Kathmandu: Former Minister for Industry and prominent member of the Nepali Congress, Dhundiraj Shastri (Poudel), has passed away at the KMC Hospital in Kathmandu at 4:00 am today. He was 90 years old.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Shastri was born in 1993 BS in the then Kimdanda Panchayat-8, Nimdanda, now a part of Bhumikasthan Municipality-8, Arghakhanchi. He was the eldest child of Khemraj Poudel and Sabitra Poudel.
The socialist thinker Shastri is survived by two wives, two sons, and two daughters. One of his wives predeceased him. His funeral will be conducted after the arrival of his sons, who are currently abroad, as informed by his family member Ashok Poudel.
Shastri’s political journey began in 2010 BS when he joined the politics of the Nepali Congress while studying in Varanasi, India. After completing his education, he actively engaged in underground politics for the party.
In 2014 BS, he participated in the civil disobedience movement led by the Nepali Congress in Tansen, Palpa, spearheading the movement from the Arghakhanchi district. His active involvement in the movement for the restoration of democracy during the general elections of 2015 BS was noteworthy. He played a pivotal role in mobilizing the youth of Gulmi and Arghakhanchi against King Mahendra’s dissolution of the parliament and the imprisonment of leaders on Poush 1, 2017 BS.
Following the royal coup of 2017 BS, Shastri lived in political exile in India, where he also taught at Gorakhpur College in Gorakhpur. During this period, he published pamphlets and newspapers advocating for democracy and smuggled them into Nepal.
A staunch follower of the late B.P. Koirala, Shastri was instrumental in propagating Koirala’s socialist ideas and expanding the organization of the Nepali Congress in districts like Arghakhanchi and Gulmi. He held leadership roles in the people’s movements of 2036 and 2046 BS.
Shastri won the general election from Arghakhanchi constituency no. 2 in 2048 BS following the success of the people’s movement of 2046 BS and the restoration of democracy. Subsequently, he was appointed as the Minister of Industry. He also won in the mid-term elections of 2051 BS but later declined the party’s offer to serve as a member of parliament on a proportional quota in subsequent elections.