Riddhi Bahadur Malla: The Architect of the Sharda Era in Nepali Literature

The 'Sharda' magazine has made an immense contribution to the enrichment of Nepali language and literature. It played a pivotal role in discovering the stalwarts of Nepali literature. 'Sharda' provided a strong foundation, nurtured, and established literary giants like Lekhnath Paudyal, Bal Krishna Sama, and Laxmi Prasad Devkota.

By that time, Sharda had served as a beacon for many writers. It even transformed Bhawani Bhikshu, who initially did not know how to write in Nepali, into a top-tier Nepali writer. Eventually, he too became an immortal scholar of Nepali literature. The creator of such a legendary magazine was Riddhi Bahadur Malla.

See also

Who are Vijay Malla and Narendra Raj Prasai?

Riddhi Bahadur Malla was born on 1955 Mangsir 24 at Barunapul Kothi in Banaras. He was the eldest son of Subba Bir Bahadur Malla and his youngest wife, Neerkumari.

Riddhi Bahadur's father, Bir Bahadur Malla, was in the service of Deepkumari, the youngest daughter of Jung Bahadur. When Prime Minister Bir Shamsher exiled Deepkumari, Bir Bahadur accompanied the princess to Banaras. It was in that environment that Riddhi Bahadur Malla was born. His childhood and adolescence were spent under the protection of the Ranas. However, historical records suggest that Riddhi Bahadur was a descendant of King Bhupatindra Malla of Bhaktapur. In reality, the family of Bir Bahadur Malla had migrated from Bhaktapur to Kathmandu.

Riddhi Bahadur Malla was enrolled in Durbar High School in 1964 B.S. Until 1975 B.S., Nepali language was not taught in educational institutions in Nepal. Even at Durbar High School, the Nepali language lacked recognition. However, by the time Riddhi Bahadur Malla sat for his matriculation in 1976 B.S., Nepali had begun to be used as a mother tongue at Durbar High School.

Riddhi Bahadur Malla passed his matriculation from Kolkata at the age of twenty-two. For this achievement, the state honored him with a 'Dosalla' (shawl) and paraded him through the city of Kathmandu on an elephant. He was the last person to receive such an honor, as the practice was discontinued by the state after 1976 B.S.

Due to his family's dire financial situation, Riddhi Bahadur Malla could not pursue college-level education. Consequently, he entered the workforce. During this time, he became a 'Subba'. He spent his youth serving as the private secretary to the daughter of Juddha Shamsher.

And after that work was published, it began to be taught in the Nepali department of Calcutta University and educational institutions in Darjeeling.

From his adolescence, Riddhi Bahadur Malla had a deep inclination toward literature. As he entered his youth, he began writing. Stepping into Nepali literature, he wrote a magnificent novel titled 'Sharmistha' in 1979 B.S. During that period, he was in Motihari, India, acting as a legal representative for the Ramnagar case. In that context, he wrote: "I would work on the case all day and try to write during my spare time, and it was during that opportunity that I published the book 'Sharmistha' in Nepali from Motihari."

After that work was published, it began to be taught in the Nepali department of Calcutta University and educational institutions in Darjeeling. Additionally, he translated six world-renowned novels into Nepali: 'Charitraheen', 'Gora', 'Aankhako Kasingar', 'Notre Dame ko Kumbhe', 'Shesh Prashna', and 'Dunga Paltiyo'. These translated works reached the pinnacle of popularity at the time. From then on, Malla's literary reputation continued to shine.

A significant yet tragic incident is associated with one of the books written by Riddhi Bahadur Malla. The story is that Juddha Shamsher ordered the publication of his book titled 'Shakuntala'. The manuscript was handed over to the Education Director, Mrigendra Shamsher. However, the book was not released for two years. Eventually, it was discovered that the book had been published with Colonel Shiva Pratap Shamsher Thapa listed as the author. This incident left Malla stunned. Seeing someone else's name as the author of his own book caused Malla immense distress and agony. He had no other option but to weep.

Riddhi Bahadur Malla was enthusiastic. Therefore, those around the Ranas were vigilant in trying to dismantle his plans. Despite the constraints he faced, he built 'Sharda' into a massive banyan tree for the enrichment of Nepali language and literature. In fact, Riddhi Bahadur Malla was one of the vital roots of the modern state of Nepali language and literature. Through his body, mind, and wealth, writers like Lekhnath Paudyal, Bal Krishna Sama, and Laxmi Prasad Devkota achieved fame in Nepali literature.

