Bhairab Risal, a pioneer of environmental journalism in Nepal and one of the country’s most respected media figures, passed away on Sunday, at the age of 97.

Risal, who was suffering from heart- and lung-related ailments, died while undergoing treatment at the Baneshwar-based Frontline Hospital. At his own request, his body was donated to Patan Hospital for medical research. In death, as in life, he remains committed to the public good.

Born on 12 Aug 1928, in Bhaktapur, Risal began his education at Ranipokhari Sanskrit Pathshala in Kathmandu and later graduated from Nandi Ratri Pathsala, affiliated with Banaras Sanskrit University, India. Raised in a devout Hindu family, he initially trained to become a priest like his father. “My father wanted me to follow in his footsteps,” Risal recalled in an ApEx Pioneers column published two years ago in The Annapurna Express. “But I had to find work to take care of my family.”

That search for livelihood brought him into journalism in 1956, when he joined Halkhabar, a daily newspaper, as a reporter. Armed with a bicycle and an eye for the stories of ordinary people, he reported on issues across the Kathmandu Valley and beyond. His journalism career, which began out of necessity, soon turned into a lifelong pursuit of truth.

After a brief stint in the government census in 1959, Risal joined Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) in 1963 and served for over two decades. Although working under government restrictions was often frustrating, it deepened his commitment to independent journalism. In the 1980s, he began noticing Kathmandu’s worsening pollution and, along with like-minded journalists, formed a group to report on environmental issues. This would later evolve into the Nepal Forum of Environmental Journalists (NEFEJ), established in 1986. NEFEJ’s landmark achievement came in 1997 with the founding of Radio Sagarmatha—South Asia’s first independent community radio station.

Risal was also deeply involved in civic activism, including the Save Bagmati campaign. Even into his 90s, he remained active—hosting radio programs by telephone and writing columns for newspapers when his health allowed.

The following reflections, given during his lifetime as part of ApEx Pioneers column, provide a glimpse of the admiration he inspired in those around him. Ninu Chapagain, a longtime colleague, once remarked, “Despite his age, I still consider him a youth. He is more dedicated to journalism than many young journalists I know. Brought up in a Hindu family, he has made his way from a priest to a full-timer communist to a pioneering environmental journalist. He has always walked on the progressive path.”

Tejeshwar Babu Gongah, his friend, likened him to the sky: “In Nepali, ‘Bhairab’ means sky. And our Bhairab Risal is also like the sky, covering a wide swath of knowledge. I respect him for his contribution to Nepali journalism. His activeness even at this age keeps me inspired, as I am only five years younger than him.”

And Kosmos Biswokarma described him as “an exemplary figure in Nepali journalism.” He added, “Even in his 90s, he was active as a freelance journalist. His contribution to environmental journalism is immeasurable. He started environmental journalism in Nepal. He has seen and experienced a lot. A meeting with him is always filled with interesting tales.”

From walking the narrow lanes of Kathmandu with a reporter’s notebook to founding an entire movement for environmental awareness through the media, Risal leaves behind a legacy of truth-seeking, public service, and fearless integrity.

He is survived by his wife, Sushila Risal, and children Gokul Risal, Bhaswot Risal, Sushma Risal, and Susham Risal.