Kathmandu: A long queue of the general public and top political leaders bid farewell to Pradip Giri, a Nepali Congress leader, on Sunday as he passed in a course of treatment in Kathmandu.
Giri, a noted socialist thinker, respected across the political spectrum for his simple lifestyle, deep understanding of politics, and conviction for socialism and Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy, died at the Nakkhu-based Nepal Mediciti Hospital a month after he returned from India after treatment for cancer. Giri was 74.
Giri’s friends and well-wishers gathered at the Mediciti Hospital and Nepali Congress’ headquarters in Sanepa to bid a final farewell to Giri. Giri’s body was kept in Mediciti Hospital from 9AM to 11AM, and will be kept at Sanepa from 11:30 to 2PM.
Crowds of people lined up on pedestrian walks in Sanepa. The final rites of Giri will be performed at the Pashupati Aryaghat later in the afternoon.
The death of Giri has left Nepal’s political leaders–from the President to Prime Minister to the leaders of the opposition party–and intellectuals in a shock.
Social media is flooded with tributes and messages of condolence to the late Giri.
“The news of the death of socialist thinker of Nepali Congress, leader Pradip Giri has made me sad. We have lost a principled intellectual personality in his passing. I express my heartfelt condolences to the late Pradip Giri. Also, my deepest condolences to the bereaved family,” tweeted President Bidya Devi Bhandari.
“I am very shocked by the news of the death of my friend Pradeep Giriji, the leader of the Nepali Congress and a philosopher and socialist thinker of Nepali politics. With his death, Nepal has lost a true and good leader. Wishing his soul eternal peace, I express my deepest condolences to the family at this sad time,” tweeted Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.
Likewise, former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli tweeted: “I am saddened by the death of thoughtful politician, friend Pradeep Giri. I offer my deepest condolences to his bereaved family.”
Similarly, senior journalist and writer Kanak Mani Dixit posting a photo of Giri eating on a bench, wrote: “This is how I want to remember Pradip Giri Ji – the national thinker from Bastipur, intellectual with feet firmly on the ground.”
Many others have expressed their grief over the passing of Pradip Giri.
Comment