The Nepal Weekly 
October 18, 2022
Much respected litterateur and culture expert Satya Mohan Joshi passed away at KIST Medical College Hospital at Gwarko, Lalitpur Sunday morning. He was 103 years old.
The ‘Bangmaya Shatabdi Purush’, Joshi, was suffering from urine infection, and chest and heart issues. He was also infected with dengue in the later phase. He was admitted to hospital on September 23.
KIST Medical College had been providing Joshi and his spouse free medical treatment. The hospital authorities informed that Joshi’s health condition looked like improving in the initial few days of his hospitalization, but deteriorated later on.
Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, other political leaders, social workers, litterateurs, culture professionals, artists and commoners gathered at Lalitpur Mahangar Palika premises to pay last tribute to late Joshi.
Late Joshi’s body was handed over to KIST Hospital by his family as per his wish to donate the body for studies at the college.
Joshi was born in 12th May, 1919 in Patan,He was celebrated for his achievements in the field of literature, history, and culture with more than 60 books on music, drama, culture, and history to his credit. Some of his prominent publications include Hamro Lok Sanskriti (Madan Puraskar in 1956); Nepali Rastriya Mudra (Madan Puraskar of 1960); Karnali Lok Sanskriti (a research collection); Charumati, Sunkeshari, Majipha Lakhe, Bagh Bhairab (dramas).
Kathmandu University has conferred Joshi with D.Litt. for his valuable contributions. Joshi had extensively contributed to Nepali culture, art and history. He had contributed to restore and develop language, literature, art and culture of the Newars. He founded the Rashtriya NachGhar as part of his effort to keep Nepali culture and art alive.
He set up the Araniko White Dagoba Gallery in Kirtipur, Kathmandu, using historical artefacts related to Araniko, a Nepali sculptor and architect of ancient Nepal who built the White Pagoda in China.
The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) issued three coins of denominations Rs 100, Rs 1,000 and Rs 2,500 in September 2019, featuring Joshi’s portrait, to commemorate his 100th birthday. On 17 November 2021, Joshi became the first person to receive Nepal’s electronic passport. Joshi had worked as the chancellor of the Nepal Bhasa Academy also.
