Lok Priya Devi (Nepali: लोकप्रियादेवी; 1898–1960) was a Nepalese poet.[1] In 2014, she was recognised as one of the women who contributed to the arena of Nepali literature, art, and politics.[2][3] She is the sister of Laxmi Prasad Devkota, the nation's most adored poet.[4]

Lok Priya Devi
Born1898 (1898)
Died1960 (aged 61–62)
Nepal
NationalityNepali
RelativesLaxmi Prasad Devkota (brother)

Biography

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Devi was born in 1898 in Dilli Bazar, Kathmandu, Nepal to Teel Madhav Devkota, and Amar Rajya Lakshmi Devi.[5] Devi was a sister of Laxmi Prasad Devkota, who is considered to be the greatest literary figure in Nepal.[4][6]

In 1906 at the age of eight years, Devi was married to businessman Lok Nath Joshi.[5] They had five sons and three daughters, however, Joshi was known to be a womaniser and he had many concubines.[5] Devi is never known to have criticised her husband.[5] Devi's name "Lok Priya" was given to her by Joshi which means "darling of Lok Nath".[6]

Works

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Her brother Devkota used to encourage her to write poems.[5] She was a student of Lekhnath Paudyal and Chakrapani Chalise.[5] Devi's works were also praised by various writers including Prem Rajeshwari Devi, Goma, and Devkota.[5]

She mostly published her poems in Sharada magazine, and she also published in Udyog, Sahity Shrot, and the literary supplements to the national newspaper Gorkhapatra.[7] Devi was also an activist, she advocated and encouraged women to get an education.[8][9] In 1953, she organised a literacy event for Bhanubhakta Acharya.[5]

In 1983, her daughter Shashi Rimal, compiled and published Collected Poems of Poetess Lokpriya Devi.[5] Lok Priya Devi Puraskar is named in her honour.[10]

Awards and recognitions

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In 2014, she was recognised one of the women "who contributed to the arena of Nepali literature, art, and politics. Much of their lives have been excluded [or written very little] from the narratives of official records", alongside Ambalika Devi Chandrakala Devi, Mangala Devi, and Divya Koirala.[2][3]

She died in 1960.[11]

Works

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  • Shoka Bindu
  • Tears of Sorrow on Brother’s Demise
  • Collected Poems of Poetess Lokpriya Devi
  • Reply to Shanta

References

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  1. ^ Pokhrel, Shanta (1982). Nepalese Women. Ridhi Charan Pokhrel. p. 145.
  2. ^ a b Dhungana, Raj (15 March 2014). "Nepali Hindu Women's Thorny Path to Liberation". Journal of Education and Research. 4 (1): 39–57. doi:10.3126/jer.v4i1.10013. ISSN 2091-0118.
  3. ^ a b Upreti, Bishnu; Upreti, Drishti; Ghale, Yamuna (16 April 2020). "Nepali Women in Politics: Success and Challenges". Journal of International Women's Studies. 21 (2): 76–93. ISSN 1539-8706.
  4. ^ a b Shrestha, Chandra Bahadur (1981). My Reminiscence of the Great Poet, Laxmi Prasad Devkota. Royal Nepal Academy. p. 5.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rana, Jagadish (1 January 2011). Women Writers of Nepal Profiles and Perspectiver. Rajesh Rana Publications. p. 45. ISBN 9788184654189.
  6. ^ a b "उलिनकाठ चढेर पटना पढ्न गएँ, महिनावारी भएपछि फर्किएँ". Kathmandu Press (in Nepali). Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  7. ^ Subedi, Abhi (1978). Nepali Literature: Background & History. Sajha Prakashan. p. 61.
  8. ^ Asian Women. Research Center for Asian Women, the Sookmyung Women's University Press. 1995. p. 186.
  9. ^ Thapa, Krishna B. (1985). Women and Social Change in Nepal, 1951–1960. Ambika Thapa. p. 91.
  10. ^ Bhaṭṭarāī, Ghaṭarāja (1994). Nepālī sāhityakāra paricaya kośa: Nepali sahityakar parichaya kosh (in Nepali). Neśanala Risarca Eśosiyaṭsa. p. 482.
  11. ^ Miśra, Ḍillīrāma (1993). Nepālī pratibhā ra puraskāra (in Nepali). Śarmilā Miśra. p. 250.

Further reading

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"नारीचुली - लोकप्रियादेवी". RabinsXP (in Nepali). 28 March 2010. Retrieved 2 November 2021.