Kathmandu, July 18 -- Devendra Raj Panday, one of Nepal's most distinguished civil society leaders, a renowned development economist and former minister, died at his residence in Bishalnagar, Kathmandu, on Friday. He was 87.

A public intellectual and tireless advocate of a citizen-centred democratic order for nearly five decades, Panday had been battling pancreatic cancer for the past few years, according to Dr Anup Subedee, who maintains a close relationship with his family. His funeral rites were performed at Pashupati Aryaghat on Saturday.

In public life, Panday wore many hats. He served as a civil servant, institution builder, development economist, veteran civil society leader, political mediator and, briefly, a politician.

Panday...