Chittaranjan Nepali

Chittaranjan Nepali
चित्तरञ्जन नेपाली
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Born
Narayan Prasad Rajbhandari

(1931-07-21)21 July 1931
Nhyeekantala Tole, Kathmandu, Nepal
Died16 October 2023(2023-10-16) (aged 92)
Chabahil, Kathmandu, Nepal
NationalityNepalese
EducationMA (History)
Alma materTribhuvan University
Occupation(s)Writer, historian
Years active52
Notable workJanaral Bhimsen Thapa Ra Tatkalin Nepal
SpouseMerri Baba Rajbhandari
ChildrenManoj Prasad Rajbhandari, Neeta Joshi, Neera Shrestha, Neema Rajbhandari
AwardsMadan Puraskar

Narayan Prasad Rajbhandari (Nepali: चित्तरञ्जन नेपाली; 21 July 1931 – 16 October 2023), professionally known as Chittaranjan Nepali, was a Nepalese writer and historian. He received the first ever Madan Puraskar for Janaral Bhimsen Thapa Ra Tatkalin Nepal, a biographical book on the life of prime minister Bhimsen Thapa.[1][2] He wrote in Nepali as well as Nepalbhasa.

Early life and education

Nepali was born on 21 July 1931 (10 Shrawan 1988 BS) to Sardar Medini Prasad Rajbhandari and Kali Nani Rajbhandari.[3] He began his basic education in Mahabir School founded by Chiniya Lal and Phatte Bahadur Singh which was closed after the imprisonment of the founders. He then joined Juddodaya School and completed his SLC level education from Durbar High School in 2004 BS. He then went to Tri-chandra College for his college education.

From his childhood, he was friends with Bijaya Malla, Gopal Prasad Rimal, Govinda Bahadur Malla and Shyam Das Vaishnav. His father was friends with the historian Baburam Acharya. His poems and historic articles were published in Sharada magazine.

Initially, he worked for Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Then he was transferred to Home ministry.

Nepali received MA degree in history from Tribhuvan University.

Political career

In 1997 BS after Shukra Raj Shastri, Dashrath Chand, Ganga Lal Shrestha and Dharma Bhakta Mathema were murdered by the Rana government, he became involved in the politics. He started putting up anti-Rana pamphlets but he needed anonymity for doing so or he could have lost his job and even been punished by the government. So, he chose the alias Chhitaranjan Nepali.[4]

Literary career

Nepali started his career as a poet. His first Nepal Bhasa epic poem Ma Lumanka (Mother's memory) was published in 1950-1951 (2007 BS). He then published Janaral Bhimsen Thapa Ra Tatkalin Nepal with the aid of Nepal Sanskirti Sangh (Nepal Cultural Association) about the life of first prime minister of Nepal, Bhimsen Thapa.[5] He won first ever Madan Puraskar prize alongside Satya Mohan Joshi and Balram Joshi.

Personal life and death

Chittaranjan Nepali was married to Merri Baba Rajbhandari and had four children (one son and three daughters). He died in Kathmandu's Chabahil neighbourhood on 16 October 2023, at the age of 92.[6]

Awards

Nepali is recipient of various literary and civil awards. Some of the awards are:

  • Madan Puraskar (2013 BS (1956-1957)) for Janaral Bhimsen Thapa Ra Tatkalin Nepal
  • Shrestha Shirpa Puraskar (2022 BS (1965-1966))
  • Subha Rajya Avishek Padak (2031 BS (1974-1975))
  • Trishatti Patta - Second
  • Durgam Sewa Padak
  • Janapad Sewa Padak
  • Janapad Dirga Sewa Padak

Bibliography

References

  1. ^ "Madan Puraskar Winners". Madanpuraskar.org. Archived from the original on 11 April 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
  2. ^ Regmi, Mahesh Chandra (12 April 1999). A Study in Nepali Economic History 1768-1846. ISBN 9781618204301.
  3. ^ "चित्तरञ्जन नेपाली – मदन पुरस्कार गुठी". guthi.madanpuraskar.org. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  4. ^ "जीवित इतिहास". nepalmag.com.np. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  5. ^ "चित्तरञ्जनसँग 'भीमसेन' संवाद". चित्तरञ्जनसँग 'भीमसेन' संवाद. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  6. ^ "Historian Chittaranjan Nepali dies". The Kathmandu Post. 17 October 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  7. ^ "Ratna Pustak Bhandar..the oldest bookstore of Nepal..." Archived from the original on 13 March 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2014.