Vishnu Raj Atreya facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vishnu Raj Atreya (Latosaathi)
|
|
|---|---|
Atreya in 2000
|
|
| Born | 10 November 1944 (age 80) Kapilbastu, Nepal
|
| Died | July 18, 2020 (aged 75) |
| Other names | Latosathi |
| Education | PhD in Navya Vyakarana M.A. in Political Science M.A. in Nepali Acharya in Navya Vyakarana |
| Alma mater | Sampurnanand Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya Tribhuvan University |
| Occupation | Poet and scholar |
| Spouse(s) | Arya Atreya |
Vishnu Raj Atreya (Nepali: विष्णुराज आत्रेय) was a famous writer and poet from Nepal. He was born on November 10, 1944, and passed away on July 18, 2020, at 75 years old. He wrote in three languages: Nepali language, Sanskrit, and Awadhi.
He was known by a special nickname, Latosaathi (Nepali: लाटोसाथी), which means "mute friend." He started using this name for his poetry in 1963. People remember him as the first person to write Haiku poems in the Sanskrit language.
Contents
About His Life
His Early Years
Vishnu Raj Atreya was born in a place called Rashminilaya in Kapilvastu, Nepal. He was the first son of Dev Raj Upadhayaya and Sharada Devi. His father and grandfather were both very knowledgeable about Sanskrit, an ancient language.
Vishnu Raj Atreya was a very smart child. He learned a lot from his father, who was a teacher, and his grandfather. He went to Harihar Sanskrit Vidhyapeeth for his first studies. Later, he traveled to India to study more.
He earned several degrees, including a master's degree in Nepali and Political Science from Tribhuvan University in Nepal. He also got a PhD in Navya Vyakarana from Sampurnanand Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya in India. He taught at universities in India and Nepal for 47 years before he retired.
His Family
In July 1974, Vishnu Raj Atreya married Guneshwori Acharya. After they got married, her name became Arya Atreya.
His Health and Passing
In 2019, Vishnu Raj Atreya became ill with Gallbladder cancer. He received treatment in India and Nepal. Even while he was sick, he started writing a new novel. He passed away on July 18, 2020, because of his illness. He was 75 years old.
The Name 'Latosaathi'
Even though his real name was Vishnu Raj Atreya, he liked to call himself 'Latosaathi' since 1963. He believed that literature itself is quiet, and it's the writer who gives it life and meaning. This is why he chose 'Latosaathi' as his special writing name.
He explained this idea in his first short epic poem, 'कपिलवस्तु' (Kapilvastu). He wrote:
|
"लिपि छ मूक लेखेनी मूक लेखक पनि स्वयं म मूकै छु।" |
The script is silent, the writing is silent and me being the main writer am also silent. |
A famous poet, Madhav Prasad Ghimire, shared his thoughts on Atreya's nickname. He thought Atreya might have been inspired by an old saying from the Rigveda. This saying talks about a clever friend who watches over others. Ghimire believed Latosaathi was like that clever friend, who would rather write about problems in society and laugh than speak directly.
His Contributions
Helping the Community
Vishnu Raj Atreya was involved in many social activities throughout his life. When he was a student in Varanasi, he joined the Nepal Student Organisation in 1957. He later became the Literature and Culture Minister for the same group in 1966.
He also helped start the Baneras Sahitya Samparka Samiti in 1968. Through this group, he organized cultural and religious events to support Nepali students studying abroad. He held important positions in many other organizations, working to help his community and promote culture. For example, he helped set up a statue of Bhawani Bhikshu in Kapilvastu.
Religious Activities
Vishnu Raj Atreya grew up in a religious family, and he was very active in religious practices. He started his education in the traditional Gurukul style. Even as a young student, he wrote poems showing his faith. One of his poems said:
|
"पाषाण मान्दछु तँलाई म देव रूप" |
Stone, I consider you to be the form of God. |
He often recited religious texts and followed Eastern philosophy in his daily life. He practiced meditation and yoga until he became too weak. He was also a member of Vishwa Hindu Mahasangh and traveled to attend Hindu conferences.
Educational Work
He taught Navya Vyakaran as a professor at Nepal Sanskrit University for seventeen years. Before that, he worked at Tribhuvan University and was a visiting professor at Sampurnanand Sanskrit University and Banaras Hindu University.
From 2004, he was a member of Pragya Sabha, where he helped with scholarly work. He also produced and directed a Sanskrit learning TV show called "Samskritam" for Nepal Television in 1989.
Acting in Plays and Movies
Vishnu Raj Atreya loved to write, direct, and act in plays, even when he was in college. During his summer breaks, he would go back to his hometown, Kapilvastu, and join cultural programs. Once, he wrote, directed, and acted in a play about saving a royal swan of Siddhartha Gautam.
He also appeared in several Nepali movies. His first movie role was a professor in 'मनको बाँध' (Manko baandh), which was one of the first films made by Royal Nepal Film Corporation. He also acted in 'सिन्दुर' (Sindur) and played a character named Gajadhar Soti in the historical movie Bhanubhakta Acharya in 1999. He also directed Sanskrit plays in India.
Writing Songs
Vishnu Raj Atreya also wrote lyrics for Nepali songs. Some of his recorded songs include "कोटी कोटी नेपालीको एउतै भावना छ" (Millions of Nepalis have same feelings) and "लाख वर्ष बाँच तिमी, शुभकामना" (Be alive for 1 million years, best wishes). He also wrote religious songs like "गणेश चालिसा" (Ganesh Chalisa) and "हनुमान भजन" (Hanuman Bhajan).
Awards
Vishnu Raj Atreya received many awards for his contributions:
- Mahendra Vidhyabhushana "Kha" - 1973
- Kavi Bharati Samabhinandanam - 1982
- Mahendra Vidhyabhushana "Ka" - 1992
- Samman - Mahakavi Devakota Jayanti - 1996
- Gaddi Aarohan Rajat Mahotshav Padak - 1996
- Sadaramabhinandanam - 1999-2000
- Dhirgha Sewa Padak - 1999
- Avinandan - Kapilavastu Samaj Kathmandu - 2000
- Bhawani Bhikshu Puraskar - 2000
- Virendra Aishwarya Seva Padak
- Rastriya Sanskrit Gaurav Samman - 2000
- Sanskrita Shree Samman - 2000
- Mahakavi Kalidash Award - 2001
- Banga Janani Award - 2001
- Jagatacharya Chandra Swami Award - 2001
- Prabachan Praveen Samman - 2002
- Bharati Kharel Smaraka Vyakhyan Samman Ewam Puraskar - 2003
- Avhinandan - Aryal Sewa Samaj - 2003
- Samman - Lumbini Society of Music, Arts and Literature - 2004
- Pratibha Samman Puraskar - 2008
- Rudra Prashad Rijal Sanskrit Vidwat Puraskar - 2010
- Sanskrit Bani Bhusan Samman - 2012
- Jyotish Hari Prashad Ghimire 'Hari Abhinav Puraskar' - 2013
- Nepal Sanskritik Sangh 'Dilliraj Upetri Smriti Puraskar' - 2014
- The Jayatu Sankritam Award - 2017
- Pradesh Ratna - 2019
See also
- Nepali literature
- Laxmi Prasad Devkota
- Madhav Prasad Ghimire
