Purna Kaji Tamrakar
Purna Kaji Tamrakar (
Early life
Tamrakar was born at Maru, Kathmandu to father Jagat Muni and mother Pun Laxmi Tamrakar. The neighborhood lies at the western edge of Kathmandu Durbar Square. Tamrakar's ancestral home stands near a large stupa and is known as Tagwah Chibha meaning "large stupa". He attended high school in Kolkata, India and returned to Kathmandu and married Hira Devi.
Career
Tamrakar was a
Restrictions on publication in Nepal Bhasa were removed after the
Printing press
In 1952, the three partners established their own printing press named Nepal Press in a bid to promote publishing in Nepal Bhasa. It was located at 11/122 Asan Tyouda Tol, Kathmandu. They also set up Thaunkanhe Publications Division which published a number of books.
Meanwhile, Tamrakar acquired a BA degree (Sahitya Ratna) from Nepal Rastriya Vidyapeeth, Birgunj in 1953. He was among the first batch of four students.[1]
Besides writing, Tamrakar was involved in Buddhist activities, and was elected assistant secretary of Dharmodaya Sabha in 1956 when it held the landmark fourth international conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists in Kathmandu. Dharmodaya Sabha is a Buddhist organization formed in 1944 in Sarnath, India by Buddhist monks expelled from Nepal.[7]
In 1960, Tamrakar and Sagar sold their shares in Nepal Press to Tuladhar, and it was shifted to New Road. Tamrakar continued writing and published six books on culture, literature, historical sites and his experiences in Tibet. He also served as editor of Nepal Ritu Pau, a literary quarterly. From 2000 to 2005, he was president of Nepal Bhasa Parisad (Nepal Bhasa Council).[8][9]
Honors
In 2004, the Nepal Bhasha Academy awarded Tamrakar the Danyahira Sirpa Award for literature for his outstanding service and contribution in the field of Nepal Bhasha and culture.[10] Nepal Bhasa Parisad declared him a Bhasa Thuwa ("patron of the language") in 2009.[1]
References
- ^ a b c Kayastha, Chhatra Bahadur (April 2009). "Bhasa Thuwa Purna Kaji Tamrakar Lumanka". Thaunkanhe. Pages 60-67.
- ISBN 81-208-0963-7. Page 4.
- ^ "Tokyo University of Foreign Studies Graduate School of Arts and Graduate School of Regional". 31 March 2007. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
- ^ Tuladhar, Kamal Ratna (August 2009). "Pioneers on the Roof of the World". Matina. British Library ZK.9.b.25686. Page 5.
- ^ "History of Nepali Journalism". Nepal Press Institute. 15 February 2010. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
- ^ Malla, Kamal Prakash (ed.) (1967). Nahli Swana. Kathmandu: Chwasa Pasa. Page 180.
- ^ "History of Dharmodaya Sabha". 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
- ISBN 8187138556, 9788187138556. Page 7.
- ^ "First novelist of Nepal Bhasha felicitated". The Kathmandu Post. 18 December 2003. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
- ^ "Danyahira Sirpa Award". Nepal Bhasha Academy. Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2012.