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Birth: 12 March 1936, Kolkata
Death: 11 September 2021, Battisputali

Born to the late Nepali Congress founder, political leader, and former Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal Subarna Shumsher Rana during his exile in Kolkata, businessman Rukma Shumsher Rana got his school education at The Doon School, Prince of Wales, and North Point.

Rana’s father and his uncle were fairly successful businesspersons, despite living in exile. As a result, he and his brothers lived a comfortable life. But Subarna Shumsher was worried his sons would grow up spoilt, and this prompted him to send them to boarding schools at a young age.

Rana went to St. Xavier’s College in Darjeeling for his Bachelor’s degree. He then earned his Master’s degree in Modern History from Calcutta University.

Although Rana, the youngest son of the family, grew up in India, he always knew his roots, and the family returned to Kathmandu after the restoration of democracy in Nepal in 1950.

Upon returning, he, along with his brothers, started looking for business ventures in the country. Back then, there were only a few companies in Nepal and even fewer with factories of their own. Rana invested some money in the then Hetauda Leather Factory. The venture wasn’t successful but it gave him a taste of investing in Nepal.

When he approached the Indian health care company Dabur, the executives were hesitant to step in the Nepali market. However, Rana convinced them, saying that if they wish to expand into the international market, their neighboring country should be their first choice. A decade later, Dabur went on to become one of his most successful businesses in Nepal as he was named a partner in the company and Managing Director of Dabur, Nepal. Besides this, his family also invested in real estate in Kolkata.

A diligent and hardworking man until his last breath, Rana was also interested in sports. He served as National Sports Council (NSC) member-secretary twice between 1993 and 1999. In 2003, he went on to become the chairperson of the Nepal Olympic Committee (NOC), of which he was recently appointed honorary chair. Rana served as acting president of the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), the president of the Nepal Taekwondo Association as well as of the Nepal Athletics Association. His participation in sports often had him traveling to many countries—especially SAARC countries—and, despite the enjoyable experience, he had to spend considerable time away from his family, which he found challenging.

To him, his family’s happiness was the benchmark of success. That was the reason he considered his time away from home as a sacrifice. Nonetheless, his travels helped him establish personal networks around the world. Partly as a result, he served as Nepal’s ambassador to India from 2009 to 2011.

His father had once advised him that other’s opinions shouldn’t matter because you know what you are and no one can take that from you. Rana only took offense when people questioned his intelligence. He was an open-minded, communicative, and well-respected businessman who treated others well and expected to be treated the same way in return.

Rana was battling kidney-related ailments, diabetes, and hypertension for some years and had been undergoing dialysis after a kidney transplant when, on September 11, he suddenly suffered health complications at night. He passed away at his residence at Battisputali. He is survived by his wife and a daughter.

Birth: 31 August 1946, Kaski
Death: 31 August 2021, Kathmandu

After completing her Bachelors in Science (BSc) in Kolkata, India, in the mid-60s, Shobhana Gurung, a young woman full of energy and spirit, went to the United Kingdom for her further studies. 

After returning to Nepal from the UK, she secured a government job as a botanist. She was later promoted to deputy secretary, but she left the job to engage full-time in her own business. Giving up a permanent government job at a young age to start a business was not an easy thing to do.

In the UK, she had met Dr Ram Prasad Pokharel, who was pursuing his medical studies there. The senior eye specialist and Gurung fell in love and later got engaged. Together, they inspired and helped each other grow and succeed in their respective fields.

From an early age, Gurung had always thought of committing her retired life to the practice of spirituality and social work. When Gurung and her husband met Pilot Baba, a renowned sage, the couple was immediately inspired by his philosophy of life. “Scientists have discovered the most powerful form of matter, the molecule, and every human being must search for the same microcosm within themselves,” Pilot Baba had told the couple. This thought helped her cope with her problems on multiple occasions.

She wanted to establish a meditation center to help people living in the chaotic capital city. Gurung and her husband paid for the construction of the meditation center as well as a dormitory at Gundu heights of Bhaktapur, naming it Pilot Baba Meditation Center, also known as Somnath Temple. 

