Bhanubhakta Acharya
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Bhanubhakta Acharya () (1814—1868 CE) (1871—1925 BS) was a Nepali writer, poet, and translator. He is widely regarded as the oldest poet in the
Nepali language Nepali (; , ), or ''Gorkhali'' is an Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan language native to the Himalayas region of South Asia. It is the official and most widely spoken Languages of Nepal, language of Nepal, where it also serves as a ''lingua fr ...
, for which he was conferred with the title of "Aadikabi": literally, "the first poet". He is best known for translating the epic ''
Ramayana The ''Ramayana'' (; ), also known as ''Valmiki Ramayana'', as traditionally attributed to Valmiki, is a smriti text (also described as a Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epic) from ancient India, one of the two important epics ...
'' from
Sanskrit Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...
to Nepali for the first time. Initially, his translation of the Ramayana was popular in oral form. It was later compiled and published by Motirām Bhatta in the late 19th century as '' Bhanubhakta Ramayana''


Early life and education

Bhanubhakta Acharya was born on 13 July 1814 (29 Ashadh 1871 BS) in the village of Chundi Ramgha,
Tanahun District Tanahun District ( , or ), a part of Gandaki Province, is one of the seventy-seven districts of Nepal. The district lies in central Nepal, with Damauli as its district headquarters. It covers an area of and has a population (2011) of 323,288. ...
,
Nepal Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mainly situated in the Himalayas, but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China Ch ...
to Dhananjaya Acharya, and Dharmawati Acharya. His father Dhananjaya Acharya was a government official and was the eldest of all brothers. Bhanubhakta received his primary education of
Sanskrit Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...
at his home by his grandfather and later in
Varanasi Varanasi (, also Benares, Banaras ) or Kashi, is a city on the Ganges river in northern India that has a central place in the traditions of pilgrimage, death, and mourning in the Hindu world.* * * * The city has a syncretic tradition of I ...
.


Literary career

South Asian languages including the Nepali language were limited mostly to an oral medium of language dissemination at the time with little written context and literary influence. As most of the written texts of
South Asia South Asia is the southern Subregion#Asia, subregion of Asia that is defined in both geographical and Ethnicity, ethnic-Culture, cultural terms. South Asia, with a population of 2.04 billion, contains a quarter (25%) of the world's populatio ...
were dominated by Sanskrit, it was mostly inaccessible to the general populace. As the Monks and Bahuns were the caste who excelled as teachers, scholars, and priests, the access to all of the religious scriptures and other literary works was only limited to them, and few who also could receive education and understand Sanskrit. Many poets had written poems in Sanskrit while Acharya started to write in the Nepali language which not only popularized the language but also gained him acceptance from the Rana Rulers. Acharya's benevolence towards Ram's heroic exploits brought in him an urgency to make his tale accessible to the people who spoke Nepali. Since most people did not understand the Sanskrit language, he translated the epic into the Nepali language. Preserving the lyrical narration style of ''Ramayana'' his translations are believed by scholars to carry the same lyrical essence "Bhava and ''Marma'(भव र मर्म)'" that rather than sounding like a poem sounded more like a song without distorting the regional influence or the inner meaning of the ''Ramayana''. He did not receive any western education nor was familiar with foreign literature which kept his work and experiential journey original to the vernacular literary system and brought strong Nepali flavor to his works. The key features of his writings were simple yet strong with a sense of religion, a sense of simplicity, and the warmth of his country that not many other poets had been able to be compared. Belonging to a wealthy family, he never had any financial trouble and had an unremarkable life until he met a grass cutter who wanted to give something to society so he could be remembered after death too. The grass cutter's words were what inspired him to do something that would leave a mark on society. He wrote two masterpieces in his life among which, one is the ''Bhanubhaktey Ramayan'' and the other is a letter he wrote in verse form to the Prime Minister while he was in prison. He was made a scapegoat and sent to prison due to some misunderstanding in signing the papers. In prison, his health deteriorated and he was given false hopes of being set free but his case was not even heard. So, he wrote a petition to the Prime Minister requesting his freedom, which later became one of his great works. He not only won his freedom with his poem but was also given a bag of money, for he wrote in the same language the then prime minister wanted to force the public to use. When he died in 1868, he did not know he would one day be one of the most revered poets of Nepal. His creation, however, was not published and he died without receiving credit for his contribution. His works were published by Motiram Bhatta in 1887 after he found the manuscript and took it to
Benaras Varanasi (, also Benares, Banaras ) or Kashi, is a city on the Ganges river in northern India that has a central place in the traditions of pilgrimage, death, and mourning in the Hindu world.* * * * The city has a syncretic tradition of ...
, India for printing. One of Acharya's works is well known for its colorful, glowing praise of Kathmandu valley and its inhabitants. Although he is one of the most celebrated and revered poets of Nepal, his works are not as famous as other poets in the history of Nepali literature. Ramayana, which Acharya originally translated into Nepali, was also translated into English more than a century later; it is considered the first translation in English that is published in Nepal.


