{{Short description|Nepalese neurosurgeon (1953 – 2018)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox person | honorific_prefix = | name = Upendra Devkota | honorific_suffix = | native_name = उपेन्द्र देवकोटा | native_name_lang = ne | image = Upendra Devkota Portrait.jpg | birth_date = {{Birth date|1953|12|18|df=y}} | birth_place = Gorkha, Nepal | death_date = {{Death date and age|2018|06|18|1953|12|18|df=y}} | death_place = Bansbari, Nepal | death_cause = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = <!-- {{Coord|LAT|LONG|type:landmark|display=inline}} --> | monuments = | education = FRCS in Neurosurgery | alma_mater = Amar Jyoti Janata Secondary School Gorkha; Amrit Science College Kathmandu. | occupation = Neurosurgeon / Consultant | years_active = 1973; 1999—2018 | employer = | agent = | notable_works = | style = | height = <!-- {{height|m=}} --> | television = | title = | term = | predecessor = | successor = | party = | movement = | opponents = | boards = | spouse = Madhu Dixit Devkota | partner = | children = Three daughters | parents = | relatives = | callsign = | awards = | signature = | signature_alt = | signature_size = | website = <!-- {{URL|Example.com}} --> | footnotes = }}

'''Upendra Devkota''' ({{langx|ne|उपेन्द्र देवकोटा}}; 18 December 1953 &ndash; 18 June 2018) was a Nepali neurosurgeon and founder of the first neurological trauma unit in Nepal, located at Bir Hospital.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Dixit|first=Kunda|title=Upendra Devkota's lives|url=https://www.nepalitimes.com/here-now/upendra-devkotas-lives/|access-date=2022-02-01|language=en-US}}</ref> He held the post of Minister for Health, Science and Technology, Government of Nepal. Devkota was the founder of the National Institute of Neurological and Allied Sciences, the first institute dedicated to Neurosciences in the country, and known as the father of Modern Neurosurgery in Nepal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nepalitimes.com/from-the-nepali-press/i-want-to-live-my-last-among-friends/|title="I want to live my last among friends"|first=Nepali|last=Times|website=www.nepalitimes.com}}</ref>

== Biography == He was born in Gorkha in 1953 and received his high school education in Amar Jyoti Janata High School (commonly known as Luintel High School of Gorkha), Palungtar, Gorkha, Nepal. He was a classmate friend of Baburam Bhattarai from class eight to Isc.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ajisproducts.org/ajis-podcast/11-kulendra-devkota-83-years-old-educator-and-agriculture-enthusiast|title=#11 - Kulendra Devkota, 83 years old, educator and agriculture enthusiast [Nepali]|website=Aji's|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-17}}</ref> He did intermediate of sciences (I Sc) education from Amrit Science college, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal and got Colombo Plan fellowship to pursue medical education in India. He completed Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) in 1978 from Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh, Assam, India and worked some years in Bir Hospital under Dr DN Gongol. He had also been a Health Minister of then His Majesty government of Nepal.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://healthcareconcern.org/search/doctorinfo_view.php?editid1=556 |title=Doctor Profile |website=healthcareconcern.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140315042034/http://healthcareconcern.org/search/doctorinfo_view.php?editid1=556 |archive-date=2014-03-15}}</ref>

For advanced training in neurosurgery, he went to the United Kingdom, where he trained at Atkinson Morley Hospital (now part of St Georges Hospital), Southern General Hospital Glasgow. He returned to Nepal in 1989 and started Neurosurgery in Bir Hospital. In 2006, he established National Institute of Neurological and Allied Sciences(NINAS) in Bansbari, Kathmandu, Nepal.<ref>{{cite web |title=Upendra Devkota Memorial National Institute of Neurological and Allied Sciences (UDM-NINAS) |url=https://neuro.org.np/who-we-are |publisher=UDM-NINAS|access-date=12 January 2024}}</ref>

== Personal life == He died of cholangiocarcinoma on 18 June 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=Renowned neurosurgeon Devkota passes away|url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/renowned-neurosurgeon-upendra-devkota-passes-away |publisher=The Himalayan Times|access-date=12 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Senior neurosurgeon Dr Upendra Devkota passes away |url=https://kathmandupost.com/national/2018/06/18/senior-neurosurgeon-dr-upendra-devkota-passes-away |publisher=The Kathmandu Post|access-date=12 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Giant of neurosurgery Dr Devkota passes away |url=https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/giant-of-neurosurgery-dr-devkota-passes-away |publisher=MyRepublica|access-date=12 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Senior neurosurgeon Dr Upendra Devkota passes away |url=https://en.setopati.com/social/124353 |publisher=Setopati|access-date=12 January 2024}}</ref> He has three daughters and a wife.{{citation needed|date=July 2025}}

== Gallery == <gallery> File:British ambassdor paying homage to dr. devkota.jpg|alt=British ambassador to Nepal paying homage to Dr. Devkota|British ambassador to Nepal paying homage to Dr. Devkota File:Dr. Devkota while receiving the Dr. Balaram Joshi Gyan Bigyan prize.jpg|alt=Dr. Devkota while receiving the Dr. Balaram Joshi Gyan Bigyan prize|Dr. Devkota while receiving the Dr. Balaram Joshi Gyan Bigyan prize File:Dr. devkota being honoured before cremation.jpg|alt=Dr. Devkota being honoured before cremation|Dr. Devkota being honoured before cremation </gallery>

==References== {{Reflist}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Devkota, Upendra}} Category:1956 births Category:2018 deaths Category:Health ministers of Nepal Category:Science ministers of Nepal Category:People from Gorkha District Category:People from Kathmandu Category:Neurosurgeons Category:Nepalese surgeons Category:Deaths from cholangiocarcinoma Category:Khas people Category:Nepalese expatriates in India Category:Alumni of Assam Medical College

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