Laxmi Prasad Devkota

Laxmi Prasad Devkota लक्ष्मीप्रसाद देवकोटा
Laxmi Prasad Devkota
Minister of Nepal for Education and Swayat Shasan
In office 26 July 1957 – 15 May 1958
Personal details
Born	12 November 1909 Dhobidhara, Kathmandu, Nepal
Died	14 September 1959(aged 50) Kathmandu, Nepal
Nationality	Nepal
Spouse(s)	Mandevi Chalise
Children	5 Daughters and 4 Sons
Occupation	poet, Playwright and Scholar

Laxmi Prasad Devkota(Nepali: लक्ष्मीप्रसाद देवकोटा); November 12, 1909 – September 14, 1959) was a Nepali poet, playwright. Devkota is regarded as the greatest poet the Nepal and Nepali language and is honoured by the title of Maha Kavi ("The Great Poet") in Nepali literature. His notable works are Muna Madan, Kunjini, Sakuntal.

Life

Early life

Devkota was born on the night of Lakshmi Pooja on 12 November 1909 (1966 Kartik 27 BS) to father Teel Madhav Devkota and mother Amar Rajyalakshmi Devi in Thatunati (now Dhobidhara), Kathmandu.^[1] He started his education at the Durbar High School in Kathmandu. There, he studied an intensive education both in Sanskrit-grammar and English and attended his Matriculation exams from Patna at the age of 17.Then Devkota studied Bachelor of Arts along with the Bachelor of Laws in Tri Chandra College. Later he graduated from Patna University as a Private Examine^[2][3] After ten years of graduating as a lawyer he finally started working in Nepal Bhasanuwad Parishad( Publication Censor board) where he met famous Playwright of Nepal Balkrishna Sama. At the same time he started working as a lecturer in Tri Chandra College and Padma-Kanya College.

Health

In late 1930s Devkota suffered from Nervous Breakdowns, probably due to the death of his mother, father, and a two-month old daughter .Eventually 1939 he was admitted in Mental Asylum of Rachi, India for five months.

Later years and death

Laxmi Prasad Devkota was a chain smoker throughout his life. He long suffered from cancer and died on September 14, 1959 at the Ghat of Bagmati River in Pashupatinath Temple Complex, Kathmandu.

Work and Style

Devkota contributed to Nepali literature by starting a modern Nepali language romantic movement in the country. Devkota was the first to begin writing epic poems in Nepali literature. Nepali poetry soared to new heights with Devkota's groundbreaking and innovative use of language. Departing from the Sanskrit tradition that dominated the Nepali literary scene, he wrote Muna Madan (1930), a long narrative poem in popular "jyaure" folk meter. The work received immediate recognition from the Ranas who ruled Nepal at that time. It tells the story of Madan who departs from his wife Muna to Tibet to make money. The poem deals with the themes of the hardships of journey away from home, the grief of separation, longing and death. The following couplet which is among the most famous and most frequently quoted lines from the poem celebrates the triumph of humanity and compassion over any hierarchies created by caste and culture:

Considered his magnum opus "Muna-Madan" has remained widely popular among the lay readers of Nepali literature.

Laxmi Prasad inspired by his five-month stay in mental asylum in 1939 wrote free-verse poem Pagal(The Lunatic).The poem deals with his usual mental ability and is considered one of the best nepali language poem.

Devkota had the ability to compose long epic poems with literary complexity and philosophical density in very short period of time. He wrote Shakuntala, his first epic poem and also the first "Mahakavya" (epic poem) written in the Nepali language, in a mere three months. Published in 1945, Shakuntala is a voluminous work in 24 cantos based on Kālidāsa's famous Sanskrit play Abhijñānaśākuntalam. Shakuntala demonstrates Devkota's mastery of Sanskrit meter and diction which he incorporated heavily while working primarily in Nepali.

Devkota also published several collections of short lyric poems set in various traditional and non-traditional forms and meters. Most of his poetry shows influence of English Romantic Poets like Wordsworth and Coleridge. The title poem in the collection "Bhikhari" ("Beggar") is a reminiscent of Wordsworth's "The Old Cumberland Beggar". In this poem, Devkota describes the beggar going about his ways in dire poverty and desolation deprived of human love and material comforts. On the other hand, the beggar is also seen as the source of compassion placed in the core of suffering and destitution. Devkota connects the beggar with the divine as the ultimate fount of kindness and empathy:

Many of his poems focus on mundane elements of the human and the natural world. The titles of his poems like "Ban वन" ("Woods"), "Kisaan किसान" ("The Peasant"), "Baadal बादल" ("Clouds") show that he sought his poetic inspiration in the commonplace and proximal aspects of the world. What resonates throughout most of his poetry is his profound faith in humanity. For instance, in the poem "Woods," the speaker goes through a series of interrogations rejecting all forms of comfort and solace that could be offered solely to him as an individual. Instead he embraces his responsibility and concern for his fellow beings. The poem ends with the following quatrain that highlights his humanistic inclinations:

Besides poetry, Devkota also made significant contributions to the essay genre. He is considered the father of the modern Nepali essay. He defied the conventional form of essays by blatantly breaking the rules of grammar and syntax, and embracing a more fluid and colloquial style. His essays are generally satirical in tone and are characterized by their trenchant humor and ruthless criticism of the modernizing influences from the West in the Nepali society. An essay titled भलादमी (Bhaladmi) or "Dignitary" criticizes a decadent trend in Nepali society to respect people based on their outward appearances and outfit rather than their actual inner worth and personality. In another essay titled के नेपाल सानो छ? (Ke Nepal Sano Cha?) "Is Nepal insignificant (small)?", he expresses deeply nationalistic sentiments inveighing against the colonial forces from British India which, he felt, were encroaching all aspects of Nepali culture. His essays are published in the collection Laxmi Nibhandha Sanghraha (लक्ष्मी निबन्धसङ्‌ग्रह).

Politics

Laxmi Prasad Devkota was not active in any well-established political party but his poetry consistently embodies an attitude of rebellion against the Rana dynasty.During his self exile in Varanasi he started working as editor of Yugvani newspaper for Nepali Congress party resulting in confiscation of all his property in Nepal by the Rana Government.After Introduction of democracy through Revolution of 1951 ,Devkota was appointed as a member of Nepal Shalakar Samiti in 1952 by King Tribhuvan.Later in 1957 he was appointed as Minister of Education and Autonomous Governance under premiership of Kunwar Inderjit Singh.

Publications

Epics

Poetry / Short Novels / Essays / Novel

References

• Poems Of Laxmi Prasad Devkota In Nepali (From Laxmi Kavita Sangraha) Compiled By Sanjaal Corps
• Laxmi Prasad Devkota: Nepal's Greatest Poet

External links

• Important Works of Devkota at Online Sahitya

See also

• Nepali literature