Kathmandu University Founding VC Suresh Raj Sharma Given State Funeral

Key points

• Founding Vice-Chancellor of Kathmandu University, Prof. Dr. Suresh Raj Sharma, was cremated with state honors at Pashupati Aryaghat.
• A Nepal Police contingent presented a guard of honor, and Education Minister Sasmit Pokharel draped the national flag over his remains.
• The government announced plans to introduce a parliamentary bill transitioning Kathmandu University to an autonomous Board of Trustees model in his honor.
• Dr. Sharma served as KU Vice-Chancellor for over two decades and was also the founding Director of CTEVT.

Details

Nepal's education sector mourned the passing of Prof. Dr. Suresh Raj Sharma, the founding Vice-Chancellor of Kathmandu University. The final rites were performed at Pashupati Aryaghat with full state honors following a decision by the Ministry of Home Affairs upon the request of the Ministry of Education and Sports. Minister for Education and Sports Sasmit Pokharel paid his final respects by draping the national flag over Dr. Sharma's mortal remains, while a contingent of the Nepal Police offered a formal guard of honor.

Senior government and university officials gathered to sign the condolence book at the Ministry of Education. Ministry officials, including Secretary Chudamani Paudel and Chief Advisor Shailendra Jha, joined Minister Pokharel and representatives from Kathmandu University. While expressing condolences, Minister Pokharel described Dr. Sharma's passing as an irreparable loss to Nepalese higher education and reaffirmed the government's commitment to realize his vision for university autonomy.

To honor his legacy, the government revealed that a draft amendment to the Kathmandu University Act has already been prepared. This bill will be presented in parliament soon to convert Kathmandu University into a fully autonomous institution under a Board of Trustees framework. Dr. Sharma, who earned a PhD in Chemistry from the UK, led Kathmandu University for more than two decades and played a central role in establishing its reputation for quality education.

Beyond his contributions to university education, Dr. Sharma was a pioneer in technical and vocational schooling across Nepal. As the founding Director of the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT), he expanded technical education into remote areas such as Jumla, Dhankuta, and Jiri in Dolakha. He also served as the Chairman of Budhanilkantha School during his career. For students evaluating academic paths or reading articles like CSIT vs BIT, which to choose, Dr. Sharma's efforts laid much of the structural foundation for modern technical degree options in Nepal.

What this means for students

While this marks a somber moment for Nepalese academia, the government's plan to transition KU into a Board of Trustees model aim to strengthen institutional autonomy and academic quality. Students pursuing higher education in technical fields continue to benefit from the university systems and vocational frameworks Dr. Sharma built over decades. If you have questions about degree options or university setups in Nepal, you can always ask a question on Notesharu or review our BSc CSIT semester roadmap for guidance.