Madhav Prasad Ghimire, who has died aged 101, was one of the last of the Nepali literary figures from among the older generation. Known as Rastra Kavi, or national poet, Ghimire was also a playwright and essayist.

Ghimire died at his residence in Lainchaur on Tuesday evening.

He is best known for his literary works such as Gauri (epic), Kinnar Kinnari (lyrical anthology), Charu Charcha (essay collection) and Shakuntala, yet another epic.

One of his most popular works is Malati Mangale. The musical drama was first staged in 1985 to widespread national and international acclaim and continues to get staged even today.

“He was a humble and friendly person. His poems are simple and in the meantime deep and evocative,” said Satya Mohan Joshi, the centenarian historian and cultural expert. “His poems carried emotion and values.”

Though he dabbled in plays and essays, Ghimire’s forte was 'chhanda' poetry, a style of rhythmic poetry that has a fixed meter. Perhaps the most iconic of his works is the widely acclaimed Gauri, an epic ode on his late wife.

https://tkpo.st/3kXYOMo