The Life and Legacy of Naradev Pandey: Pioneer of Nepali Journalism

The first newspaper of the nation of Nepal is named ‘Gorkhapatra’. Motiram Bhatta had a supporting role in the creation of this publication. However, its originator and first publisher was Naradev Pandey. ‘Gorkhapatra’, which began publication on Monday, Baisakh 24, 1958 BS, was initially printed at the Pashupat Press.

From Year 1, Issue 1, up to Year 2, Issue 11, this newspaper was printed at the same press. However, the entire expense for it, amounting to four thousand five hundred eighty-four rupees per month, was borne by the government. At that time, that sum was intended for printing one thousand copies for each of the four weeks in a month. Seventeen employees were hired for that task.

Because Pandey's efforts led to the birth of Gorkhapatra, Shree 3 Devshamsher appointed Pandey as the person in charge, or the head, of the newspaper. Pandey was also the editor of the publication. However, there are differing opinions on whether Pandey was indeed the first editor. The crucial point is that the government charter specified a salary of 50 rupees per month for the head and 33 rupees per month for the editor.

Based on the fact that the salaries for 'Head' and 'Editor' were listed under separate headings, and the language presented in the newspaper's editorials did not seem to be Pandey's style of writing, it is speculated that the editor might have been someone else. However, arguments have also emerged suggesting that Pandey might have appointed another person to write the editorials.

The literary pioneer of the middle period, or the literary leader of that time, was Motiram Bhatta. And he was Pandey's brother-in-law.

At that time, a government charter was issued in Pandey's name. It stated: 'Pandit Naradev Pandey has been entrusted with the responsibility of printing and issuing a total of 1000 copies of the weekly Gorkhali newspaper after checking the records, and to assist in this work, a typing press and lithographic press have been provided as per order.'

The literary pioneer of the middle period, or the literary leader of that time, was Motiram Bhatta. And he was Pandey's brother-in-law. Therefore, because Bhatta guided Pandey, Pandey's courage and standing increased significantly. Furthermore, the responsibility for operating the trade agency and the Pashupat Press gradually fell upon his shoulders. Thus, he was already adept at carrying heavy burdens at that time.

Uma Dev Pandey had seven sons and seven daughters. Naradev Pandey was the middle son among the five sons of his youngest wife, Shivapriya. He was born in 1929 BS in Phasikev, Kathmandu.

Pandey married four times. He had no children from his first and second wives. At the insistence of his first wife, Krishnakumari, he married Munudevi. She passed away ten months after giving birth to one son. Then, again at the urging of his first wife, he married Gandharvarajkumari Tiwari. She gave birth to three sons and five daughters in quick succession.

One day, Pandey went to worship his family deity. After the worship, he returned to his home in Phasikev. From that day, he was afflicted with a fever. The fever intensified, and he became unconscious. Afterward, he was taken to Aryaghat for cremation. He passed away the next day, on Baisakh 12, 2001 BS.

Pandey was active in the Motimandali. According to the rules established by Motiram, everyone who attended Motimandali had to write one or two verses of poetry daily and show them to Motiram. In this process, Pandey also honed his skills. As a result, within one or two years, he was recognized as a good poet. He gradually became prominent in writing essays and prose as well.

There is no record of how much Pandey wrote. However, seven of his books were published. Among them, his poetic work ‘Shree Ganesh Saraswati Stotra’ was published in 1950 BS. Following that, in 1956 BS, his prose narrative titled ’Beerbal Chaturi’ was published. In the context of prose narratives, he also published ‘Adbhut Milap’ in 1958 BS. He brought ’Merina Charitra’, another work in this genre, before the public in 1959 BS. In the same year, another of his poetic works, ‘Shankhamool Yatra’, was printed. He became even more famous after publishing ‘Chandrabhakti Prakash’ in the same genre in 1962 BS.

Pandey also managed the monthly magazine ‘Sudhasagar’. He started this monthly publication from Shrawan of 1955 BS.

In 2008 BS, a fire broke out at Naradev's house. At that time, not only his house but all his documents were destroyed. According to Balmukundadev Pandey, 'I collected some papers that were not burned or damaged from the heaps thrown out of the window by the fire brigade personnel. I handed over the ancient palm-leaf manuscripts and a private notebook of Motiram Bhatta to the Department of Archaeology and Gopal Pandey ‘Aseem’ respectively.'

Among Pandey's works, the most famous and significant was ‘Kavibar Motiram Bhatta ko Sachitra Jeevan Charitra’ (Illustrated Biography of Poet Motiram Bhatta). This work was published in 1995 BS. In this work, he chronicled the saga of Motiram Bhatta. According to Sharadchandra Sharma Bhattarai's rendition, he published a brief account of Motiram's life with the inspiration and education from Sardar Rudraraj Pandey and the approval of Director Mrigendrashamsher. It was after Pandey presented this work that the branches of Motiram Bhatta's biography began to spread.

The ‘Thahiti Adhat’ was established back in 1945 BS. That shop used to bring and sell books from Banaras. Other goods were also sold through that trade agency. However, Pandey used this as a base to establish libraries or shops under the name of his own establishment. The establishment of Thahiti Adhat also encouraged the press business. Five years after the establishment of that organization, the Pashupat Press was opened. This was the first press established in the private sector. It was established on Ashadh Shukla Purnima in 1950 BS.

Pandey also managed the monthly magazine ‘Sudhasagar’. He started this monthly publication from Shrawan of 1955 BS. Poetry was published in that magazine. He wrote about his experience running that magazine in Gorkhapatra.

The publication of Gorkhapatra also has a separate story. The fact is that Motiram had been intent on bringing out a newspaper for many years. For this work, he persistently pursued Naradev Pandey, who was close to the palace, for many years. However, Birshamsher would not allow any news about such matters to reach his ears. As soon as Birshamsher passed away, Devshamsher became Shree 3. Since he was a reformist, Pandey seized the opportunity. And under his leadership, Gorkhapatra began to be published. However, its conceptualizer, Motiram Bhatta, had passed away five years earlier.

Pandey continued to publish Gorkhapatra with dedication. After Chandra Shamsher Rana ascended the throne as Shree 3, Rana unceremoniously dismissed Pandey from that position. Rana then entrusted the responsibility of protecting Gorkhapatra to his son-in-law, Jayaprithvi Bahadur Singh. From that day on, Pandey's prominence faded.