Memoir of Mahakavi Laxmi Prasad Devkota
Laxmi Prasad Devkota is a towering figure of Nepali literature. He was an impromptu poet. He had the ability to converse in poetry at any time. Devkota, who could present the vision of an era through poetry, was earlier also called a “Yugakavi” (poet of the age). Around 2010 B.S., the appellation “Yugakavi,” which used to be employed when addressing Devkota, came to be transferred to Siddhicharan Shrestha.
However, in 2004 B.S., Ishwar Baral, in the magazine Uday published from Banaras, had for the first time addressed Devkota as “Mahakavi” (great poet). Gradually, the title “Yugakavi” receded, and the honor of “Mahakavi” for Devkota increased. At present, the title “Mahakavi” has become the established epithet for Devkota. The first foreigner to call Devkota “Mahakavi” was the Indian scholar Rahul Sankrityayan. That same Indian scholar Sankrityayan said that he regarded Devkota as the greatest human incarnation after the Buddha and as a single personality equal to the three eminent Indian poets Prasad, Pant and Nirala (Jaishankar Prasad, Sumitranandan Pant and Suryakant Tripathi “Nirala”). After the distinguished critic Ishwar Baral and the distinguished foreign literary figure Sankrityayan called Devkota “Mahakavi,” it appears that the world accepted this.
Wherever the Nepali language and literature are expanding in the world, the respect for Mahakavi Devkota is also increasing. Across the world, Nepali people, Nepali speakers and those who take an interest in Nepali literature are seeking closeness with Devkota. They are working in various ways to create bonds with him. Research and study are also being carried out on Devkota. For those who carry out exploration and research on Devkota, his connection with Rautahat is deep. Devkota has a direct literary as well as family relationship with Rautahat. Because of both these relationships, Devkota was close to Rautahat. It is found that Mahakavi Devkota came to Rautahat many times. It is also found that Devkota spent considerable time in Rautahat. On one occasion, Devkota came to Rautahat and stayed there for months.
On 10 Chaitra 2010 B.S., a literary and cultural ceremony was organized at Gaur Bazaar, the district headquarters of Rautahat. The event was organized by Sharada Library, established in 2004 B.S. (whose name was changed to Kalakunj Library in 2014 B.S.). At this literary and cultural program, well-known Nepali and Hindi writers from Nepal and India had gathered. The renowned figures of Nepali literature Laxmi Prasad Devkota and Shyam Prasad Sharma had also participated in that program. Devkota was brought from Amlekhganj to Gaur, the district headquarters of Rautahat, by Shyam Prasad Sharma.
Sharma had already participated as the farmers’ representative from Makwanpur in Nepal’s first farmers’ conference, which had been held in Mahammadpur of Rautahat. At that time, Janakmohan Adhikari, the brother of Manmohan Adhikari, was possibly the chief officer at the Gaur customs office. The short-story writer Guruprasad Mainali was also possibly in Gaur. Indian writers participated under the leadership of the Indian poet Ramdev Dwivedi “Almast.” The main attraction of this international or bilateral literary and cultural program was Devkota himself.
Before the program began, some young people gathered there wanted to ask Devkota questions. The youths expressed curiosity about a poem by Devkota that had been printed in the magazine Paropakar. After the program concluded, it was again the writer Sharma who took Devkota from Bairgania by rail via Raxaul and then to Birgunj. At that time, the East–West Highway had not yet been built.
Rautahat is also linked to Devkota through the relationship of in-laws (samdhi). Among Devkota’s five daughters, the eldest daughter was married to Kalyannath Regmi, the eldest son of Bhairavanath Regmi. Bhairavanath Regmi was an office employee in Gaur. His main residence was in Mahammadpur of Rautahat. Bhairavanath Regmi had six sons: Kalyannath Regmi, Nityanath Regmi, Loknath Regmi, Pramodnath Regmi, Ravindranath Regmi and Anandnath Regmi. Until that time all the brothers lived together as a joint family.
Devkota used to go to Mahammadpur to visit his in-laws and daughter. Sometimes Devkota stayed in Mahammadpur for long periods. Relatives say that around 2011 B.S., Devkota stayed continuously in Mahammadpur for 51 days. Possibly, his stay became long either to avoid the cold or for other reasons. The Regmi family also claims that Devkota’s youngest daughter too lived for some time in Mahammadpur.
The house plot and other land in Mahammadpur later came into the share of Loknath Regmi. Local residents still remember Loknath as Mohan Babu. Although all the land has already been sold, the plot where Devkota stayed for long periods or on repeated visits is still intact. It is currently vacant, and the Regmi family has the intention of preserving it. Within the Regmi family, memories related to Devkota’s life and his connection with Mahammadpur are still preserved, along with the thought that, if a house could be built there in its original form, it would be possible to conserve the place in a way that evokes Devkota’s memory.
Rautahat has been further extending its multifaceted ties with Devkota, the most widely discussed personality among Nepali literary figures. Overall, it appears that Mahakavi Devkota, “the in-law from Mahammadpur,” who stayed in Mahammadpur, walked through the villages and lanes here, and formed a friendship with the local environment, has literary, physical and heartfelt intimate bonds with Rautahat. There is also a need for study and research on Devkota’s stay in Rautahat and the works he created.
