Former Minister for Industry and senior Nepali Congress leader Dhundiraj Shastri (Paudel) passed away early Monday morning at the age of 90.
He died while undergoing treatment at Kathmandu’s KMC Hospital at 4:00 am, family sources confirmed.
Born in 1936 in Kimdanda-8, then a village panchayat in Arghakhanchi district (now Bhumikasthan Municipality-8, Nimdanda), Shastri was the eldest son of Khemraj and Sabitra Paudel.
A prominent socialist thinker, he is survived by two wives, two sons, and two daughters. According to family member Ashok Paudel, the funeral rites will be conducted after the arrival of his sons, who are currently abroad.
Shastri entered politics in 1953 while studying in Varanasi, India, where he became associated with the Nepali Congress.
Upon completing his studies, he became actively involved in the party’s underground political activities. He played a leading role in the civil disobedience movement of 1957, representing Arghakhanchi and participating in protests in Tansen, Palpa.
He was actively involved in the 1958 general elections and, following King Mahendra’s coup on December 15, 1960, played a crucial role in mobilizing youth from Gulmi and Arghakhanchi to join the democratic struggle.
After the political crackdown of 1960, Shastri lived in exile in India. During his time in Gorakhpur, he taught at Gorakhpur College and continued his commitment to democracy by publishing pamphlets and newsletters to send into Nepal as part of the pro-democracy movement.