Suresh Raj Sharma, founding vice-chancellor of Kathmandu University and a prominent educationist, was cremated with state honours on Thursday.

At Pashupati Aryaghat, Education and Sports Minister Sasmit Pokharel paid tribute to Sharma by draping the national flag over his body. A contingent of the Nepal Police presented a ceremonial salute during the final farewell.

The Ministry of Education and Sports said Sharma was accorded a state funeral following a decision by the home ministry at the ministry’s request.

Known as a leading figure in the development of higher and technical education in Nepal, Sharma died on Wednesday. The education ministry had earlier opened a condolence book, while his body was taken to the office of the Kathmandu University School of Management in Lalitpur for people to pay their respects.

Minister Pokharel said Sharma’s death was an irreparable loss to Nepal’s education sector and expressed condolences, on behalf of the ministry, to his bereaved family, relatives, colleagues and the Kathmandu University community. Pokharel said the government was working to fulfil Sharma’s vision of developing Kathmandu University as a fully autonomous institution.

Signing the condolence book, the minister said, “We will soon table a bill in Parliament to fulfil the late Sharma’s vision. A draft amendment to the law has already been prepared to take Kathmandu University to a Board of Trustees model.”

Sharma led Kathmandu University for more than two decades and played a key role in developing it as an autonomous, quality-focused institution with an international identity.

A native of Sindhuli, Sharma earned a PhD in chemistry from the United Kingdom. He served as a professor at Tribhuvan University and was also the founding director of the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT).

He contributed to the introduction and expansion of technical education in Jumla, Jiri in Dolakha, Sindhuli and Dhankuta. He was also among the founders of Kathmandu University.

Kathmandu University will hold a memorial gathering in Dhulikhel on Friday to pay tribute to Sharma. Registrar Biraj Singh Thapa said the university has decided to observe a day of mourning and remain closed on Monday.