Dharanidhar Koirala

Dharanidhar Koirala
Born	1893 (1893)[1] Sindhuli, Nepal
Died	1980 (aged 86–87)[1] Nepal
Nationality	Nepali

Dharanidhar Koirala (Nepali: धरणीधर कोइराला;1893–1980; also known as Dharanidhar Sharma Koirala) was a Nepali poet sometimes known as Pandit-ji.[2]

Biography

Dharanidhar Koirala was born in 1893 in what is now Sindhuli District into a Hindu Brahmin family.[3] He studied Sanskrit and English from Banaras, British India.[4] In Banaras, he saw Indian people promoting their mother tongue which inspired him to "think about Nepal and the Nepali language".[4]

In 1918, he was exiled to India, where Koirala, Surya Bikram Gyawali, and Parasmani Pradhan became known as "SuDhaPa".[5] In 1924, Koirala with Surya Bikram Gyawali, Parasmani Pradhan, Hari Prasad Pradhan, and others established the Nepali Sahitya Sammelan in Darjeeling, British India.[6] The establishment of this organisation was seen as a major event in Nepali literature's history.[7]

Koirala was a key advisor to Sir Ralph Lilley Turner who published Comparative and Etymological Dictionary of the Nepali Language in 1931.[2] He wrote poems about social reforms.[8][9] In 1978, Koirala was awarded a Doctor of Letters degree by Tribhuvan University.[10] He was also awarded Tribhuvan Pragya Award by Nepal Academy for his contributions to Nepali literature.[11]

Koirala died in 1980.[4] In 1994, the Government of Nepal issued postage stamps featuring Koirala.[12]

Works

• Naibedya (1920)[13]
• Jaga Jaga
• Asha
• Spandhana

References

1. Onta, p. 2.
2. Messerschmidt 2014.
3. Studies in Nepali History and Society. Mandala Book Point. 1996. p. 50.
4. Onta 1996, p. 14.
5. "The Darjeeling Luminaries". ECS NEPAL. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
6. Datta, Amaresh (1988). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Devraj to Jyoti. Sahitya Akademi. p. 1382. ISBN 978-81-260-1194-0.
7. Chettri, Bhanu (2006). Jagat Chettri. Sahitya Akademi. p. 54. ISBN 978-81-260-2287-8.
8. "Movements For Autonomy in Darjeeling". The University of Chicago. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
9. The Journal of the Anthropological Survey of India. The Survey. 2002. p. 126.
10. Parmanand (1982). The Nepali Congress Since Its Inception: A Critical Assessment. B.R. Publishing Corporation. p. 5.
11. "Pragya Award". Nepal Academy. 9 May 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
12. "Stamp: Famous People- Dharanidhar Koirala (Nepal) (Famous people)". Colnect. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
13. Subba, J. R. (2008). History, Culture and Customs of Sikkim. Gyan Publishing House. p. 169. ISBN 978-81-212-0964-9.

Citations

• Onta, Pratyoush. "Activities in A 'fossil State': Balkrishna Sama and The Improvisation Of Nepali Identity" (PDF). Martin Chautari. Retrieved 21 April 2021.<
• Messerschmidt, Don (January 2014). "The Darjeeling Luminaries". ECS Nepal. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
• Onta, Pratyoush (June 1996). "Creating a Brave Nepali Nation in British India" (PDF). Martin Chautari. Retrieved 21 April 2021.