Krishna Lal Adhikari
Krishna Lal Adhikari in prison
Born(1888-02-05)5 February 1888
Rapti District, Kingdom of Nepal
Died9 December 1923(1923-12-09) (aged 35)[1]
Kathmandu, Kingdom of Nepal
NationalityNepali
Other namesSubba Krishna Lal Adhikari
Krishnalal Adhikari
OccupationWriter
Notable workMakaiko Kheti (1920)

Krishna Lal Adhikari (Nepali: कृष्णलाल अधिकारी, 5 February 1888 – 9 December 1923) was a Nepali author best known for publishing Makaiko Kheti (1920), a book about maize cultivation that was accused of being treasonous. He was sentenced to nine years in prison and died in jail. After his death, he was recognised as the first "literary martyr" in Nepal. Tinlal Park in Manthali, Ramechhap, is named after him.

Early life and career

Adhikari was born in what is the modern-day Ramechhap District on 5 February 1888,[1] and went on to become a "Subba" government official.[2][3][4] He worked in the Office of Foreign Affairs.[5] Adhikari was an advocate of freedom of speech and personal expression.[6]

Adhikari was inspired to write a book about maize cultivation after reading an Indian book his friend gave him.[3] With permission from Nepali Bhasha Prakashini Samiti (Nepali Language Publication Committee), he released Makaiko Kheti in July 1920.[7] Two pundits – Ramhari Adhikari and Bhojraj Kafle – told prime minister Chandra Shumsher Jang Bahadur Rana about the book; they blamed the author for "mischievous expressions to treason".[8] Chandra reportedly said that Krishna Lal Adhikari "made a symbolic attack" on him because the book contained "a comparative analysis of the utility of a dog of an English breed and a native dog".[9]

On 2 August 1920, Adhikari was sentenced to nine years in prison, with the option of reducing his sentence to six years if he gave all 1,000 copies of the book to the government.[8] He tried to hand over all of the copies but one had gone missing; he did not know where the one copy had gone.[8] All of the 999 copies were burnt.[10][11] No known copies of the book survive.[12]

The same year, Makaiko Kheti was published again without the references to the Rana dynasty, under a new title, Krishi Shikshvali.[13]

Death and legacy

Adhikari died from tuberculosis three years later whilst in prison.[14][15] While on his deathbed, the guards took him for a sunbath; they asked Chandra Shumsher to release him but he declined.[16] It is said that the same day, Adhikari wrote on the ground: "Doom for the Ranas".[16] Adhikari's father asked Chandra Shumsher for the authorization to cremate his son in the Pashupatinath Temple, but he declined, saying he had been imprisoned to "die decaying".[16] One author wrote that Adhikari was treated inhumanely inside the cell.[17]

KP Sharma Oli, Prime Minister of Nepal beginning in 2015, recognized Krishna Lal Adhikari as one of the martyrs who helped end the authoritarian government.[18] Tinlal Park in Manthali, Ramechhap, is named after Adhikari, alongside revolutionary Gangalal Shrestha and politician Pushpalal Shrestha.[19] Adhikari was praised as the first "literary martyr" in Nepal.[19][20]

Makaiko Arkai Kheti is a book based on Adhikari which was later adapted into a play; it deals with the author's search for freedom of speech.[21]

References

  1. ^ a b "अनन्तशमशेर थापा क्षेत्रीको शताब्दीअघिको कृषि–पशु क्षेत्र विश्लेषण". Himal Khabar. Archived from the original on 14 October 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  2. ^ "Adhikārī, Kr̥shṇalāla, 1888–1923". Virtual International Authority File. 2020. Archived from the original on 13 October 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Maze on maize". The Himalayan Times. 10 January 2004. Archived from the original on 7 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  4. ^ "A difficult harvest". The Record. 6 January 2016. Archived from the original on 5 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Maoists in Nepal: Historical Background" (PDF). Shodhganga. p. 72. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 October 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  6. ^ Uprety, Prem Raman (1992). Political Awakening in Nepal: The Search for a New Identity. Commonwealth Publishers. p. 25. ISBN 978-81-7169-190-6. Archived from the original on 17 October 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  7. ^ Uprety, Prem Raman (1992). Political Awakening in Nepal: The Search for a New Identity. Commonwealth Publishers. ISBN 978-81-7169-190-6. Archived from the original on 17 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  8. ^ a b c "The Book on Makai Parba". SpotlightNepal. 2 July 2015. Archived from the original on 5 October 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  9. ^ Uprety, Sanjeev (2017–2018). "Masculinity and Mimicry: Ranas and Gurkhas" (PDF). Digital Himalaya. pp. 106–107. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 July 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  10. ^ Serchan, Sanjaya (2001). Democracy, Pluralism, and Change: An Inquiry in the Nepalese Context. Chhye Pahuppe. ISBN 978-99933-54-39-0. Archived from the original on 7 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  11. ^ "Bad blood- Nepali Times". archive.nepalitimes.com. Archived from the original on 5 October 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  12. ^ Mottin, Monica (9 March 2018). Rehearsing for Life: Theatre for Social Change in Nepal. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-108-41611-5. Archived from the original on 7 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  13. ^ "हिमाल खबरपत्रिका | कृषि कर्मका प्रारम्भिक ज्ञान". nepalihimal.com. Archived from the original on 10 October 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  14. ^ Nepali Journal of Contemporary Studies. Nepal Centre for Contemporary Studies. 2007. Archived from the original on 7 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  15. ^ Pathak, Bishnu (2005). Politics of People's War and Human Rights in Nepal. BIMIPA Publications. ISBN 978-99933-939-0-0. Archived from the original on 7 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  16. ^ a b c "Maze on maize". The Himalayan Times. 10 January 2004. Archived from the original on 7 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  17. ^ Rana, Pramode Shamshere J. B. (1999). A Chronicle of Rana Rule. R. Rana. Archived from the original on 7 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  18. ^ "Royal crown on display for public view (Photos)". Setopati. Archived from the original on 6 October 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  19. ^ a b "Martyrs honoured through a recital". kathmandupost.com. Archived from the original on 7 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  20. ^ "प्रतिबन्धित पुस्तक सप्ताह : नेपालमा पुस्तकमाथि प्रहार". Online Khabar. Archived from the original on 14 October 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  21. ^ "Symbols and satire". The Kathmandu Post. Archived from the original on 5 October 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
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