Life of struggle and sacrifice ends Shailaja passes away


Former Deputy Prime Minister and Nepali Congress (NC) leader Shailaja Acharya passed away at 4:25 a.m. on Friday while undergoing treatment for pneumonia and Alzheimer's di-sease at TU Teaching Hospital (TUTH), Maharajgunj.
She was admitted at the hospital after her health deteriorated on Wednesday. She had been in coma since then. Earlier this year, she had been to Bangkok and New Delhi for treatment besides being admitted to TUTH.
Her body was kept at the NC central office Friday morning for all to pay their last respects. Hundreds of well-wishers, including NC President Girija Prasad Koirala and senior leaders of NC, CPN-UML, UCPN (Maoist) and other political parties offered their last respects. A huge mass participated in the funeral procession to Pashupati Aryaghat where she was cremated with state honours and a nine-gun salute.
Acharya remained unmarried throughout her life. Her brother Pradeep Acharya lit her funeral pyre.
NC President Koirala and Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal expressed deep sorrow saying that her demise was an irreparable loss. In their condolence messages they appreciated Acharya's contribution to Nepal's democratic movement.
Her life was marked by struggle and sacrifice.