As a result of partnership between the NIAP and Gorkha Foundation, we are delighted to highlight the moving and philosophic brilliant and inspiring poems of Laxmi Prasad Devkota, who provided the inspiration for his son Bijaya founding the Gorka Foundation to take forward his father’s pioneering work.

 

More about Laxmi Prasad Devkota:

 The Gorkha Foundation was started in the memory of my father, the late Laxmi P. Sharma (Devkota). My father was a lifelong social worker and a pioneer in the field of pasture and fodder development in Nepal, especially in the high altitude areas. He helped shape the Pasture and Fodder Department from 1966-1987. After his tenure with the government, he led the Livestock Development for the Dhading Development Project and directed the Nepal Agro Forestry Foundation for the next 10 years. He served as a board member of the National Dairy Development Board and provided leadership at the Department of Livestock and Nepal Agriculture Research Council. He was the founder and president of the Society for Sustainable Development (SSD), a non-governmental organization.

He worked with various external organizations such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ), and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). He traveled to many remote areas in all 14 regions in Nepal. He also visited India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, China, Australia, United Kingdom, USA and Germany to exchange ideas.

Laxmi Prasad Devkota’s poems are nationally famous in Nepal and have an international reputation for his beautiful and poignant works.

Here are some examples from the Poet’s book, Destiny:

News Paper
Newspaper covers world news
Also expresses its own views
But tilts like leaning tower of Pisa.
Makes constant propaganda against others
Gives the publisher full power
Puts common reader in chaos and confusion.
Newspaper accepts bribe to cover false news
To carry the false message to the people
And influence that for personal benefit.

Hands
Cooperation and understanding is essential
To build country brick by brick.
Most creatures are four-legged
But human being walks with two legs.
Hands are left free
To do else creative in the worldly life.
Many hands have disappeared
Very few retained with name.
Hands are gift from god
Why not use them for great.
Days of individual culture have gone
Present day demands culture of teamwork.
Earth planet can be made paradise
If both hands are rationally utilized.
Brain is on central command
It directs hands to perform.
Hands are molded of clay