Nepal backtracks, to allow Tibetan Buddhist monk’s cremation

Backtracking from its earlier stance, Nepal government on Tuesday decided to allow entry of a prominent Tibetan spiritual leader’s body into its soil for conducting his last rites.

Updated on: Jul 30, 2014, 01:41:49 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Backtracking from its earlier stance, Nepal government on Tuesday decided to allow entry of a prominent Tibetan spiritual leader’s body into its soil for conducting his last rites.

Ending weeks of speculations, a cabinet meeting held at Prime Minister Sushil Koirala’s residence agreed to allow the body of Shamar Rinpoche, to be brought to Kathmandu.

“Considering the sentiments of Buddhist followers of the leader in Nepal, the government decided to allow the last rites to be conducted in Kathmandu,” informed Koirala’s media coordinator Prakash Koirala.

The body of 61-year-old spiritual leader, the 14th Shamarpa of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism, was flown in on Tuesday evening by a special Druk Air flight from Thimphu in Bhutan. It will be kept at the Shar Minub monastery in Kathmandu where people can pay their last respects. The last rites will be performed on Thursday.

Nepal’s embassy in New Delhi had earlier granted permission for the body to be taken to Kathmandu for last rites. But the permission was withdrawn later by the home ministry. There were also fears the last rites could be used by Tibetan refugees in Nepal to start protests against China. Nepal follows a One China policy and doesn’t allow protests against its northern neighbour.

News reports in Kathmandu had stated the decision to allow the body into Nepal was withdrawn under pressure from the Chinese embassy.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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