Former Minister Khagendra Jung Gurung, King Mahendra’s Envoy to Mao Zedong, Passes Away

KATHMANDU: Khagendra Jung Gurung, a prominent political figure during Nepal’s Panchayat era and a close confidant of King Mahendra, has passed away. He died on the morning of June 16 at 5:15 AM while undergoing treatment at Norvic Hospital in Kathmandu. He was born on the day of Shivaratri in 1988 BS in Ghanpokhara, Lamjung.

According to his daughter, Uma Gurung, he had been admitted to Norvic Hospital for several days and was cremated according to Buddhist rituals at Pashupati Aryaghat.

A significant yet lesser-known historical figure, Gurung once undertook a rare diplomatic mission to meet Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong, carrying a personal letter from King Mahendra. He returned with Mao’s response, marking a unique moment in Nepal’s foreign and political history.

Khagendra Jung served as Deputy Minister during the Panchayat regime in 2017 and 2022 BS. He played a crucial role in implementing King Mahendra’s non-party Panchayat system, especially in the Gurung community, and was involved in advancing land reform initiatives in the Manang region.

Despite his close ties with the monarchy, Gurung later distanced himself from the royal court and became active in ethnic rights movements. In the post-1990 multi-party era, he served as chairman of the Janajati Party, though the party was never formally recognized by the Election Commission.

Gurung had been living in a senior citizen care center in recent years. He lost his wife two years ago and one of his sons earlier in Hong Kong. Another son lives abroad, while he is survived by four daughters.