The prime minister and his Nepal-shaped cake flew in an Army helicopter to his hometown of Aathrai in Terathum district, which had declared a public holiday on the occasion.

Sharma was a veteran journalist with stints in Radio Nepal, Gorkhapatra and Nepal Television, but his enduring legacy will be the Bishwo Ghatana programme.

This year, Nepal witnessed many social movements, with people taking to the streets and on social media to make their voices heard.