Classmates and Friends Gather to Remember Alumnus Sudish Niroula

Twenty former classmates, faculty, staff, and other friends from Budapest gathered at CEU on November 2 to remember Sudish Niroula (Mundus MAPP ‘14) who died in a tragic motorcycle accident on August 7, 2016. “There was never a dull moment with Sudish. He was uniquely interesting and fascinating,” remembered Nick Wallace (Mundus MAPP ‘14). Nick, who organized the gathering, spoke for many in the room when he mourned “not just what is lost but what might have been.” Nick said that he would miss many things about Sudish including the “discussions and debates and arguments that we’ll never have.” Others, including Georgi Jetchev (One-Year MAPP ’13) and Snezana Dimic (IRES ’14) who participated online, shared their memories of Sudish as well.

James Wilhelm (Mundus MAPP ’14) recalled that Sudish’s approach to life was very different from his own, citing in particular Sudish’s penchant for leaving things to the last moment. Somehow, remembered James, “it was never a disaster.” James spoke poignantly about how Sudish had taught him to see the bigger picture. “Sudish, after graduation, returned to his home country to help with the humanitarian relief effort for the victims of the earthquake. This is just another way that he showed his ability to sort out what was really important from what was not so important,” he said. Sudish took advantage of his time at CEU to travel extensively throughout Europe. He was also an active member of the CEU Hiking Club. Brendan Duprey (ENVS PhD 2015), who organizes CEU Hiking Club activities, read a letter that he wrote to Sudish’s parents in which he mentioned Sudish’s kind soul and quick wit, and the things Sudish had done to improve the lives of others. “His soul will live on in the lives of those he touched,” said Brendan.

Yesica Huerta (One-Year MAPP ’13) remembered the grey and gloomy day in January when Sudish insisted that she attend his birthday party. That was the evening she met her future Hungarian fiancé. She said Sudish brought light into people’s lives and that she was grateful for the opportunity of knowing him.

Realizing how much students can benefit from studying abroad, people who were close to Sudish in Nepal, where he was working when he died, have organized a memorial fund to raise money for scholarships so that Nepalese students will have the same opportunity to study abroad that was so important to Sudish.