Gurung commissioned the center’s construction under her strict supervision and chose a design that included Nepali artistic style with majestic woodworks and flooring. She hoped youths would come to the center and this would eventually help them stay away from addictions and crimes.

Apart from that, she, along with her husband, was actively involved in the initiation of Kathmandu Medical College, Everest Hospital, HIST Engineering College, and more. Lately, she also bought stakes in hydropower companies and other businesses. 

A few days ago, Gurung suffered from a brain hemorrhage and was rushed to Everest Hospital. She was then referred to Norvic Hospital where she breathed her last on her 75th birthday. She is survived by her husband and a daughter.

Birth: February 1947, Dhanusha
Death: 23 August 2021, Lalitpur 

Even at the age of 74, Biswanath Prasad Upadhyaya didn’t seem to need rest. His colleagues say he’d always been that way. Born in Hariharpur, Dhanusha, Upadhyaya was thus one of the most hardworking and philanthropic lawyers.

Upadhyaya completed his schooling at Chandrodaya Madhyamik Bidhyalaya. A fairly good student, he tried his hands at journalism before stepping into the field of law.

In his journalism career, Upadhyaya worked until 1971 for a newspaper called ‘Nirmal’ and had become an integral part of its editorial team when he was only 24. But the paper soon shut down due to legal issues and Upadhyaya was forced to discover his other passion besides writing.

When the newspaper’s publication stopped, Upadhyaya went to Janakpur and studied to become a lawyer. Back then there was a popular law firm (Laxmi Bahadur Niraula’s Firm) in the city, where Upadhyaya would also learn the ropes in the field of law. He worked there until the late 1970s before opening his own law firm.

Upadhyaya was an active member of the CPN-UML and he even worked as a lawyer for his various party comrades.

Upadhyaya wasn’t a big foodie—he relished typical Nepali meals. He was also strict about not drinking or smoking. He nonetheless suffered from persistent hypertension. Known as one of the friendliest and most diligent lawyers in Janakpur, he was also an avid traveler.

He considered his work to be his greatest legacy, which is why he regularly participated in social work and charity events. One of the lawyer’s greatest contributions was a dharmashala that he established in Narayani, Chitwan.

He and his wife had sold off their property in Janakpur and had been residing in New Baneshwor for the past three years. He recently had to go to Siraha to handle property matters and had been staying there when he fell in the bathroom and hit his head.

He suffered brain damage and was admitted to Mediciti Hospital for treatment. But his condition only worsened and he died on 23 August, at the age of 74. He is survived by his wife.

Birth: 1968, Sindhuli
Death: 18 August 2021, Kathmandu

The practice of karate fosters a strong mind, promotes physical fitness and improves self-confidence. Krishna Bahadur Rai embraced the art form from early in his life, and remained enamored with it throughout. This dedication also earned him numerous accolades at home and abroad. 

Born in Khurkot, a village in Sindhuli, Rai enrolled into Nepal Police at an early age. Having demonstrated great adeptness in karate, he was chosen to represent Nepal at the 8th South Asian Games held in Kathmandu in 1999, the year karate and taekwondo were introduced to the games. There, Rai became one of the first gold medalists for team kata. 

Rai continued his winning streak, impressing Nepali audiences by securing another gold medal at the 4th National Games. This time around it was for solo kata.  

These achievements were no mean feats and King Birendra conferred on Rai the distinguished Gorkha Dakshin Bahu. 

Like other sports, there’s an unmistakable element of sociability in karate, especially when it is taught in youth clubs and schools. Rai had a fervent desire to impart the skills he had mastered to Nepali youngsters. 

In 2008, Rai completed a diploma from the Japan Karatedo Nanbukai Association, which declared him to be the chief coach of Nanbukai karate in Nepal. In 2014, he founded Japan Karatedo Nanbukai Sitoriyo Association, Nepal. With his team of skilled athletes, he had been encouraging everyone from young kids to adults to learn the intricate techniques of Nanbukai karate. 

On 18 August, Rai succumbed to Covid-19 at the age of 53. He is survived by his wife and son.