Bairagi Kainla

Til Bikram Nembang Limbu, professionally known as Bairagi Kainla or Bairagi Kaila, is a Nepalese poet and litterateur. He has served as Chancellor of the Nepal Academy from 2009 (2066 BS) to 2013 (2070 BS). Part of his significant literary struggle was the Tesro Aayam (Third Dimension) movement. During the early 1960s, he, along with Ishwor Ballav and Indra Bahadur Rai, searched unexplored realms of Nepali literature and added a new dimension – the third dimension – to Nepalese literature.

He is currently working in the field of Folklore of Limbu ethnic people of Eastern Nepal. He is also working to promote the culture, language and literature of the minor communities, nationalities and indigenous people of Nepal. Bairagi Kainla was nominated as a member of the Royal Nepal Academy in 1990.

Early life and education

Bairagi Kainla was born in 1939 and learnt his first letters at home. He was taught by local teachers. He lived in a joint family and his father had six wives. Kainla's father was quite ahead of his times. He was liberal enough to send him to study Science in Darjeeling. But more than formal studies, Kainla became busy in literary programmes.

In Darjeeling, Kainla met Indra Bahadur Rai and Ishwar Ballav in college whose encouragement became pivotal in shaping his poet-personality. These trio's incessant debates on writing incited the publishing of their magazine titled Phool Paat Patkar where they published poetry, essays and short stories.

Born in joint family, Kainla grew up with eight brothers and six sisters. Always having someone around him was the best part of having grown up in big family, Kainla remembers. He also remembers that the sad part of big family was that the women in the family had to wake up around four o'clock in the morning and start their daily chores.

He recalls that his father was among the first of Limbu to emphasize education and he had sent his children far away from home for further studies. His father had also published the first Limbu lyrical poetry Kirat Mikhan Samlo (Kirat Jagaran Geet) which was later transliterated to Devanagari by Kainla in 2038 BS.

In conversation with Para Limbu, Chairperson of Spiny Babbler, he said,

He studied Science and completed Intermediate of Science (ISc) from Darjeeling Government College affiliated to Calcutta University.

Career

Tesro Aayam Team: Ishwar Ballav, Indra Bahadur Rai and Bairagi Kainla from left.

Beginning Bairagi Kainla's poetical works began since the early 1960s while he was a young student in Darjeeling. During the time, hand written magazines were popular as printing was costly. Kainla published lot of his work in them. They started the Aayameli movement from Darjeeling with the publication of a journal titled Tesro Aayam triggering a theoretical jolt in Nepali literature at the time.

Publications

Bairagi Kainlaka Kavitaharu, Sajha Prakasan, Bikram Samvat (B.S.) 2031/1974 Sappok-Chomen:Limbu Jatima Kokh-Puja, Nepal Academy, B.S.2048/1991 Nahen Mundhum:Irsya ra AankhiDahiko Aakhyan ra Anusthan, B.S 2051 Samsogha Mundhum:Pretatmako Aakhyan ra Anusthan, B.S. 2051 Sasik Mundhum: Moch-Marne Akhyan ra Anusthan, B.S. 2052 Tongsimg Tokma Mundhum:Akhyan ra Anusthan, B.S. 2052 Nawacoit Mundhum, B.S. 2060 Andha Manchheharu ra Hatti, B.S. 2068 Mujingna Kheyongna Mundhum, B.S. 2070 Lahadongna-Suhampheba Mundhum, B.S. 2070 Pajaiba Mundhum, B.S. 2070 Khappunama Mellonghangma nu Luplinama Wadannama Mundhum, B.S. 2070 Namsami-Kesami Mundhum, B.S. 2070

Translation: poetry

Kirat Jagaran Geet (Limbu Lyrical Poetry) by Subba Kharga Bahadur Nembang Limbu, B.S. 2038

Edited: prose

Limbu Bibliography, Royal Nepal Academy, B.S. 2050 Limbu Bhasa Tatha Sahitya Vichar Gosthi, Royal Nepal Academy, B.S. 2050 Rastriya Bhasako Kavita Sangalo ( with A Yonjan), Royal Nepal Academy Limbu Folktales (as a guest editor) in Saipatri, Royal Nepal Academy

Co-writing Limbu Grammar, Yakthung Huppan-लिम्बू ब्याकरण

Magazine and journal editing

Tesro Aayam (Monthly), Darjeeling, A.D. 1963 Kavita (Quarterly), Royal Nepal Academy Limbu Language and Literature, A Tri-Lingual Journal, Since A.D. 1993

Social activities

Former member, Royal Nepal Academy (BS 2047-2056 /AD 1991-1999) Former member, Linguistic Society of Nepal (Life Member) President, Society for the Development of The Limbu Language, Literature and Culture Vice president, Nepal Center for Contemporary Studies (NCCS), Nepal Former member, Nepal National Ethnographic Museum Member, Folklore Society of Nepal Member, Ganeshman Singh Academy. Nepal Convenor, National Language Policy Advisory Committee, HMG, (BS 2050/AD 1993) Member, National Cultural Policy Recommendation Committee, HMG, (BS 2048/AD 1991) Member, Recommendation Committee for News Broadcast in Some National Languages of Nepal, HMG Coordinator, Education For All, NNPA, Thematic Group on Indigenous Peoples and Linguistic Minorities, HMG, 2002 Life member, Royal Nepal Academy Chairman, Sajha Prakashan Nepal (2004) President, Democratic Creators United Forum, Nepal BS 2063 Former advisor, NEFEN Advisor Kirat Yakthung Chumlung ( KYC)

Literary awards Sajha Puraskar, B.S. 2031 Medals: Gorkha Dakshin Bahu (Second Class), B.S. 2051 Yuga Kavi SiddiCharan Puraskar, B.S. 2052 Harihar Shastri- Sabitri Devi Sahitya Puraskar, B.S. 2058 Shri Krishna Kumari Manorath Smriti Puraskar, B.S. 2060 Aadivasi Greeti Samman - B.S. 2063 Madhuparka Samman, B.S. 2065 Vishist Shrasta Samman, B.S. 2066 (Nari Sahitya Pratishthan, Kathmandu) Iman Singh Chemjong Sahitya Puraskar, Sikkim, India, 2011 Jagadamba Shree Puraskar, 2075 BS