Laxmi Prasad Devkota (November 12, 1909 – September 14, 1959), was
a Nepali poet. He is arguably the best writer in the Nepali Language. He has
written great works in the Nepalese Language. He is best known for the
poem "Muna Madan."There are several tribute to the poem Muna Madan.
This is a poem which shows poverty among the people of Nepal.
Early life
Devkota was the third son of Pandit Til Madhav and Amar Rajya Laxmi Devi. He was born in Thatunati (now Dhobidhara), Kathmandu on the day of Dipawali, the Festival of Lights, which is a celebration of Laxmi, the Goddess of Wealth. His parents considered his birth as a gift [प्रसाद] from the goddess and named him as Laxmi Prasad [लक्ष्मी प्रसाद].He is well considered as one of the famous icons in the field of Nepalese literature.He was a very kind
hearted person.
In 1925, Devkota enrolled in the science program at Tri-Chandra College. After completing his Intermediate of Science degree, he switched to arts. He received his bachelor's degree in arts in 1929 and went to Patna, India, in 1931 on a scholarship hoping to study English for his Master's degree. Since there were no seats available in the English program, he studied law.
Family life
After he received his bachelor's of law,he wrote to a friend while he was in Santa Bhawan Hospital, "Death stands before me. I search for constellations in the sky but can find none. I cannot give peace to myself. If I could rise, I would kill myself and my future prospects."
After he received his bachelor's of law, he returned home and endured a series of personal crises. His mother, father, and two-month old daughter died within two years. Those tragic events shattered him and, probably, led him to become a chain smoker. In later years, the premature death of two of his young sons, Prakash and Krishna, caused him more misery. A series of such tragedies seriously ruffled his mind. Although he was in full control of himself, his poetic sensibility was misunderstood by the less sensitive people around him who dispatched him to a mental institution for treatment. The psychiatrist at Ranchi labeled him a "geographical mistake."
Laxmi Prasad Devkota was primarily a humanist who occasionally wrote from an atheistic point of view too. Some critics have mistaken his intellectual queries for atheism and have tried to line him up with Marxism or other similar politically leftist ideologies. This is why such critics were shocked when he dictated one of his last poems to a friend, "Aakhir Shree Krishna rahecha eka" (" in the end, Lord Krishna happens to be the only truth").
Career
Devkota has contributed to Nepali literature by bringing the Sanskrit tradition to its apex and by starting modern romantic movement in the country. Devkota was the first to begin writing epics in Nepali literature and his magnum opus "Muna-Madan" remains a best seller even fifty years after his death. He is recognized as one of the greatest Nepali writers and his work is in the same level of standard as any of the greats of literature in any language. He also served as Nepal's Education Minister, and was a professor at Tri-Chandra College.
Devkota had the ability to write poems very quickly—he wrote the Shakuntal in three months, the Sulochana epic in 10 days and Kunjini in a single night. Nepali poetry soared to new heights with Devkota's groundbreaking poetry. "Muna-Madan," a long narrative poem in popular folk metre, begins the end of the Sanskrit tradition in Nepali literature. "पागल" (translated in English as "The Lunatic") is another of his ground-breaking works.
Events;
Once, Devkota was invited to a party to which he went dressed informally. The guard at the door did not let him in because he wasn't clothed according to the dress code. Devkota went back home and returned wearing a suit. This time, he was allowed in. After Devkota went inside, he began pouring his drink and food all over the coat he was wearing. The surprised guests asked him what the matter was. Devkota replied that if he was allowed inside only with the suit on, the suit must have been invited to the party and not him.
Death
Laxmi Prasad Devkota was a chain smoker through out his life. He long suffered from cancer and died in September 14, 1959 at the Ghat of Bagmati River in Pashupatinath Temple Complex, Kathmandu.
Work and Style
Publications
Epics
| Title | Year of first publication | First edition publisher (Kathmandu, unless otherwise stated) | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sulochana (सुलोचना) | 1945 | Sajha | Epic | |
| Sulochana (सुलोचना) | Epic | |||
| Bana Kusum (बनकुसुम) | Epic | |||
| Maharana Pratap (महाराणा प्रताप) | Epic | |||
पृथ्वीराज चौहान (महाकाव्य)
| Epic | |||
| Prometheus (प्रमीथस) | Epic |
Poetry / Short Novels / Essays / Novel
| Title | Year of first publication | First edition publisher (Kathmandu, unless otherwise stated) | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Like Strength (बल जस्तो) | Poetry | |||
| Beggar - Poetry Collection (भिखारी - कवितासंग्रह) | Poetry | |||
| Gaine's Song (गाइने गीत) | Poetry | |||
| Butterfly - Children's Poetry Collection (पुतली - बालकवितासंग्रह ) | Poetry | |||
सुनको बिहान (कविता सङ्ग्रह)The Golden Morning, children's poem
| Poetry | |||
| Farmer - Musical Play (कृषिवाला - गीतिनाटक) | Verse Drama | |||
| Meeting of Dushyant and Shakantula (दुष्यन्त-शकुन्तला भेट) | Short Epic | |||
| Muna Madan (मुनामदन) | Short Epic | |||
| Duel between Raavan and Jatayu (रावण-जटायु युद्ध) | Short Epic | |||
| Kunjini (कुञ्जिनि) | Short Epic | |||
| Luni(लूनी) | Short Epic | |||
| Prince Prabhakar (राजकुमार प्रभाकर) | Short Epic | |||
| Kidnapping of Sita (सीता हरण) | Short Epic | |||
| Mahendu(म्हेन्दु) | Short Epic | |||
| Dhumraketu | Short Epic | |||
लक्ष्मी निबन्धसङ्ग्रह(Laxmi Essay Collection)
| Essay | |||
| Champa (चम्पा) | Novel |
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