Born in Kathmandu, Nepal
Devendra Raj Panday
Deceasedदेवेन्द्रराज पाण्डे
Development economist, former Finance Minister, and leading civil society figure known for decades of anti-corruption and pro-democracy advocacy
About
Devendra Raj Panday was born into a wealthy Kathmandu family during the Rana regime. His career moved back and forth between working in government and speaking out against it. In 1981, he resigned as a senior civil servant in protest. A decade later, once democracy returned to Nepal, he came back to serve as Finance Minister.
In his later years, he became known less for his official titles. Instead, he became known as a “citizen leader.” He stayed outside party politics. He kept pressing governments and political parties on corruption, governance, and democratic backsliding, which means a country moving away from democracy toward less democratic rule.
Quick facts
- Born
- 1939-08-20
- Birthplace
- Kathmandu, Nepal
- Profession
- Economist, Civil servant, Author, Civil society leader
- Nationality
- Nepal
- Status
- Deceased
- Died
- 2026-07-17
Previous roles
Minister of Finance
Government of Nepal · 1990
Finance Secretary
Government of Nepal
President, Nepal Chapter
Transparency International
Member, International Board of Directors
Transparency International
Education
Allahabad University
Master's, Commerce
University of Pittsburgh
PhD, Public and International Affairs
Career & life timeline
- 1939-08-20
- 1960
Joined the Nepali civil service as a section officer
- 1981
Resigned from government service in protest after Nepal's national referendum
- 1990
Appointed Finance Minister in the interim government following Nepal's democracy movement
- 2005
Helped lead the Citizens' Movement for Democracy and Peace during Jana Andolan II
- 2026-07-17
Died in Kathmandu, Nepal, after a battle with pancreatic cancer, aged 87
Achievements
Resigned from the civil service in 1981 to protest the government's stance following Nepal's failed national referendum
Appointed Finance Minister in the first interim government after the 1990 democracy movement
Led the Citizens' Movement for Democracy and Peace, which helped spearhead the 2005–06 Jana Andolan II movement
Elected twice to the International Board of Directors of Transparency International
Organizations & affiliations
- Transparency International
- Citizens' Movement for Democracy and Peace
Last updated: 2026-09-02