Gokul Joshi (1987-2018 BS; 1930-1961 GC) ( ne, गोकुल जोशी) was a Nepali poet and a progressive songwriter. He was born in Raipur village which lies in border of Syangja District and

Tanahu District Tanahun District ( ne, तनहुँ जिल्ला , or ), a part of Gandaki Province, is one of the seventy-seven districts of Nepal. The district, with Damauli as its district headquarters, covers an area of and has a population (2011) ...

in Nepal. In Nepal, he has been entitled ''Jana Kabi'' meaning people's poet.

Biography

Gokul Joshi was born as a second son of mother Manrupa and Father Harilal Pokhrel on Jestha 8, 1987 BS (May 21, 1930 GC) in Raipur Village of

. He had 7 siblings with 3 brother and 4 sisters. His father died at the age of six and he was orphaned at the age of 13. Due to financial hardship, he went to India in 2000 BS (1943–44 GC) and took a job of washing dishes and other household chores. In 2003 BS (1946–47 GC), he reached

Kolkata Kolkata (, or , ; also known as Calcutta , the official name until 2001) is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal, on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River west of the border with Bangladesh. It is the primary business, comme ...

and joined the

Indian Army The Indian Army is the land-based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Army, and its professional head is the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), who is a four- ...

as a helper. His battalion was soon transferred to Madras, where he began to write poems. It is said that his seniors did not like his attitude, for which he received frequent warnings and punishments. He was later sacked from the army by a 'Court Marshal'. Then, he went to

Mumbai Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the ''de facto'' financial centre of India. According to the United Nations, as of 2018, Mumbai is the second- ...

where he worked as a cleaner and painter for a ship building company. While working in Mumbai, he enrolled in a school and studied up to fourth grade. In 2007 BS (1950–51 GC), the labourers of ship company organized a strike, in which, Joshi took the leadership. He was removed from the job after the incident. After knowing that Rana regime ended in 2007 BS (1950–51 GC), Joshi returned to Kathmandu in 2008 BS (1951–52 GC). He met with leaders of the then Praja Parishad,

Tanka Prasad Acharya Tanka Prasad Acharya (Nepali: टंक प्रसाद आचार्य; 11 February 1912 – 23 April 1992) was a Nepali politician who served as the 19th Prime Minister of Nepal from 1956 to 1957. He was one of the founders and the leader ...

and Ram Hari Sharma from whom he got a membership of

Nepal Praja Parishad The Nepal Praja Parishad ( Nepali: नेपाल प्रजा परिषद) was the first attempt to form an organization to lead the revolution against the Rana dynasty in Nepal. Led by Tanka Prasad Acharya, the group was founded in 193 ...

and worked for the party. In addition, he got a job of storekeeper at the construction site of Gaucharan airport. He was removed from the job after six months because of conflict with the contractors. In 2009 BS (1952–53 GC), he met Dharma Raj Thapa and started writing poems. Joshi took membership of Communist Party and travelled to

Terai The Terai or Tarai is a lowland region in northern India and southern Nepal that lies south of the outer foothills of the Himalayas, the Sivalik Hills, and north of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. This lowland belt is characterised by tall grasslands, scr ...

to preach awareness by songs. In 2011 BS (1954–55 GC), he withdrew his membership from the Communist Party. However, he continued to travel inside Nepal. In 2013 BS (1956–57 GC), he reached Jhapa District and worked as a teacher. The people of Jhapa, donated him some money to publish his poems, titled ''Bancha Ra Banchna Deu'' (Live and Let Live). Joshi died on 4 Asar 2018 BS (June 18, 1961) in Ghailadubba due to tuberculosis. He was cremated at Biring River by his fellow teachers and students.

Impact

*''Gokul Joshi study and research center'' has been established in Ghailadubba in his memory. * A park has been named on him and a statue has been established in Tanahu district for this contribution to Nepali literature

References

{{reflist Nepalese poets People from Tanahun District 20th-century Nepalese poets 1930 births 1961 deaths Nepalese songwriters Nepalese activists Nepalese communists Nepali-language poets

Biography

Impact

See also

References