Kanchha Kumar Karmacharya was born on March 20, 1948 in Dallu Tol street in Kathmandu as son of Tulsi Maya Karmacharya and Bhim Bahadur Karmacharya. He is a renowned artist of Nepal. In children’s literature, he made his debut as illustrator by sketching pictures for Rajiv’s (Ram Babu Subedi) Bhyaguto ra Bachchi (The Frog and the Calf, 1980). Bhyaguto and Bachhi is, in fact, the first picture story in Nepali children’s literature.
A winner of several awards and honors like Gorkha Dakshinbahu Medal, Trimurti Honor, Ratnashree Honor and National Talent Award, Mr. Karmacharya has, till date, illustrated for more than sixty books of children’s literature. His illustrations for Lekhanath Paudyal’s Pinjadako Sunga (Parrot in the Cage), Madhav Ghimire’s Sunpankhi Chari (The Golden Bird), Krishna Prasad Parajuli’s Joon-Tara (The Moon and the Stars), Durga Lal Shrestha’s Santako Chhata (The Saint’s Umbrella) and Ram Babu Subedi’s Chameliko Basna (Fragrance of Jasmine) are touchstones of illustration in Nepali children’s literature.
A former employee of the Department of Postal Services, Mr. Karmacharya has held solo exhibition of his art works in Nepal, India, Bangladesh, South Korea, Japan and other countries. A member of several organizations related with art, Karmacharya is the former Member Secretary and current Chancellor of the Nepal Academy of Fine Art.
