Gopal Parajuli
Pratibha manchhe janmadai aaphno sathma lyaunchha
Pratibha paun bhanera yaha kasle pauchha?
[Every person brings some talent right from birth. One doesn’t get it by seeking.]
The above lines have been written by Nar Bikram ‘Pyasi.’ He is a poet and a lyricist. Besides the great poet Laxmi Prasad Devkota, Nir Bikram is the poet who used Nepali folk meters successfully.
Nir Bikram ‘Pyasi’ was born in Paush 1990 BS at Chhetrapati of Kathmandu. His parents’ were Dambar Bikram Rana and Dhan Kumari, respectively. His childhood name was Khus Bikram Rana. Later, he changed his name to Nir Bikram. ‘Pyasi’ is his literary nickname.
Pyasi learned how to read and write the alphabet at his own home. Later he joined the Juddodaya High School. After he passed matriculation from there, he joined Tri-Chandra College. He began writing poems and songs while he was at the high school. He studied up to B.Ed. After that, he did not continue his study. But he continued creating literary compositions. His first poem was published in Udhyog magazine in 2005 BS. The title of the poem was “Mannko Dukha”. Later on, his poems and songs were published in many different magazines like Aakha, Udaya, Sarada, Jagirti, Pragati, Madhupark, Gorkhapatra, Rooprekha, and Ramjham etc. Soon, his books too started appearing in the market.
Pyasi worked as a librarian in Pradipta Library in 2003 BS. He was elected as the president of Rashtriya Kala Pracharak Sangh—an organization that promoted art— in 2012 BS. Recruited in the army in 2014 BS, he was stationed inside the Royal Palace. He visited India as a member of a courtesy group of poets and cultural representative in 2019, 2021, and 2025 BS respectively He visited China as an advisor of a cultural group in 2022 BS. He went to Russia for study in 2026 BS.
At the time Pyasi started writing songs, there was a heavy impact of Hindi songs in Nepal. He thought to clear Nepali music from such outside effect and wrote the kinds of songs that would be dear to Nepali audience. That’s why wrote poems and songs in ‘jhyaure chhanda’ – a folk meter typical to Nepal. He wrote epics in similar meters, too. Many of his songs have been recorded at Radio Nepal. A sample of his poems runs like this:
Suna phulchhan butabuta jhalki jhalamala
Motidana parbatma talki talatala
Swadhinata ragataka garhau kada tiko
Samjhayera hamilai aadarshako siko
[Gold grows on every tree and shines glitteringly. There are beads of pearl on the mountain, shining brilliantly. Let’s take oath of freedom, and remind ourselves of the highest ideals.]
Pyasi has written many quadruplets—four-line poems. These poems are yet to be published. Many of his works published in different magazines are yet to be published as a collection. His printed books are as follows:
Epic: Dabala, Himjyoti, Chandra, Pukar,
Collection of Poem and Songs: Pyasika Kehi Kavita, Himali Suskera, Yugchetana, Tadpan Jalan ra Suskera and Kavitako Atmakatha
Collection of Biographical Essays: Yug Yugka Aakashharoo, Kehi Jyunda Sapana and Matoka Kehi Bundaharoo
Besides these, Pyasi edited Kabita a magazine published by Nepal Royal Academy, Ramjham published from Royal Palace and Sipahi published by Royal Nepal Army Brigade.
In the last phase of his life, Pyasi lived with the support of the pension he received for his service. He would always be busy reading, writing and thinking. Eventually, he died in 2049 BS.
During his life time and even after his death, researches and studies have been carried out by the students of Tribhuvan University. Many critics have written reviews on his different literary works. In his remembrance, special editions have been published by many magazines. Books have also been written on his life and work.
In this way, Pyasi’s name in Nepali literature become memorable for all times.
•••
[From A Hundred Jewels, a collection of biographies, published by Ratna Pustak Bhandar.]