Nepal

This past week, Nepal’s media community, particularly the radio fraternity, lost a very young and promising voice.

Pawan Neupane, a familiar voice among Nepali households, passed away on September 26 following a cardiac arrest. At 41, he went too soon, leaving his family and friends shocked and bereaved. He is survived by his wife and daughter.

Pawan grew with the once vibrant but now fledgling local radio movement in the country and delivered many informational, educational and entertaining programmes. He started his career at Itahari-based radio Saptakoshi, one of the pioneer radio stations in East Nepal, and moved to Lalitpur-based Digital Broadcast Initiative Equal Access.

While working with this organisation, he travelled far and wide, listening to the communities and amplifying their voices through radio programmes broadcast by hundreds of local radio stations across the country.

Pawan was a proven programme producer of almost all radio formats. But his major contribution goes to developing a radio magazine – a radio programme that combines many of these formats. He has produced and supervised thousands of radio episodes, spots and jingles. His expertise included media capacity building, gender equality and inclusion, peace-building, human rights and health communication.

Of late, Pawan had been leading the production of Bhanchhin Aama (Mother Says) radio magazine dedicated to improving the health and nutrition of women and children. This programme, which hit the airwaves in 2013, is one of the most popular radio shows in the country.
Pawan, who spearheaded the programme's production since its inception, was a binding force when other FM stations started producing the show locally.

The programme is now produced by 15 FM stations in Nepali, Awadhi, Doteli and Bhojpuri languages and broadcast on 120 local radio stations and Radio Nepal national network. He managed the production of over 400 weekly episodes of the programme alone for the last nine years.

Not only did Pawan produce radio programmes, but he also passed on his skills to numerous radio producers around the country. The entire radio community mourns his untimely demise, which leaves an irreparable loss to the community. Rest in peace, Pawan!