Senior litterateur and critic Kumar Bahadur Joshi, noted for his works of criticism on Mahakavi Laxmi Pradad Devkota, passed away on Monday. He breathed his last while undergoing treatment of a kidney-related ailment at Sumeru City Hospital in Lalitpur. Joshi was 77.

Since 1997, Dr Joshi underwent kidney transplant twice, but even when down with illness, he continued writing and published about a dozen books in the time since.

Dr Joshi is the first person to publish a PhD thesis on Mahakavi Devkota. Joshi’s criticism on Devkota’s work includes volumes such as Mahakavi Devkota: Anek ka Aankha ma; Mahakavi Devkota ka Kavita; Mahakavi Devkota ra Unka Mahakvya; among others. The works helped establish him as the leading expert on Devkota’s work.

“Joshi was like the foundation stone when it comes to analytical writing about Nepali literary works,” Shailendru Prakash Nepal said. “Though he published several works beside his criticisms, Joshi is especially noted for his writings about Devkota and it makes him stand out among Nepali critics.” Joshi’s latest work is Chintan ra Sansmaran, a memoir, published in 2014.

Joshi is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.