Daivagya Raj Neupane

Daivagya Raj Neupane is a rumoured name in Nepali Literature. He has already written more than nine books.Moreover, he has been felicitated with different honours and awards up to now. A great person, who has been awarded with Yuva Barsa Moti Puraskar{2042},Bal Hitkari puraskar{2049},Gunaraj Aakhyan Puraskar, Jamarko Sadhak Abhinandan{2060} and many more honours ,was taken a special interview by the editor of Ketaketi Mr.Kartikeya Ghimire and translated by Mr. Dhiraj Baral is as follows.

Ketaketi: Sir, would you let us know about your childhood?

Neupane: Of course. I was born in the eastern hilly region of Nepal, Bhojpur. My Childhood days passed playing on the lap of mountain. I still remember, we had to go far off in search of recognized schools. The first election happened in 2015 B.S. At that time, election regions were scattered everywhere and many schools were opened in those regions. This act was done by a top leader Mr Bisheshwor Prasad Koirala.
We didn’t get opportunity to be selective .Therefore, I studied outside my village by searching not by selecting .We couldn’t choose the intended subject for the studies .Whatever we got, we were compelled to study. It was a Sanskrit medium school where I started my study from the fourth grade outside my village.

Ketaketi: Do you remember the time when you started writing literature?

Neupane: I wrote the first poem in Saraswati Puja at the age of ten. Afterward I went on writing. My articles started to get place from 2019 B.S.
I had been awarded for being first in the inter college poetry competition (2021 BS) and in national level competition (2022, 2026 BS). All those awards inspired me. But, after sometime I gave up to participate in competition from 2030 BS and only liked to remain in the selection committee. In this regard, I still remember an interesting incident- I stood first in National Youth Fair competition. When I went to take my award, I heard a voice from the audience desk bearing grudge and saying if these seniors only bagged the prize then when would our turn come. Thence forth, I decided not to take part in any competition.

Ketaketi: When did you start writing on child  literature?

Neupane: I started my life in Kathmandu as a student of higher studies. At that time, NCO used to publish Balak magazine and it used to present Rs. 15 for each article. Well, there was not any provision to give remuneration.
I realised that there was lack of readable child literature though there was 48% children living in Nepalese society. I was sure that the writing targeted to adult had 10% readers while child literature was read by a great mass. So, I concentrated on the child literature.

Ketaketi: Do you have any memorable incident at your childhood?

Neupane: I remember two unforgettable stories which really built up my career too. Fact is like this- when we first appeared for examination at Sanskrit school, we all failed. But, our teacher inspired us and gave 10 days time. After that my result never descended from first and second.
My grandfather was a great Pundit.Another incident islike this-I stole Rs.10, which was kept in the book by grandfather, and went to play Khopi with a Gharti friend as he proposed. This incident spread like a fire through out the house. But, I would never have returned back the money if I had not been requested politely by my mother. “When you grew up, you will get much and much than this”- Mother advised. Then I never stole money.

Ketaketi: What difference do you get between the village of your time and of the present time?

Neupane: There is an incomparable difference between that village and this present village. Today,Wherever we go we find schools. But, our time was different, we had to go distant for studies and we had to cook, wash clothes ourselves. I did those works from 4^th grade and I was deeply inspired and never did any negligence in studies thinking that  I had invested my full labour. Consequently, I got success all the way.

Ketaketi: Which was the literature you read when you got the essence of understanding?

Neupane: When I was child I read a poem Jaya jagadish of Lekhnath Paudel and it was the first poem I read. I also read Balak Baburo which was also written by Paudel. When Laxmi Prasad Devkota ,the mahakavi, died, I was in 5^th grade. So, I knew his name and influenced to read Muna Madan after knowing it was written by him. In those days, the Indian writers used to come to Nepal. We had to read Indian song. I had asked  my teacher Mr. Shiva Raj – “Sir, don’t we have our national anthem?” He told me a song Gaunchha geet Nepali written by Rashtrakavi Madhav Prasad Ghimire. Although it was our National anthem but I  had known about Madhav Ghimire at the same time.

Ketaketi: How was your first feeling after meeting Rashtrakavi?

Neupane: I remember, when I came to study for my higher studies, I met top heroes of Nepali literature- Lekhnath Paudel, Madhav Ghimire, Bhim Nidhi Tiwari, Liladhoj Thapa at Balmiki College in an inter college literature competition. The program was started by Kavishiromani and I got the prize from the then prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa. I am grateful to Bhairav Aryal, the great humorist, who took my poem and published in Gorkhapatra. In this way my articles got started to publish. Later, I increased my meeting with Madhav Ghimire and got a guideline. Our intimacy flourished then. I always get him in the form of Guru. I esteem him being his true disciple.

Ketaketi: What is the present condition of Nepali Child Literature?

Neupane: It was Madhav Ghimire who took up Nepali child literature to the top. Although it was started by Lekhnath Paudel, Parasmani Pradhan, Laxmiprasad Devkota but they were only related with instructive, moralistic and religious aspects not with theoretical. But, Madhav Ghimire took children took Child Literature as an important aspect of life and developed it.
Child Literature must be written on Children psychology and this is happening really these days. Child Literature should not be taken as a burden but it should be taken lightly that can be read jubilantly. Children never get any lesson from command. Instead, we must prepare a background to give lesson from mirth of playing and mirth of psychology.
Children have also the right to know their own identity. Therefore the main objective of the child literature must focus art, culture and language. Child Literature must have the objective to make know about the children existence which is incomplete unless they have their own identity.