Chief Minister condoles demise of Nepali litterateur Haiman Das Rai Kirat

Darjeeling: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has expressed condolences on the demise of eminent Nepali litterateur Haiman Das Rai Kirat. The 101-year-old passed away on Sunday night at Malbazar Hospital.

In her message, the Chief Minister wrote: "His death is an irreparable loss to the world of Nepali literature. I express my heartfelt condolence to his bereaved family members."

Anit Thapa, chairman, GTA also visited the writer's house at Uttarey Gorubathan in the Kalimpong district. Kirat's funeral will be held in Uttarey on Tuesday.

"The writer had painstakingly preserved many important documents, manuscripts and books. The GTA would like to construct a library in his residence," stated Thapa.Along with this Thapa also stated that condolence prayer meetings will be held in all GTA-run schools on July 17 in the morning when the schools resume after the ongoing recess. The executive director, Department of Education, GTA has issued a notification to this effect.

Kirat, who was a teacher by profession had received the Rashtrapari Sikshak Award in 1994. He was also the recipient of Sahitya Academy Award and the Life Time Achievement Award by the GTA.

He contribution towards promotion of Nepali literature has been immense. Along with his own writings, Kirat in the early part of his life had been a publisher. He has published numerous books of eminent Nepali authors in the 1950s and 1960s when Nepali books used to be published from Varanasi. He is survived by one son and three daughters. His wife had passed away a few years ago.