A vigil was recently held in the memory of alumnus Yugesh Shakya. Friends, faculty and fellow students gathered to remember the life of Shakya, whom the speakers regarded as an adventurer.  
Regina Pergola/The Lion’s Roar

The life and death of Yugesh Shakya, an alumnus, was celebrated and mourned by several students and faculty. After graduating, Shakya went back to his home in Nepal to explore different trails in the Himalayan Mountains and participate in other nature related excursions with friends. While returning from a trail, there was an unexpected snowstorm that prevented Shakya and his friend, Vivek Besnet, from returning safely. University community members that were affected by this loss gathered in the Bass Clef Performance Circle outside Pottle to pay their respects and hold a vigil in his honor on Mar. 21 from 5-6 p.m. 

“That’s what I remember about him, a fearless adventurer,” said Shreya Thapa, a current student. “I hadn’t yet said my goodbye to him, so I guess this event was a way for me to say goodbye to him. May his soul rest in peace.”

Sajan Pandit, an alumnus, was a student along with Shakya. During their time at the university, they were a part of the Nepalese Student Association at Southeastern Louisiana University. 

“I’ll cherish the memories of us together,” said Pandit. “Longboarding together, playing music together, playing soccer together, playing chess. As we can see, there are a lot of people out here that have been affected by Yugesh in some way or another. I just think he was gone too soon. He’ll be missed by me and by all of us. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. They must be going through hell right now”

Dr. George Gibson, faculty advisor for NSAS helped found NSAS. Shakya was one of the Nepalese students involved at the beginning.

“Yugesh loved the woods,” said Gibson. “We would go hiking. I know he loved the beauty of Nepali art. Several months ago, he sent me 50, 80 pictures of indigenous art that he had collected. He had an eye for beauty.”

Basnet was also involved in NSAS with Gibson and Shakya.

“Last year this time, I was working very closely with Vivek,” said Gibson. “Vivek was so excited he was graduating with honors. He told me he couldn’t wait to get home. That he and his friends, Yugesh and others were going to spend time in the mountains. Over the last six, eight months, I would get pictures of the guys in one place or another. It was extremely hard and sad to hear the news.”

Other friends of Shakya shared stories about him during the vigil and expressed how dedicated he was to both his schoolwork, extracurricular activities and in personal relationships. 

“He was taking 21 hours,” said Pandit. “He would go to marching band practice at seven in the morning, and he would go to games home and away for the Southeastern football team. So he was a very driven and motivated individual, both academically and professionally. As a friend, he would be the one that we’d all turn to. He’d be the one taking all the initiative.”

Shakya introduced new ideas to NSAS that resulted in tabling events geared towards helping spread cultural awareness.

“He’s the one who had the idea to do this cultural exchange thing here at Southeastern, which was the Nepalese craft exhibition,” said Pandit. “We did two of those in 2016 which was, I would say, a success. A lot of people here at Southeastern who didn’t know much about Nepalese culture got to experience it.”

Current students had less time to spend with Shakya but were still affected by his presence and loss. 

“I first met Yugesh when I was a freshman and he was a graduating senior,” said Thapa. “So, we didn’t have a lot of time together. But we still got very close. We used to play music together, and I always remember him as a very cool person, adventurous and a music lover. The last time I met him was when I went back to Nepal this winter.”

Thapa and Shakya went bunjee jumping together in January. Thapa explained that she thought of Shakya as an older brother, who inspired her to be brave. 

“He did such a good jump, and he didn’t scream at all,” said Thapa. “When he came up and it was my turn to go next, I went, ‘Yugesh, I wanna be like you, I want to be fearless.’”

Gibson explained his reaction to the news, and invited those gathered to remember Shakya on their own. He expressed that he had been trying to get in contact with friends in Nepal to offer his assistance and to understand what had happened. 

“Yesterday when I found out what happened to our guys, like everyone else here, I was shocked,” said Gibson.  “I was deeply saddened. Yugesh was a friend of mine. Vivek a friend of mine.”

President of NSAS Aabishkar Timalsina elaborated on the story of Shakya’s untimely death. 

“While returning, too often Yugesh and Basnet, they wanted to go another way,” said Timalsina. “So, they took a guide and went with him. The guide returned but in the journey back to the base, I’m not sure if they lost their path or what. They were stranded for several days. What I know so far is they were having hallucinations. So, while hallucinating he would stay out of his tent. This happened several times. At the end, Yugesh ended up being outside for so long that Vivek came to find out that his friend was no more.”

Basnet found rescuers and they retrieved Shakya’s body. Basnet was transported to a hospital. He has since been discharged and is with his family. 

Vice President of Student Affairs Eric Summers expressed his condolences to the student community and to the friends of Shakya. 

“It’s not easy to lose a member of the Lion family because it’s more than just a student,” said Summers. “This is a friend and a family member. With this remembrance program, it’s obvious that Yugesh was loved. It’s obvious that he will live forever in our hearts with our memories.”

Summers encouraged the students to move forward together and expressed solidarity with those affected by the loss of Shakya.

“So, somehow, we have to work together to find something good, to create something good in this tragedy,” said Summers. “I don’t know what that will be but I guarantee you that I walk that journey along with you.”

Free counseling is offered at the University Counseling Center and is at the disposal of any student that feels they need or want it.