Laxmi Prasad Devkota was born in 1909 in Dillibazar, Kathmandu, on the auspicious day of Laxmi Puja, when the goddess of wealth is honoured in every household. His name ‘Laxmi Prasad Devkota‘ was given by his parent. Despite the fact that his name implies the goddess of wealth’s gift, he lived in poverty his entire life. Rather, the goddess Saraswati, who is associated with study and understanding, bestowed upon him a blessing. He attained the status of Nepal’s “Greatest Poet,” Mahakabi, and won the affection and admiration of the populace.
Laxmi Prasad Devkota लक्ष्मीप्रसाद देवकोटा  |
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26 July 1957 – 15 May 1958 |
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| Monarch | King Mahendra |
| Prime Minister | Kunwar Inderjit Singh |
| Born | 13 November 1909 Dhobidhara, Kathmandu, Nepal |
| Died | 14 September 1959 (aged 49) Pashupati Aryaghat |
| Father | Tilmadhav Devkota |
| Mother | Amar Rajya Lakshmi |
| Wife | Mandevi Chalise |
| Children | 5 daughters and 4 sons |
| Occupation | Poet, Playwright and Scholar |
His family belonged to the middle class. The Ranas, who were in charge of Nepal when he was born, were opposed to public education. In the Kathmandu Valley, Durbar School was the sole school; therefore, getting him admitted required a lot of work on the part of his family. While still enrolled in school, he got married at the age of fifteen.
His initial poems were written in school. He was a modest, devoted reader and writer who was always a decent student. It is reported that when he would perform his poems in front of his classmates, his friends would not accept that he was the author since they were so excellent. Nonetheless, his talent impressed his teachers.
After completing his education with honours, he enrolled at Trichandra College in 1925 to pursue a science degree. After earning his B.A. in arts in 1929, he travelled to India on a scholarship to pursue further education in 1931. He and his friends wrote to the Prime Minister, Rana, requesting permission to establish a library in Kathmandu as a result of what they saw in India’s libraries. For this, they received prison sentences and hefty penalties.
After completing his studies in India, he had to work really hard to support himself. Muna Madan, his well-known book, was written during this period. All of the writers of that time used the ancient Sanskrit forms. Muna Madan was composed in the style of Jhyaure folklore. This was entirely novel, and it was acknowledged. After being published for more than 70 years, it is still a best-seller.
He lost his mother and father soon after, as well as his baby daughter, within two years. This broke Devkota to pieces. He wrote Pagal, one of the best poems ever written in Nepali, around this time.
In addition to being fluent in Hindi, Sanskrit, Nepali, and English, he was a very fast poet. In three months, he completed writing Shakuntala, his debut epic. He spent 10 days writing Sulochana, his other epic, and one day writing Kunjini. In addition to the epics, he was a prolific writer of essays, dramas, stories, novels, criticism, and countless poems. His essays are well regarded for both their substance and elegance. He elevated Nepali literature to a whole new level. Several Nepali writers have attempted to imitate him because he has affected generations of them.
Devkota dedicated his life to labour. In 1946, he was appointed as a lecturer at Trichandra College. He was later appointed Minister of Education for Nepal in 1957. He was also an extremely giving individual. He offered everyone in need everything he had. He handed the beggar the coat he was wearing after noticing him freezing on the street one winter’s morning.
He was given a cancer diagnosis in 1958 and died in 1959 at the age of fifty. His writing will live on in the hearts of those who adore Nepali literature, even if he is no longer with us.
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