Not only that, the 'Sharda' magazine was also an organization of writers. At that time, the magazine's office would be crowded with creators. In those days, Sharda Publication was a distinct platform for Nepali writers. Many have sung his praises in this regard.

The sequence of Riddhi Bahadur Malla's Sharda publication is also unique. Sardar Rudra Raj Pandey had persuaded Education Director Mrigendra Shamsher to allow Subba Riddhi Bahadur Malla to publish Sharda. In reality, the Rana rulers despised the common people reading, writing, or giving speeches. If anyone did so without permission, the Ranas would hang them from a tree and shoot them from below. Even during such a dark night, Malla was determined to publish the magazine.

He was allowed to edit and publish Sharda on one condition: that the articles published in Sharda had to be approved by the Nepali Bhasha Prakashini Samiti. Accordingly, there was a team of forty people at the Nepali Bhasha Prakashini Samiti to check and approve Sharda's articles. Among those forty, some foolish examiners would even publish the best articles under their own names. One such writer was Shiva Pratap Shamsher Thapa.

Having endured various schemes during the Rana era, Sharda, which had been running and stopping intermittently, withered away after the democracy of 2007 B.S.

The 'Sharda' magazine began to be published under the editorship and management of Riddhi Bahadur Malla from Maghe Sankranti of 2001 B.S. Rudra Raj Pandey provided strong support to this magazine, and Prem Raj Sharma also offered significant help. Among those who supported Malla in Sharda's publication were Bal Krishna Sama, Jitendra Bahadur Shah, and Bada Kaji Marichiman Singh, who played an incomparable role. Although Narendra Mani Acharya Dixit only worked to uproot the magazine, Sharda continued to survive through thick and thin. However, there were constant schemes by many to shut it down.

Having endured various schemes during the Rana era, Sharda, which had been running and stopping intermittently, withered away after the democracy of 2007 B.S. As a result, the magazine closed down. Despite this, the magazine had established its existence in the world of the Nepali language. During the time Sharda was closed, Riddhi Bahadur Malla began publishing the daily newspaper 'Aawaj'.

Another institution associated with the name Sharda is the Jor Ganesh Press. For his profession, Riddhi Bahadur Malla had opened the press in partnership with Khardar Tirtha Raj Suwal. The press was named Jor Ganesh Press. However, after some time, Khardar Suwal withdrew from the press. Thereafter, Malla operated the Jor Ganesh Press alone. The Sharda magazine continued to be published from that same press.

The 'Sharda' era is considered a significant period in the history of Nepali literature. Publishing Sharda during the height of the Rana regime was an act of courage, challenge, and miracle. Riddhi Bahadur Malla is a brief introduction to that work.

The modern era of Nepali literature begins with the Sharda period. Indeed, Riddhi Bahadur Malla was a man of sixth-sense consciousness. He was a model of cleverness. He was as polite as he was clever, and as extraordinary as he was polite. That is why he succeeded in his work.

Riddhi Bahadur Malla kept Sharda running by praising and serving the Ranas. He was also the one who published the daily 'Aawaj' on Falgun 7, 2007 B.S. In reality, he worked according to the circumstances.

Riddhi Bahadur Malla married Anandakumari, the daughter of Sahu Dwarikadas Mool, in 1970 B.S. The couple had four sons—Govinda Bahadur, Vijay Bahadur, Fatte Bahadur, Hikmat Bahadur—and one daughter, Shanti Devi. Govinda Bahadur Malla 'Gothale' and Vijay Bahadur Malla established themselves with honor as stalwarts of Nepali language and literature.

Riddhi Bahadur Malla's mother tongue was Newari. However, he held deep reverence for the Nepali language. So much so that it was a custom in the homes of Riddhi Bahadur's sons, Govinda Bahadur Malla 'Gothale' and Vijay Bahadur Malla, to speak only in Nepali. Despite being Newars of the capital, they preferred not to speak the Newari language.

Riddhi Bahadur Malla was also a staunch supporter of nationalism. For a Nepal currently heading toward linguistic fragmentation, the family of Riddhi Bahadur is considered venerable as an example of nationalism and linguistic unity.

Riddhi Bahadur Malla passed away in Kathmandu on 2025 Baishakh 5. In 2054 B.S., the government honored him by issuing a two-rupee postage stamp featuring his portrait.

(The serialized biography of the eminent Nepali litterateur Vijay Malla, written by Narendra Raj Prasai, will be presented in parts. This is the second part.)