Lekhnath Paudyal

Lekhnath Paudyal received his early lessons from his father. He then travelled to Kathmandu and later Banaras to study Sanskrit classics. This study became the foundation of his poetic style.

He wrote in the classical conventions of Sanskrit kavya, a traditional style of Sanskrit poetry. His work brought a new level of seriousness and structure to Nepali poetry, a quality that had been largely missing before. At the same time, his poems often engaged with the social and political issues of his day.

Many people see him as the founding father of modern Nepali poetry. He was honoured with the title Kavi Shiromani. Along with Bhanubhakta Acharya and Motiram Bhatta, he is seen as one of the three foundational pillars of Nepali literature.