Family of Gen-z martyr Gaurav Joshi left struggling after his death

Far West: The family of 23-year-old Gaurav Joshi of Taranagar, Dhangadhi Sub-metropolitan City-5, has been left without support following his death during the Gen-z demonstration on Bhadra 23. Gaurav, who had aspired to work abroad to provide a better life for his family, was shot in the groin in Kathmandu.

Gaurav’s father, Vasudev Joshi, along with his mother and sister, are grieving the loss of their son, who had hoped to support them through his earnings abroad. Vasudev, visibly distraught, expressed his sorrow as relatives and friends visited their home to pay respects.

After completing his 12th grade from Aishwarya Vidya Niketan School in Dhangadhi, Gaurav moved to Kathmandu three years ago with plans to study engineering. Vasudev said, “I had already taken a bank loan by pledging my house to cover his education expenses. Gaurav planned to go to the UK to study with his own earnings, but our dream ended with his death on Bhadra 23.”

Originally from Dagedakedar, Baitadi, Vasudev had migrated to Dhangadhi 45 years ago and ran a furniture business after leaving his temporary job at the forest office. Currently, his only sources of income are a social security allowance and rent from the room he lives in.

Vasudev said he learned about Gaurav being shot only the next morning after the incident. Gaurav, who lived with his mother and sister in a rented room in Baneshwor, Kathmandu, had shown leadership qualities and actively voiced concerns about social media shutdowns, corruption, and current affairs through social media videos.

Reflecting on his son’s legacy, Vasudev said, “After birth, death is inevitable, but creating something meaningful through life is different. Just as Shaheed Dashrath Chand from Baitadi created a legacy, my son has also left an impact.”

Following the incident, the family traveled from Dhangadhi to Kathmandu for Gaurav’s funeral. Vasudev expressed his desire to build a statue in his son’s memory at a public place in Dhangadhi and is seeking public land and support. Dhangadhi Sub-metropolitan City Mayor Gopal Hamal has assured assistance in finding suitable land. A tribute meeting has already been held at Park Mode in memory of Gaurav.

The government has declared Gaurav Joshi a martyr and provided Rs. 1.5 million in compensation to his family. In his honor, the road around Park Mode has been named ‘Genji Marg’, and the road in front of Gaurav’s house in Taranagar Toll has been named ‘Gaurav Marg’ at the initiative of local residents.