Moti Laxmi Upasika () (30 June 1909 – 1997) was Nepal's first woman poet and short story writer of modern times. Her first work, a short story, was published in 1935.Tuladhar, Prem Shanti (2000). Nepal Bhasa Sahityaya Itihas: The History of Nepalbhasa Literature. Kathmandu: Nepal Bhasa Academy. . Page 183.
Early life
Moti Laxmi Upasika (also spelled Motilakshmī Upāsikā) was born in Kathmandu to father Drabya Dhar and mother Gyan Laxmi Tuladhar. Her father was a merchant who owned a business house in Lhasa, Tibet. Her brother was a poet Chittadhar Hridaya.LeVine, Sarah and Gellner, David N. (2005). Rebuilding Buddhism: The Theravada Movement in Twentieth-Century Nepal. Harvard University Press. , 9780674019089. Page 39.Hridaya, Chittadhar; Lewis, Todd Thornton; Tuladhar, Subarna Man (2009). Sugata Saurabha: An Epic Poem from Nepal on the Life of the Buddha. Oxford University Press. , 9780195341829. Page 377. She received informal education in Sanskrit, Pali and English.Bajracharya, Phanindra Ratna (2003). Who's Who in Nepal Bhasha. Kathmandu: Nepal Bhasa Academy. . Page 44.
Writing career
Upasika, who also wrote under the pen name M. Laxmi, published her first work in 1935, a story in the Nepali language entitled Rodan. It appeared in Sharada magazine published from Kathmandu.
She started writing in Nepal Bhasa with a poem entitled Chitta Panchhi (meaning "Heart bird") and a story Lan ("Road") which were published in Dharmadoot in 1944. Page 1. Dharmadoot was a Buddhist magazine published in Hindi by the Maha Bodhi Society from Sarnath, India. It also published contributions in Nepal Bhasa at the request of its subscribers in Nepal.Tuladhar, Prem Shanti (2000). Nepal Bhasa Sahityaya Itihas: The History of Nepalbhasa Literature. Kathmandu: Nepal Bhasa Academy. . Page 121. . Page 138.
Though most of her essays deal with religious subjects, her writings have been described as a bridge between religious and free prose.Malla, Kamal Prakash (1964). Musah Nibandha ("Essay par excellence"). Kathmandu: Chwasa Pasa. Page 6. Her essays are characterized by simple language and a powerful way of expressing her opinions.Tuladhar, Prem Shanti (2000). Nepal Bhasa Sahityaya Itihas: The History of Nepalbhasa Literature. Kathmandu: Nepal Bhasa Academy. . Page 209.
Published works
Motima ("Garland of Pearls"), a collection of essays, 1958 Chakhunchiya Sarbay ("Sparrow's Property"), a collection of poems, 1993 Moti Bakhan Puchah ("Moti Collection of Stories"), a collection of short stories, 1994 Utpalvarna, a collection of Buddhist stories, 1995 Dhaubaji ("Yogurt and Rice Flakes"), a collection of essays, 1998
References