Born Chittadhar Tuladhar at Nyata Tunchhen, Kathmandu, to a Lhasa Newar trading family
Chittadhar Hridaya
Deceasedचित्तधर हृदय
Also known as Chittadhar Tuladhar, Kabi Kesari
Nepal Bhasa poet honoured as Kabi Kesari, who wrote the epic Sugata Saurabha in prison
About
Chittadhar Hridaya was born into a family of Lhasa Newar traders. This was a hereditary trade, passed down in the family. His family’s business was doing well, but he chose not to continue it. Instead, he gave his life to Nepal Bhasa literature. At the time, Nepal’s Rana rulers suppressed this language, meaning they tried to stop people from using it.
In 1941, the Rana regime jailed him for five years for writing a poem in his mother tongue. While in prison, he secretly wrote his masterwork. It is a long poem called Sugata Saurabha, about the life of the Buddha. He wrote the pages on scraps of paper. He hid them in a tin box and smuggled them out.
Later, King Mahendra gave him the title Kabi Kesari, or “Lion among Poets.” This honoured his contribution to Nepali and Nepal Bhasa literature.
Quick facts
- Born
- 1906-05-19
- Birthplace
- Nyata Tunchhen, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Profession
- Poet
- Nationality
- Nepal
- Status
- Deceased
- Died
- 1982-06-09
Career & life timeline
- 1906
- 1941
Jailed for five years by the Rana regime for writing a poem in Nepal Bhasa
- 1941
Secretly composed the epic poem Sugata Saurabha while in prison, smuggling pages out in a tin box
- 1956
Conferred the title Kabi Kesari by King Mahendra
- 1982
Died at age 76
Achievements
Honoured with the title Kabi Kesari (Lion among Poets)
1956Conferred by King Mahendra of Nepal
Last updated: 2026-09-06