Notable works


Epic poem

* '' Bhanubhakta Ramayana''


Poems

* ''Amarawati Kantipuri Nagari'' * ''Ghansi'' * ''Badhu Shiksha'' * ''Bhakta Mala'' * ''Khawmit Yes Girdhari Le'' * ''Roj Roj Darshan Paunchhu (Bholi Kabita)'' * ''Ma Bhanubhakta'' * ''Balaji Dekhyan'' * ''Prashnottar Mala''


Legacy

Bhanubhakta Acharya is revered and honoured with the title of ''Aadakabi'' (First-ever Poet) of Nepali language. Motiram Bhatta, first referred to him as Adikavi while writing Acharya's biography in 1981. He clarifies that Acharya is not called ''Aadikavi'' because he was the first poet in Nepal but he deserved the title as he was the first poet who wrote with an understanding of the ''Marma'' (inner essence) of the poetry. Bhanu Jayanti is a celebration of the birth anniversary of Bhanubhakta Acharya. It falls on the 29th day of the month of Ashad according to Nepali calendar. It is celebrated every year by the
Government of Nepal The Government of Nepal () is the central executive authority of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. The government is led by the Prime Minister of Nepal, prime minister (K. P. Sharma Oli, K.P. Oli since 15 July 2024) who selects all the o ...
and Nepalese people as well as by the Nepali speaking people around the world. cultural festival, prevalent among the
Nepal Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mainly situated in the Himalayas, but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China Ch ...
ese around the world in the remembrance of Bhanubhakta Acharya's birthday anniversary. It is generally celebrated on 13 July or the 29th day of the Nepali month of Ashadh. Every year Bhanu Jayanti is celebrated as a mega event with literary seminars, and programs and amid a remarkable presence of Nepalese writers, novelists, and other literary figures/enthusiasts.


Gallery

File:Statue of Bhanubhakta Acharya at Chundi Ramgha 01.jpg, Statue of Bhanubhakta Acharya at Chundi Ramgha File:Bhanu salik Nepal Academy5.JPG, Bhanubhakta's statue at
Nepal Academy The Nepal Academy () formerly Royal Nepal Academy () is a national institution of Nepal for promotion of the languages, literature, culture, philosophy and social sciences of Nepal. The academy commissions research and aims to promote the develop ...
File:Aadikavi Bhanubhakta Acharya.jpg, Bust of Bhanubhakta Acharya File:Bhanubhakta letter.jpg, Letter of Bhanubhakta Acharya to his son (1858) File:Bhanubhakta statue.JPG, Statue of Bhanubhakta Acharya at Chowrasta,
Darjeeling Darjeeling (, , ) is a city in the northernmost region of the States and union territories of India, Indian state of West Bengal. Located in the Eastern Himalayas, it has an average elevation of . To the west of Darjeeling lies the Koshi Pr ...
File:Bhanu Ghansi Memorial ParkTanahu Ward No. 12 Byas Municipility Gandaki Pradesh Nepal Rajesh Dhungana (28).jpg, alt=Bust of Bhanubhakta at Bhanu Ghansi Memorial Park, Tanahun, Bust of Bhanubhakta at Bhanu Ghansi Memorial Park, Tanahun


See also

* Ghansi, who inspired Bhanubhakta Acharya to translate the Sanskrit epic ''Ramayana'' * Shakti Ballav Aryal * Bhanubhakta Acharya Highway


References


External links


Bhanubhakta Acharya: Personalities of Literature from Nepal

Books about Bhānubhakta Acharya
in Nepali {{DEFAULTSORT:Acharya, Bhanubhakta Nepalese male poets Nepali-language poets 1814 births 1868 deaths Hindu poets Nepalese Hindus Nepalese translators Translators of the Ramayana Translators to Nepali Translators from Sanskrit People from Tanahun District 19th-century translators 19th-century poets Bahun 19th-century Nepalese poets Khas people National heroes of Nepal Nepali language activists 19th-century Hindus