FAMILY, AUTHORS RUE THIN CROWD AT CREMATORIUM Glare on hill writer funeral

VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, 19 August 2019, Darjeeling: Eminent Nepali writer and Darjeeling native Lakhi Devi Sundas died on August 15 aged 85 but family members and fellow authors have rued the fact that only 37 persons stayed back till the end of her funeral in Siliguri the next day.

"There were 500 people when the cortege started from Pradhannagar in Siliguri. However, only 37 people stayed back till the end of the funeral," Yogendra Raj Sundas, the writer's son, said.

Yogendra expressed sadness at the turnout. "Since our house is locked in Darjeeling, I thought it would be difficult to conduct the last rites there. I should have taken her to Darjeeling where I think the funeral (crowd) would have been massive. I regret not taking the body to Darjeeling," said Yogendra.

Yogendra stays in Siliguri. His sibling Rajendra Raj Sundas is posted as a deputy magistrate in Malda.

Lakhi Devi had bagged the Sahitya Academy award, the Bhanu Puraskar given by the Sikkim Sahitya Parishad, Sainyadawaj Nanda Debi Puraskar from Nepal and GTA's Lifetime Achievement Award among other honours.

Lakhi Devi was nominated by the state government to run the hill development body before the formation of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council. She had taught at Loreto College and Darjeeling Government College.

B.P. Bajgain, a writer based in Siliguri, first highlighted on Facebook the lack of enough mourners at the crematorium in Siliguri. "Do we no longer have space to respect others? Do we forget the contribution of our luminaries with their deaths," Bajgain asked in the post.

Darjeeling MP Raju Bista, MLA Neeraj Zimba and GTA official Bhupendra Kanth Ghisingh visited the family, said Yogendra. Lakhi Devi's 13th day rites will be held in Siliguri on August 24..