Dirgha Raj Upadhaya’s journalistic journey began in the far-western town of Dhangadhi in the late 1990s. The technological landscape of that time stood in stark contrast to today’s digital world. The text of the newspaper was first composed by hand using individual letters. It would then be engraved into a plate which was used to print. The coffee culture had not yet begun and people would sip tea while reading newspapers. It took three days for newspapers from Kathmandu to reach Dhangadhi. Upadhayay used to go to different places on a bicycle to collect news.
After preparing his report, he would submit it to the editor who often found the information lacking. Unfazed, Upadhaya used to run multiple times to collect additional information and rewrite the news. After working a year at a local Seti Samachar daily, Upadhaya started reporting for Kathmandu-based Naya Sadak daily. Simultaneously, he contributed to a local newspaper. Two years later, he was promoted to the position of desk editor at Nepal Times daily. In 2001, he joined Rajdhani daily—another Kathmandu-based paper. After a few years, he assumed the role of Sudurpaschim Bureau chief for the daily.
His daily routine involved navigating the streets of Dhangadhi on a bicycle to look for interesting stories. He used to file up to eight news stories daily, wielding his pen with equal prowess across politics, economy, sports, education, and society beats. In an era devoid of computers and laptops, news reports were transmitted via fax machines to Kathmandu. The cost of sending a fax was Rs 20-25 per page in those days. Yashica camera and Kodak films bore witness to arduous journeys of the bygone era when, at times, an entire film had to be sacrificed to get one good photograph.
Then came the era of the Internet. Maya’s Computer first provided Internet service in Dhangadhi using the connection from Nepalgunj. The cost was Rs 15-20 per minute. But the Internet was so slow that it would often take 20 minutes to send a single photograph. A major share of the salary would go to foot Internet bills. But the satisfaction derived from printing the front-page news byline with accompanying photos would have been incomparable. Eventually, digital cameras and computers emerged, followed by laptops and the advent of the offset press.
Meanwhile, the country grappled with extreme conflict as the armed struggle initiated by the Maoists reached its zenith. Maoists infiltrated cities, and even in Dhangadhi, gunfire echoed across the bridge of the District Police Office in broad daylight. Employing guerrilla tactics, the Maoists targeted police and politicians within the market. Upadhaya found himself in the crossfire while covering the intensity of clashes between Maoists and security forces for his media. He witnessed the attack on the Ward Police Office and the Jaukaku District Jail in Dhangadhi.
However, his journalistic integrity remained intact despite threats from both sides. He traveled to numerous places, including Pandaun, Khimdi, Chisapani, Lamki Police Station, Bankhet, Shankarpur, and Kanchanpur to cover news stories. He reached Achham following the Maoist attack on Sanfe and the headquarters of Mangalsen in Achham. He also prepared news reports about the wives and children of police personnel killed in the Maoist attack at Banbehda in Kailali. He traveled from Bajura to Rolpa during the insurgency, becoming a firsthand witness to the Maoist armed struggle.
Simultaneously, he served as the Sudurpaschim Bureau chief for Image Television and Communication Corner from Dhangadhi. He contributed articles to publications like Himal, Nepali Times and Nepal showcasing his versatility across various journalistic platforms. Additionally, he assumed the role of a regional editor at Sancharika Group. In the 60s, Upadhyay ventured into the daily newspaper publishing business alongside fellow journalists in Dhangadhi. In the late 2000s, he started his own newspaper named Paschim Today. He is serving as the chairman and chief editor of Sudurpaschim, the only broadsheet daily of the province, a FM radio station with a capacity of 1,000 Watt and PashchimToday.Com online news portal.
From 2013 to 2023, his extensive travels took him to various countries worldwide for reporting and programs. He brought compelling stories from Bangladesh, China and Jordan. As a delegate of the UNMISS mission, he reported on the impacts of conflict on children and delved into the intricacies of ethnic conflict. His reports covered the role played by peacekeeping forces in maintaining stability and scrutinizing Ethiopia’s developmental progress. He traveled to Myanmar to cover its first general election. He has traveled to 20 countries for reporting. In 2022, he participated in a three-week-long IVLP program of the US government which further enriched his understanding of global dynamics and strengthened his commitment to international journalism.
Throughout his journalism career, Upadhaya assumed various roles within the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), advocating for freedom of the press and expression. While serving as the president of the Kailali district committee of FNJ, he played an active role to secure the release of Lucky Chaudhary, abducted by the Maoists. Under Upadhaya’s initiative, all newspapers that had shut during the insurgency reopened. He also helped secure the release of journalist Nagendra Upadhyay from military custody.
Following the disappearance of Jagat Prasad (JP) Joshi, a journalist working for the Maoist mouthpiece Jandisha, Upadhaya urged the police to initiate a search. Those responsible for Joshi’s kidnapping and subsequent disappearance were eventually arrested. Recognizing his work, FNJ bestowed ‘Best President Award’ on him in 2009.
He played a pivotal role in establishing the Rotary Club in Dhangadhi in 2013. After the 2015 earthquakes, he led distribution of relief materials from Dhangadhi to affected districts. He also initiated a water supply project in Godavari Municipality for over 1000 households. During the Covid pandemic, he supported over 30,000 Nepalis arriving from India through the Humanity Foundation. He helped bring PCR machines for government hospitals and distributed hygiene packs to 1,500 women in quarantine.
During the second wave of covid, his team launched a free oxygen campaign and established an oxygen bank for the common people. He also helped raise Rs 1.2m for the treatment of late journalist Karna Bohra’s wife. For him, the true meaning of life lies in the ability to save others.
