Today is the 156th birth anniversary of Motiram Bhatt, an immortal figure in the field of Nepali literature. As he was born on the day of Kushe Aunsi, Moti Jayanti is celebrated every year on the day of Kushe Aunsi in the memory of the late Motiram Bhatt.

Motiram Bhatt was born on the day of Kushe Aunsi on the 25th of Bhadra in the year 1923 BS to father Dayaram Bhatt and mother Ripumardini Devi in ​​the village of Bhosi in Kathmandu.

Bhatt, who went to India at the tender age of 6 while studying at Durbar High School, continued his studies in Banaras. Bhatt returned to Nepal at the age of 15. After listening to a poem recited by Bhanubhakta Acharya at the wedding of his neighbour Khadga Dutt Pandey, Bhatta started researching Bhanubhakta’s poems and works and tried to expose them to the public.

He wrote the biography of Bhanubhakta Acharya, “Bhanubhaktako Jiwan Charitra”, which played an important role in establishing Acharya as the first poet (Aadi Kavi) of Nepali language. Bhatt, who is considered the national hero of Nepal, was also given the title of young poet. The period of Nepali literature from 1940 BS to 1948BS is also known as Moti Ram era in .

Bhatt is known as a poet, singer, essayist and publisher in the field of Nepali literature. He is also considered to be the first biographer and literary critic of Nepali literature. He is also considered as the first ghazal writer of Nepal.

“Yeta heryo yetai mera najarama ram pyara chhan
Uta heryo utai mero najaram ram pyara chan”

In terms of singing, this ghazal is considered to be the first ghazal of Nepal. But in some places this ghazal is said to be the first.

Dui aankhi bhaun ta tayar chan,tarbar po kina chiayo
Timi aafain malik bhai gayau,Sarkar po kina chaiyo..

Multilingual Bhatt was proficient in Sanskrit, Persian, English, Bengali, Urdu and Nepali as well as Nepal Bhasha. About 2 dozen of his works have been published including Bhanubhakta ko jiwan charitra, Shakuntala, Priyadarshika, Manoveg Pravah, Gajendra Moksha, Prahlad Bhakti Katha.

After coming to Nepal at the age of 15,he got married and he returned to Banaras for higher education after 1 year of marriage with his wife. He published a Nepali magazine called Gorkha Bharat Jeevan even while staying in India. Meanwhile, Bhatt kept visiting Nepal time and again. Bhatt, who returned to Nepal after falling ill while visiting India in 1952 BS, died a year later in 1953. His last rites were performed at Aryaghat in Pashupati.