Laxmi Prasad Devkota (1909-1959) was a Nepalese poet, playwright, novelist, and politician. Honored with the title of Mahakabi (Nepali for ‘Greatest poet’) in Nepali literature, he was known as a poet with a golden heart, and is considered one of the most famous literary figures in Nepal. Some of his popular works include Muna Madan, Sulochana, Kunjini, Bhikhari, and Shakuntala.[1]
Laxmi Prasad Devkota
| Native Name | लक्ष्मीप्रसाद देवकोटा |
|---|---|
| Born | 12 November 1909, Dhobidhara, Kathmandu, Nepal |
| Died | 14 September 1959 |
| Nationality | Nepali |
| Education |
BA, BL – Tri-Chandra College; Patna University (private examinee) |
| Occupations | Poet, playwright, essayist |
| Known for | Modern Nepali poetry, humanist literature |
| Notable Works |
Muna Madan, Shakuntala, Sulochana, Bhikhari, Kunjini |
| Political Role | Minister of Education, Nepal |
| Literary Movement | Romanticism (Modern Nepali literature) |
Early Life
Devkota was born on the night of Lakshmi Puja on 12 November 1909 (27 Kartik 1966 BS) in Dhobidhara, Kathmandu.He was the son of Til Madhav Devkota and Amar Rajya Lakshmi Devi, His father was a Sanskrit scholar, who taught him in his childhood. He started his formal education at Durbar High college, where he studied both Sanskrit grammar and English.[2]
After finishing his calculation exams from Patna at the age of 17, he pursued a Bachelor of Arts along with a Bachelor of Laws at Tri-Chandra College and graduated from Patna University as a private examinee. His desire to complete his master’s degree was left incomplete due to his family’s financial conditions.[3]
Literary career
Laxmi Prasad Devkota played a pivotal role in strengthening the modern romantic movement in Nepali literature. He elevated Nepali poetry to new heights through his innovative and expressive use of language and is regarded as a pioneer of the modern Nepali epic tradition.
Departing from the Sanskrit tradition that dominated the Nepali literary scene at the time, and being inspired by the Newar language ballad song Ji Waya La Lachhi Maduni, he wrote Muna Madan, a long narrative poem in a popular Jhyaure bhaka folk tune. Muna Madan is till now the best-selling book in the history of Nepali literature.
In 2003, Muna Madan was adapted into a film with the same title. At the time of its publication, Muna Madan received immediate recognition and wide appreciation, including from the ruling Rana elite and the country’s ministers.
The following couplet, which is among the most famous and frequently quoted lines from the epic, celebrates the triumph of humanity and compassion over the hierarchies created by caste in Nepalese culture:
“क्षेत्रीको छोरो यो पाउ छुन्छ, घिनले छुँदैन
मानिस ठूलो दिलले हुन्छ जातले हुँदैन !”
which translates into:
“The son of a Kshatriya touches your feet not with hatred but with love.
A man’s greatness is determined by his heart; not by his caste or lineage
Health Issues
In the late 1930s, Devkota suffered from nervous breakdowns, probably due to the deaths of his parents and his two-month old daughter. Eventually, in 1939, he was admitted to the Mental Asylum of Ranchi, India, for five months. With financial debts later in his life and being unable to finance the weddings and dowries of his daughters. He is also reported in some biographical accounts to have expressed deep despair during periods of extreme financial and emotional distress.
Death
Devkota developed cancer and died on 14 September 1959, at Pashupati Aryaghat, along the banks of the Bagmati River in Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu. He had smoked for most of his life. Prior to his death, Devkota’s income was withdrawn by the Nepal Academy of Literature and Art because he attended the Afro-Asian Writers’ Conference, which was held in modern-day Tashkent, without first seeking permission from them.
He also spoke at the ceremony, praising well-known figures for their contributions to Nepali literature, including Bhanubhakta Acharya, Lekhnath Paudyal, Pandit Hemraj, and Somnath Sigdel. Devkota claimed in an interview that he hadn’t received pay for several months and that as a result, he had been unable to purchase the medication he needed to treat his disease; moreover, he was struggling to even buy food.
Devkota’s personality was vibrant and assertive despite the fact that he was battling cancer, but his room was disorganized. However, even after these many years of his death, his works still connect with people, including youths.