Moti Laxmi Upasika

Moti Laxmi Upasika (Nepali: मोतिलक्ष्मी उपासिका) (30 June 1909 – 1997) was Nepal's first woman poet and short story writer of modern times. Her first work, a short story, was published in 1935.[1]

Moti Laxmi Upasika
मोतिलक्ष्मी उपासिका
Moti Laxmi Upasika was the first woman short story writer of Nepal.
Born
Moti Laxmi Tuladhar

(1909-06-13)13 June 1909
Kathmandu
Died1997 (aged 87–88)
NationalityNepali
Other namesM. Laxmi
Notable workChakhunchiya Sarbay
Parents
  • Drabya Dhar Tuladhar (father)
  • Gyan Laxmi Tuladhar (mother)
RelativesChittadhar Hridaya (brother)

Early life

Moti Laxmi Upasika (also spelled Motilakshmī Upāsikā) was born in Kathmandu to father Drabya Dhar and mother Gyan Laxmi Tuladhar. Her father was a merchant who owned a business house in Lhasa, Tibet. Her brother was poet Chittadhar Hridaya.[2][3] She received informal education in Sanskrit, Pali and English.[4]

Writing career

Upasika, who also wrote under the pen name M. Laxmi, published her first work in 1935, a story in the Nepali language entitled Rodan. It appeared in Sharada magazine published from Kathmandu.

She started writing in Nepal Bhasa with a poem entitled Chitta Panchhi (meaning "Heart bird") and a story Lan ("Road") which were published in Dharmadoot in 1944.[5] Dharmadoot was a Buddhist magazine published in Hindi by the Maha Bodhi Society from Sarnath, India. It also published contributions in Nepal Bhasa at the request of its subscribers in Nepal.[6][7]

Portrait of Upasika

Though most of her essays deal with religious subjects, her writings have been described as a bridge between religious and free prose.[8] Her essays are characterized by simple language and a powerful way of expressing her opinions.[9]

Published works
  • Motima ("Garland of Pearls"), a collection of essays, 1958
  • Chakhunchiya Sarbay ("Sparrow's Property"), a collection of poems, 1993[10]
  • Moti Bakhan Puchah ("Moti Collection of Stories"), a collection of short stories, 1994[11]
  • Utpalvarna, a collection of Buddhist stories, 1995[12]
  • Dhaubaji ("Yogurt and Rice Flakes"), a collection of essays, 1998

References
  1. Tuladhar, Prem Shanti (2000). Nepal Bhasa Sahityaya Itihas: The History of Nepalbhasa Literature. Kathmandu: Nepal Bhasa Academy. ISBN 99933-560-0-X. Page 183.
  2. LeVine, Sarah and Gellner, David N. (2005). Rebuilding Buddhism: The Theravada Movement in Twentieth-Century Nepal. Harvard University Press. ISBN 0674019083, 9780674019089. Page 39.
  3. Hridaya, Chittadhar; Lewis, Todd Thornton; Tuladhar, Subarna Man (2009). Sugata Saurabha: An Epic Poem from Nepal on the Life of the Buddha. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195341821, 9780195341829. Page 377.
  4. Bajracharya, Phanindra Ratna (2003). Who's Who in Nepal Bhasha. Kathmandu: Nepal Bhasa Academy. ISBN 99933-560-0-X. Page 44.
  5. "Biodata of Moti Laxmi Upasika". Nepal Ritupau Vol. 57 No. 1. Nepal Bhasa Parisad. 2009. Page 1.
  6. Tuladhar, Prem Shanti (2000). Nepal Bhasa Sahityaya Itihas: The History of Nepalbhasa Literature. Kathmandu: Nepal Bhasa Academy. ISBN 99933-560-0-X. Page 121.
  7. Maharjan, Phra Sujan (2006). "The Revival of Theravada Buddhism and Its Contribution to Nepalese Society" (PDF). Bangkok: Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2012. ISBN 974-364-509-8. Page 138.
  8. Malla, Kamal Prakash (1964). Musah Nibandha ("Essay par excellence"). Kathmandu: Chwasa Pasa. Page 6.
  9. Tuladhar, Prem Shanti (2000). Nepal Bhasa Sahityaya Itihas: The History of Nepalbhasa Literature. Kathmandu: Nepal Bhasa Academy. ISBN 99933-560-0-X. Page 209.
  10. "Library of Congress Catalog Record". Library of Congress. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  11. "Library of Congress Catalog Record". Library of Congress. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  12. "Library of Congress Catalog Record". Library of Congress. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
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