Quick Facts
Biography
Motiram Bhatta (1866 - 1896 A.D.) or (1923 - 1953 B.S.) was a Nepalese poet, born in Kathmandu, Nepal. At the age of six he left his birthplace, Kathmandu, to receive education in Benaras, India. He learned classical Sanskrit language and took some music lessons at the age of fifteen. He became attracted by Nepalese folk songs and rhythm.
Biography
Motiram greatly highlighted the literary works of Bhanubhakta Acharya. Once Motiram attended a marriage ceremony in Kathmandu, where he heard a poem of Bhanubhakta Acharya being recited by some people. He liked the poem so much that he was determined to find out other poems by Bhanubhakta Acharya. He searched everywhere, went to many people and collected the works of Bhanubhakta Acharya. Motiram published them and wrote Bhanubhakta Acharya's biography as well.
Career
Till then, no prose work was written in Nepali. Only a few poems were written. Motiram wrote essays, plays and stories in Nepali language. Some of the works of Motiram are Manodweg Prawah, Panchak Prapancha, Shakuntala, Priyadarsika and Pikdoot. He also wrote some Hindi and Urdu poems. He was the one who introduced "Ghazals" in Nepali literature. His sher "Dui aankhi bhau ta Katar chhan tarbar kina chahiyo, timi aafai malik bhaigayeu sarkar kina chahiyo" is quite famous for the ghazal lovers in Nepal which translates to "Two eyebrows are sharp enough, why there be a need for sword, you happen to be a monarch yourself, why there be a need for vote?"
Lifestyle
Motiram worked along the line suggested by Bhanu Bhakta. He further developed Nepali language and made it a beautiful medium for literary expression. Motiram, the "youth poet", died at the age of 30.