born and raised in Nepalgunj of Banke district, Chaudhary began her athletic career as a cricketer when she was selected in the Region 5 Nepalgunj Cricket Team. She became a professional weightlifter only in 2016 and represented Nepal at the 24th Asian Junior and Youth Championship held in Kathmandu in 2017. 

Chaudhary’s coach Sanjay Maharjan remembers her as a talented athlete with a great potential. 

“She was obedient and trained hard. She didn’t talk much but you could see that she was very determined,” says Maharjan. 

That hard work of hers paid off when she won gold medal at the 13th SAG. She had previously won various medals and set national weightlifting records as well.   

Besides being a national level athlete, Chaudhary was also a police officer.

“She was loved by her friends, fellow athletes, colleagues and trainers,” says Tikamaya Gurung, a fellow weightlifter, friend and police colleague. “I never thought we would lose her this way.” 

Gurung and Chaudhary became friends when they competed in the 24th Asian Junior and Youth Championship.  

“She was quick at making friends but not much of a talker. There were times when she seemed upset, but she never talked about it,” says Gurung.  “She will be sorely missed.” 

Chaudhary had come to Kathmandu for the qualifiers of the 19th Asian Games, which took place on April 30. After being selected in the qualifiers, she had been living at Maharjan’s house in Lubhu, Lalitpur for training. 

Maharjan says nothing seemed out of the ordinary with Chaudhary the day before her death. She had participated in a gathering with fellow athletes and trainers at Maharjan’s house. The next morning she had a morning training session at Satdobato.

“We have lost a promising talent who still had a lot to win and give to this country,” says Maharjan. “She will always be remembered for her achievements in the field of weightlifting.” 

Chaudhary was found dead at Maharjan’s house on the morning of May 10. She is survived by her parents and two siblings.