Birth: 13 Feb 1946, Kathmandu Death: 18 Sept 2022, Lalitpur  Devendra Gautam, a renowned journalist of Nepal, has passed away. He was 77. Although he had largely recovered from Covid-19, Gautam developed respiratory complications that led to pneumonia. He was admitted in the Intensive Care Unit at B&B Hospital in Gwarko, Lalitpur where he was put on the ventilator and where he later breathed his last.

Gautam started his career in journalism in 1972. Throughout the duration of it, he was a democrat, even during the panchayat regime. Advocating for democracy and press freedom, he stood against everything the then autocratic governance believed in. But Gautam wasn’t the kind to bow down to pressure. Tackling the many odds against him, he raised his voice for press freedom. His strong stance was evident in all his publications at the time. He was a publisher/editor for 13 newspapers during the time which was ultimately banned by the government as all of his writings were in the favor of democracy. 

In 1985, he had published a portion of a speech by Ramraja Prasad Singh, for which he was imprisoned for nine months and 15 days. He utilized this time to write a book called ‘Anusandhan Bhitrako Anusandhan’ (titled ‘Counter Investigation’ in English). “This is something that has never been done in the history of Nepal. My father was a pioneer in that sense,” says his son Kiran Gautam.  He also authored a second book ‘Aakash Patal’, which was published 18 years after the publication of his first. He later on became the president of Editors’ Society Nepal, and the chairman of the Nepal Journalists’ Federation.  At the time of his death, he was the editor and publisher of ‘Naya Current Saptahik’.  His dedication and hard work were extraordinary and exemplary. So much so that he wrote a column two weeks before being admitted at the hospital. “He led a simple life, and all he thought about was journalism,” says his son. “He always said his wish was to reach the aryaghat as a journalist, and his wish was fulfilled.” With five decades of experience in journalism, one could say Gautam dedicated his whole life to his work. Many, who dream of becoming journalists, have followed in his footsteps. “He was like a mentor to me,” says Madav Dulal, journalist. Gautam was a journalist who was not afraid to speak the truth, and that brought him a lot of recognition and respect. “He treated everybody well, regardless of their age or position. He will be missed,” adds Dulal. Gautam is survived by his wife, two sons, and a grandson.