Vijaya Chalise Continues To Live In Our Heart

Yuba Nath Lamsal:-- It was Friday, May 30, 2025. A shocking news pierced into my ear—Vijaya Chalise breathed the last today. I could not believe the news, as I had met him only a few days before. We talked at length and discussed many subjects, including journalism, literature and society, life, and the world. We reminisced about our old days when we worked together. Vijaya was still energetic, and his body and energy did not indicate any sign that he would leave us so early. After all, truth is truth, whether one believes or not. Vijaya passed away at 73, leaving this mortal world for his permanent abode. I have many fond memories of the old days when we worked together under the roof of Gorkhapatra Corporation. My first acquaintance with him was in 1989 when I joined The Rising Nepal Daily, an English-language publication of the Gorkhapatra Daily. Vijaya had already established himself as a seasoned journalist and an accomplished literary writer. He joined the Gokhapatra as a journalist many years earlier than I did. Vijaya was my senior, but we remained close friends, well-wishers, and trusted colleagues. Our friendship continued even after we retired from the Gorkhpatra Corporation service a few years ago. He served as editor-in-chief of the Gorkhapatra Daily and executive chairman of the Gorkhpatra Corporation. We were also once members of the Gorkhapatra Board of Directors together. As two editors-in-chiefs (I was editor of The Rising Nepal, and Vijaya was editor of the Gorkhapatra), our wavelength always matched, and we worked very closely throughout the years in the Gorkhapatra Corporation. Our friendship was so warm and deep that other colleagues in the Gorkhpatra Corporation often used to envy it. He retired when he was executive chairman of the Gorkhpatra Corporation. Vijaya was a person who never did anything immoral, both in his personal life and in his professional capacity. He was always blunt, straightforward, and critical. He could be blunt and vital because he did not commit evil or immoral acts. I still remember the words I said at a function organised by Gorkhapatra Corporation to bid farewell to Vijaya Chalise on his last day in the corporation. "As Vijaya Chalise is leaving the Gorkhapatra Corporation, I am both sad and happy. I am sad because he is leaving the corporation. At the same time, I am so glad because Vijaya left the organisation with his head, and morale is very high. My other fond memory of Vijaya Chalise was when we worked together in the early days of the Press Chautari Nepal. Vijaya Chalise is the founder chairman of the Press Chautari Nepal, and I am the founder general secretary. Vijaya's role as a leader was instrumental in establishing and developing this organisation. We collaborated very closely and worked very hard during the struggling days of this organisation. Vijaya was a man of integrity and had the nature of never compromising his beliefs. Vijaya Chalise has left behind two sons (Arun Chalise and Alok Chalise), a daughter, Anju Chalise, and thousands of friends, well-wishers, and admirers. He has written novels, an anthology of short stories, memoirs, journalism and media-related books, and hundreds of articles on diverse subjects. He has been honoured with almost two dozen awards and felicitated by more than a dozen organizations for his contribution to journalism and Nepali literature. He was also associated with nearly two and a half dozen organizations. Besides his active service in journalism and Nepali literature, Vijaya Chalise was a teacher and taught in schools and colleges. Reading was his habit, and writing was a passion. Vijaya was born into a literary family as the eldest son of famous literary figure Ramesh Bikal, and he grew up in a scholarly atmosphere. Literary genius was in his genes. To sum up, Vijaya was a journalist, writer, literary figure, and social leader. Everything in this world is perishable, which is a universal truth. We know that once born, one dies. Change is the only constant, and everything keeps changing. So is life. As Shakespeare says, "The world is a stage, and we are mere players." In the short span of our lives, we play different roles. Death is a part of life. Life is short. Our being in this world is brief, and death is inevitable. Despite knowing this, we hardly accept this complex reality when it happens to our family and friends' circle. Although Vijaya is no longer with us, he will remain in our hearts forever and live forever from his contribution and the work he has left for us. As famous scientist Albert Einstein says, "Only a life lived for others is a worthwhile life." Vijaya Chalise, too, lived for himself and others. It is said that some people die even when they still breathe, but some continue to live even after their death. Marcus Tullius Cicero said, "The life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living." Vijaya Chalise lives in our hearts and memories a good gentleman and accomplished writer. Arun and Alok lost their father, Mahendra lost his elder brother, and others lost their loved writer and literary personality. But I lost a close friend. Vijaya Chalise will, therefore, continue to live in my heart forever as a friend and well-wisher. May his soul rest in peace forever! (Lamsal is former editor-in-chief of TRN and former ambassador)