Keshav Acharya, an accomplished economist and monetary expert, has passed away. The 72-year-old Acharya, who was admitted to the hospital last Tuesday after suffering a stroke, passed away at 9.55 am on Monday at the Annapurna Neuro Hospital in Maitighar. 

Acharya was taken to the Medicare Hospital in Chabahil last Tuesday after his health deteriorated. He was then taken to the Annapurna Neuro Hospital for further treatment. Acharya died on Monday while undergoing treatment at the hospital. Since Annapurna Neuro Hospital does not have a morgue, Acharya's body has been kept at Om Hospital in Chabahil after his death. Family sources have informed that the last rites will be performed at Pashupati Aryaghat at 1 pm on Tuesday. Acharya is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.

With the death of Acharya, the country has lost a decent economist. Acharya was involved in monetary policy along with the economy. He had good knowledge on price stability, foreign exchange reserves, external balance, interest rates and internal economic stability. Former Executive Director of Nepal Rastra Bank, Narayan Poudel, said that Acharya's contribution was not only to the central bank but also to the entire country's economy. "We have learned a lot from Acharya, a skilled administrator, a personable person, and an analytical economist. In this sense, Acharya was our mentor," Poudel said.

 Acharya, who joined the Rastra Bank service as an assistant director in 2033 BS, retired as an executive director in 2064 BS. While at the Rastra Bank, Acharya led important departments including research, regulation, and supervision. Acharya has contributed a lot to advancing Nepal's foreign exchange system, exchange rate, and economy. He had a special interest in development economics along with global political economy.

Acharya worked as a senior economic advisor in the Ministry of Finance from 1994-1995. Acharya is considered to have made a significant contribution to the success of the then Finance Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari. At that time, he provided important advice on budget writing as well as comprehensive economic policy, foreign aid coordination, and revenue strategy. Acharya also worked as a senior advisor at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). 

Former Secretary Krishna Gyawali said that the country has lost an economic expert with the death of economist Acharya. Gyawali wrote on the social networking site Facebook, ‘The death of a good person makes everyone who knew him closely or only from a distance or not sad. Economist Keshav Acharyaji was one of such good people.’

Gyawali said that he was well acquainted with Acharya. ‘We met and became close when I was in the Ministry of Finance and he was in the Rastra Bank. We continued to meet in various areas of professional life and 

kept exchanging our thoughts and experiences,’ Gyawali wrote, ‘The acquaintance of a position is not permanent and lively. After being relieved of the position, the relationship gradually starts to fade. But the acquaintance of expertise is permanent. Moreover, if natural simplicity, softness and gentleness are mixed with it, it cannot be easily forgotten.'

Whether in public office or outside it, Acharya was always analyzing economic indicators. He was advocating for policy reforms and analyzing economic indicators every day through the media. Acharya played an important role as the economic advisor to the Ministry of Finance in preparing the budget brought by the Manmohan Adhikari-led government in 2051 BS. Acharya also assisted the then Finance Minister Surendra Pandey in formulating and implementing fiscal policy in 2066 BS.