In Memory of Dr Chuda Karki

By Dr Kamal Aryal सेप्टेम्बर १७, २०२४

I am writing this about the untimely loss of our beloved senior doctor. He was a loving father and husband to his family. To me, he was a role model, mentor, and senior friend. May his soul rest in peace, and may God give strength to the bereaved family.

I had known him since 2002, initially through the NDA UK’s annual general meetings, held during the last weekend of July each year. The great impression he left on me was of his sterling work in the NHS as a training programme director in Psychiatry, medical director of his hospital, and Chairman of NDA UK, as well as being one of the founding members of the organisation.

He also served as the election officer for many NDA UK executive committee elections, a challenging role. He fulfilled this duty exceptionally well, bringing all stakeholders together and avoiding any divisions within the organisation. We both took part in Health Education and Awareness Programmes conducted in various parts of the UK where Nepalese communities reside. He spoke about mental health, while I addressed physical health issues, including abdominal problems. It was inspiring to see how well he applied the WHO definition of health, emphasising the equal importance of both physical and mental health. Immediately after the massive 2015 earthquake in Nepal, we were both there. While he cared for mental health issues, I was treating fractures and tending to the injured.

During the hunger strike of the Gurkha veterans in front of the Prime Minister’s office in 2021, when I had just taken on the role of Chair of NDA UK, he was the person who provided me with the right support and advice on how to proceed. Together, we visited the veterans, and our efforts led to a positive outcome.

His charity work for NDA UK and other organisations, such as Satya Sai Baba and Rotary Club in Nepal and worldwide, remains eternal. During my chairmanship of NDA UK, he helped the Chepang community in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Ratna Nagar, Chitwan. The poor communities around Saktikhor will be forever grateful for his contributions. During the COVID pandemic, he participated in many spiritual and well-being activities via Zoom meetings, which brought peace and tranquillity to our minds.

I fondly look back on the long drives and travels we shared, as we lived not too far from each other—he in Chelmsford and I in Norwich. I had been looking forward to more such journeys, but now those opportunities are gone. The last time I spoke to him was just before my visit to Nepal in January. He had experienced heart problems in Nepal in October but mentioned that he was well looked after there. I was eagerly anticipating speaking with him again and meeting him after his heart operation in Basildon, but sadly, that now feels like a distant dream.