Yogbir Singh Kansakar () (alternative name: Jogbir Singh Kansakar) (16 April 1885 – 29 March 1942) was a Nepalese poet, social reformer and one of the Four Pillars of Nepal Bhasa. Page 74. He worked to develop his mother tongue and promote Arya Samaj sect of Hinduism and Buddhism in the face of repression by the Rana rulers.Lienhard, Siegfried (1992). Songs of Nepal: An Anthology of Nevar Folksongs and Hymns. New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidas. . Page 1.Tuladhar, Prem Shanti (2000). Nepal Bhasa Sahityaya Itihas: The History of Nepalbhasa Literature. Kathmandu: Nepal Bhasa Academy. . Page 90. Pages 35-36.
Kansakar was the guru and inspiration of Chittadhar Hridaya, one of the greatest literary figures of 20th century Nepal.Lewis, Todd T. and Tuladhar, Subarna Man (2009). Sugata Saurabha - An Epic Poem from Nepal on the Life of the Buddha by Chittadhar Hridaya. New York: Oxford University Press. . Page 350.
Early life
Kansakar was born at Kel Tol, Kwachhen Nani, Kathmandu. His father was Chaityabir Singh and his mother was Laxmi Nani. The family owned a cloth shop. As a young man in 1905, Kansakar became involved in the social reformist activities of an organization known as Arya Samaj. He was fined and jailed by the Ranas for promoting an unorthodox religion.LeVine, Sarah and Gellner, David N. (2005) Rebuilding Buddhism: The Theravada Movement in Twentieth-Century Nepal. Harvard University Press. . Page 41. Retrieved 6 January 2012. Out of prison, a dejected Kansakar went to Kolkata, India where he was inspired by the activity in Bengali language publication and love of literature among Bengalis.Hridaya, Chittadhar (1982, third ed). Jheegu Sahitya ("Our Literature"). Kathmandu: Nepal Bhasa Parisad. Page 93.Sudarshan, Bhikshu (1970). Lumanke Bahahpin ("Memorable Figures"). Kathmandu: Chwasa Pasa. Page 41.
Career
Returning to Kathmandu, Kansakar took to writing poetry, and his cloth shop was turned into a gathering place for poets. Page 88. Each week, they would bring a copybook filled with their compositions and discuss each other's works. When the Bada Guruju (chief royal priest) learned about it, he had all the copybooks confiscated.
Inspired by Tulsi Meher's homespun movement, Kansakar campaigned to popularize homespun and encouraged people to install handlooms in their homes. In 1927, he established a company named Vastrakala Bhavan to produce textiles. Kansakar was an advocate of female education, and he sent his daughter Vidyabati Kansakar to India among the first batch of students to receive nurse training. Pages 20-22.
Library incident
In 1929, Kansakar headed a committee which petitioned the prime minister to be allowed to open a library. Kansakar and the rest of the signers of the appeal were arrested and fined. Page 17. In 1934, all the Newar authors were summoned before the prime minister and warned to stop writing in Nepal Bhasa.Hridaya, Chittadhar (1982, third ed). Jheegu Sahitya ("Our Literature"). Kathmandu: Nepal Bhasa Parishad. Page 101.
Kansakar also worked to promote Theravada Buddhism which aroused the anger of the government. In 1931, he was fined and jailed with 11 other people including Buddhist teacher Dhammalok Mahasthavir, poet Chittadhar Hridaya and trader Dharma Man Tuladhar for trying to spread an "unorthodox religion".LeVine, Sarah and Gellner, David N. (2005). Rebuilding Buddhism: The Theravada Movement in Twentieth-Century Nepal. Harvard University Press. , . Page 41. He was also harassed and flogged for his activities. Pages 35-36.
His wife Shobha Laxmi died in 1937, and he married Buddha Maya. In 1940, the government mounted a clampdown against political workers, writers and anybody it saw as a threat to the state. Kansakar was arrested and held for 85 days.Sudarshan, Bhikshu (1970). Lumanke Bahahpin ("Memorable Figures"). Kathmandu: Chwasa Pasa. Page 56.
An anthology of Kansakar's poems entitled Yog-Sudha was published by Nepal Bhasa Parisad in 1951.
Legacy A street in central Kathmandu was named Yogbir Singh Marg in his honor by Kathmandu Metropolitan City.
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