Vijay Malla's Contributions to Nepal's Literary and Cultural Institutions

Vijay Malla was equally immersed in literature, politics, and organizations. He had been involved with literary organizations since 012 BS. At that time, he was elected secretary of the Nepali Writers' Association. He became the secretary of the Kavya Pratishthan, established in 013 BS. And in 022 BS, he was selected as the vice-chairman of the Nepal Academy of Literature. In the same year, a nationwide Nepali literature seminar was held. He took on the responsibility of secretary for that seminar.

King Mahendra nominated Vijay Malla as a member of the Royal Nepal Academy of Arts and Literature in 026 BS. During the Mahendra era, practical methods were adopted to further train talented individuals from the grassroots. Even those who were qualified were initially placed in smaller positions to learn. Then, the learners would rise higher and higher and would be successful in their work. 

Not only the academic world, but politics was also handled similarly at that time. For example, most politicians did not become state ministers or ministers without first becoming assistant ministers. And there was a general criterion that only those who had become ministers could be eligible for the post of Prime Minister.

When nominated as a member of the Royal Nepal Academy of Arts and Literature, Malla had turned forty-five. He celebrated receiving the king's nomination for that post. He understood that becoming a member or a full academician of that institution required great dedication. Such a recognition had also developed during the Panchayat system. The king himself was the Chancellor of the Royal Nepal Academy of Arts and Literature. 

And the Vice-Chancellor was also nominated from among renowned litterateurs. Especially until 046 BS, academicians were sought from experienced and distinguished creators. At that time, followers and lackeys of political parties did not reach the position of academician. However, the king also nominated Congress and Communist members to the academy. And no political debris was allowed to enter there. 

Tribhuvan University was also operated in a similar pure manner. Experts used to say – 'At that time, Nepal's education system was praised even by foreigners.'

Vijay Malla, a luminary of Nepali literature, dedicated his life to the enrichment of Nepali and Newari literature. Due to his sacrifice, dedication, and contribution, he entered the Royal Nepal Academy of Arts and Literature in 026 BS. After working as a member for five years, he was deemed to have gained expertise. After that, he was nominated as a member by King Birendra in 031 BS. 

According to his colleague, Shyamdas Vaishnav, who became a member along with him in 026 BS, 'It is an honor for our language and literature for a talent like Vijay Malla to become a full academician.' Indeed, his nomination was celebrated everywhere at that time.

Due to Vijay Malla's dedication to work, his commitment to literature, and his quality writing, he was nominated as the Member Secretary of the Royal Nepal Academy of Arts and Literature in 036 BS. He also received continuity in the same post from the king in 041 BS. Due to his competence, he was nominated to the prestigious post of Vice-Chancellor at the beginning of 046 BS by His Majesty. However, as multi-party democracy arrived in the same year, he could only hold that post for about a year. 

At that time, a strong literary group was formed to insult, blacken, and surround the king's nominated academicians and expel them from the Royal Nepal Academy of Arts and Literature. Therefore, the existing academicians in the academy were also deeply insulted. Even distinguished figures of Nepali literature, such as Chancellor Madhav Prasad Ghimire, Vice-Chancellor Vijay Malla, and members like Nayaraj Pant and Chudamani Bandhu, were surrounded by multi-party processions and forced to resign. 

After the arrival of multi-party system in 046 BS, academicians began to be nominated to the Royal Nepal Academy of Arts and Literature through political parties. Some members like Vice-Chancellor Ishwar Baral, Ishwar Ballabh, and Vairagi Kainla, whether by chance, due to relationships, or influenced by politics, were revered as talented, quality, and top-tier creators. However, in subsequent formations, the presence of incompetent individuals gradually began to appear among the officials and academicians of that institution. 

After the advent of the republic, the name of the Royal Nepal Academy of Arts and Literature was changed to Nepal Academy of Arts and Literature. And the formation of that non-political institution also began to happen through political parties. In other words, the academy was transformed into a recruitment center for party cadres. Therefore, literary enthusiasts began to say – 'That revered temple of literature was being made disgusting, foul, and a carcass.' In reality, due to party quotas, that place turned into a common household plant. This is the distorted state that Vijay Malla did not have to witness.

Vijay Malla did many things while at the Royal Nepal Academy of Arts and Literature. He worked tirelessly to develop theater there. He was successful with the support of centenarian Satya Mohan Joshi. While working there, he was engaged in the upliftment of the Nepali language, encompassing the conditions of various countries. He made significant efforts to elevate genres such as poetry, stories, novels, and plays. Not only that, but he also worked single-mindedly for the international expansion of Nepali literature. 

Everyone at the Royal Nepal Academy of Arts and Literature was happy with Malla's work. According to his daughter Shakuntala Sharma, Malla treated everyone equally. Employees, officials, and artists were treated equally in his personal interactions. And Narayanadevi Pradhan also did not refrain from saying that Malla was like a father to the employees. She also wrote, 'Even though he was our chief, he treated us with equal and friendly behavior. There was no interference from him. Whether he was Member Secretary or Vice-Chancellor, we received affection from him like that of children.' 

Chancellor Lain Singh Bangdel himself spoke about Vijay Malla's working style at the Royal Nepal Academy of Arts and Literature, saying, 'Vijay Malla did not just argue. If he did, he wouldn't easily back down. His nature was to win others over by convincing them and maintaining logical and intellectual quality. He stood by his convictions. Sometimes he was forgetful. He had the ability to get along with everyone and solve any problem easily. This was his specialty, and we did not have such qualities. If there were other external tasks related to the Academy, he would easily complete them and return. Perhaps because he agreed with my theoretical ideas and work style, I received great help from him, which I can never forget.'

While at the Royal Nepal Academy of Arts and Literature, Vijay Malla performed many grand tasks according to his capabilities. Regarding his work in fulfilling his responsibilities, another esteemed academician, Prof. Dr. Chudamani Bandhu, said, 'Vijay dai knew how to respect scholars. He fostered intimacy not only within the academy but also with creators from outside. Therefore, even difficult tasks were accomplished easily.'

From Suryavikram Gyawali to Lain Singh Bangdel, everyone talked about Vijay Malla's writing and work. Malla's constant contemplation was to make the Royal Nepal Academy of Arts and Literature an international-level institution. His mind, speech, and actions were devoted to that institution. Therefore, he felt very unhappy on the day he left that place and returned home. 

In response to my question, he said, 'One of the most memorable sad events of my life is the day I was unjustly forced out of the academy.' He could never forget the incident at that time. And he would often say, 'Is this also democracy!'