Madhav Prasad Ghimire: Rastra Kavi of Nepal

Madhav Prasad Ghimire, has been penning about that facets of the society that most of the people turn their heads from. Social reforms and human rights have always been his favorite topics. He is known to have depicted hideous truths of the society in his masterpieces like Gauri and Malati Mangale. Some of his other major literary works include Himal Pari Himal Wari, Rajeshwori, Aswathama and Shakuntala.

A simple man with complex and diverse perception, Rastra Kabi Ghimire has been cited as the source of inspiration in Nepali literature fraternity.
Not just writing, but his willpower to live has also been inspiration to lots of Nepalis. According to him, there are three mantras to live longer; light exercise or yoga, positive thinking and creativity. For him, education is very important in one’s life as it guides an individual to light from darkness.

The changing technology seems to amaze him and has stated he has witnessed stark difference in the education system of the country. ‘We had to write in dhulepati but, there are laptops now. Students have lots of options regarding colleges and universities now, we lacked that. Educational materials also are easily available and there are lots of opportunities. I only started my formal education at the age of 12,’ Ghimire recalls.

Born to rule the Nepali literature, he began penning poems and stories at a very early age. With the encouragement of his teacher, he sent one of his creations to Gorkhapartra and had it published.

Ghimire’s life took a complete turn after meeting Krishna Shumsher and Bal Krishna Sama, who appointed him to work as a writer in their committee named ‘Nepali Bhasa Prakashini Samiti’. He worked alongside legendary writers like Siddhicharan Shrestha, Kedar Man Byathit, Gopal Prasad Rimal and Laxmi Prasad Devkota, who motivated him to grow as a writer and a poet.

Though equally profound in songs, poems and novels, he holds a soft corner for songs. He loves songs that are written in a simple way depicting reality and the ones that give deeper meaning.
Ghimire learned the bitter truth of life at a very tender age of one-and-half-years when he lost his mother, on September 23, 1919. He faced another tragedy when he lost his first wife, Gauri, which left him devastated.

Recalling the time he was named Rastra Kabi, he said, ‘…receiving such honor is definitely heartwarming. I was very happy and grateful.’ But, seeing the current scenario of award functions, he added, it would be much better if they collaborated on a national level and made it more meaningful.

In his own words, Rastra Kabi Ghimire has advised the aspiring writers ‘to broaden their thinking’. It’s an era of technology so the creations can get a worldwide exposure; think greater and always upgrade the quality of your creation, he added. ‘Expressing one’s feeling in today’s era is very easy as writer are now provided with the freedom of expression which was not there at the time of Panchayat system and the Rana regime 

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