# Ramesh Kshitij

Ramesh Kshitij (Nepali: रमेश क्षितिज; born on 25 April 1969); Salyan, Western Nepal) is a versatile poet, lyricist and a writer. He is best known for the poetry, he has also written stories and songs.

## Early life

Ramesh Kshitij spent his childhood at Mirauli, Hekuli of Dang and received his early education from Sidda Janata Secondary School, Shri Gaon at Dang, Western Nepal. He started his higher education from Nepal Law Campus, Kathmandu and completed his LLM (Master of Laws) from Tribhuvan University. He then joined the civil service, Government of Nepal in the year 1999 (BS 2056). He has worked in various districts Dang, Rolpa and Dhading as a Local Development Officer of the Government of Nepal.

## Writings and publications

He started writing poems at an early age. He wrote poems while he studied at class IV and a play at class VI. His poems have been published in different newspapers and literary magazines. His first volume of poems "Arko Sanjh Parkhera Saanjhma" was published in 2000 (BS 2057) with a preface by the famous poet Tulsi Diwas.
   At dusk A gloomy face is sitting on the window Watching the setting sun And the east-west path which goes fading slowly, A young boy Playing his flute Is climbing up a hill trail A deserted young desperate fellow Sifting on the bank of a still lake Is watching the sun's young rays Into the water And is reminiscing the old days At dusk.
   Faces of flowers are frightened Hearing the footsteps of the wind A housewife is sitting on the yard At this moment
   Remembering her husband who is aboard Far away, The water mill is weeping continuously Children are flying kites from the top hills One can hear the indistinct voice The old man is fitting on the verandah coughing Occasional passersby on the street are silent The birds are chirping in the bamboo trees The boy who had lost his marbles Is wandering in front of his school As dusk.
   In the village tea-shop There is a crowd of people Some playing cards and the others Talking about matters some big and some small politics, violence and terrorism.
   At dusk. The distant thin river looks like The traces of tears that flow in one's cheek Women carrying water pots In their belly Are returning home slowly At dusk
   Carrying a high volume radio on the shoulder A villager is walking All alone A peon who closed the health-post a few moments ago being the doctor if this village is standing outside the wine shop And after grazing the cattle a whole day A small girl is returning home At dusk.
   In this moment Taking a harrowed gulley of maitidevi and after entering a damp corridor one sees a small room There's a stove at a corner bamboo racks and some old utensils Some books and a small radio At the other corner And under the bed some old tin tanks. Lying in the bed I am thinking A village At dusk.
The famous Nepali poet and critic Mr. Hari Adhikary has written in his criticism about the second anthology Ghar Farkiraheko Manis that, "Amongst the new generation of Nepali poets, the poetry of Ramesh Kshitij stands along; it defies any categorization."
During his service as a Local Development Officer in the far and rural districts of Nepal, he has visualized humanity and pain of people in his poetry. He is far-reaching in its scope of experience. The poems of Ramesh Kshitij can offer a profound symbolism and also a delightful dignity. Whatever the inner meaning of Kshitij's poetry, we can easily appreciate the beautiful language and lyrical quality of his poetic vision.
"Tirkhayeko Kakakul Sari Vaye, Kunai Namitho Bhul Sari Vaye" was sung by the famous Nepali singer Mr.Rajesh Payal Rai which was recorded in Radio Nepal in 2047 B.S. for the first time. Another of his songs which was sung by Rajesh Payal Rai was "Namaga Masanga Sahara Namaga, Bhuima Chhu Aakashka Juntara Namaga..", for which he was honoured as best lyricist in 2050 B.S..
    Batuwaa he maanchhe vannu yo sansaaramaa
    Junjastai chamki hida andhakaarma
    Bagchha aanshu ekaantamaa bagi jaana deu
    Khushi tara boki hinda anuhaarma
This song was sung by Ms.Anju Panta which was included in Kshitij album. About a hundred songs of Kshitij have already been recorded which give a message of hope, inspiration, philosophical view, new thought and positive attitude out of which twenty-five songs have been recorded in Radio Nepal.
His songs are perhaps the most highly regarded. His works are noted for their rhythmic, optimistic, and lyrical nature. Either poetry or songs, through his creation he gives inspiration to live life, awareness and love to his readers.

## Major books and album published
### Poetry collections

* Arko Saanjh Parkhera Saanjhma, 2057 BS. Kathmandu: Fineprint, Nepal 2012.
* Ghar Farkiraheko Manis, Bhadra 2069 BS, Poush 2069 BS, Shrawan 2070 BS. Kathmandu: Fineprint, Nepal 2012

### Song collection

* Aafai Aafno Sathi Bhaye, 2063 BS

### Song album

* Kshitij, 2068 BS

### Book(s) yet to come

* Ustai Chhu Ma (story collection)

## Awards and honors

Kshitij has received many awards and honors. He is well known lyricist and his Nepali song "Namaaga Masanga Sahaaraa Namaaga" received the best lyricist of the year BS 2050 (1993) honored by Radio Nepal.
Apart from many honours and public felicitations, he was also awarded with the First National Poetry Festival Award, Rapti Literary Award and Mohan Regmi Smriti Samman felicitation. His song album "Kshitij" was awarded with the Rapti Music Award BS 2069 in different genres.
He has also been awarded by the Government of Nepal for 'Best Civil Servant of the year 2069' (2012) and Local Development Award in 2013 (BS 2070).
Some most notable awards and felicitations he received include :
* 1993 (BS 2050) : Best lyricist, Radio Nepal
* 1994 (BS 2051) : First, National Poetry Festival, Nepal Academy
* 2011 (BS 2068) : Rapti Literary Award
* 2011 (BS 2068) : Mohan Regmi Smriti Sammaan
* 2012 (BS 2069) : Rapti Music Award
* 2012 (BS 2069) : Best Civil Service Award, Government of Nepal
* 2013 (BS 2070) : Local Development Award

## Fans

"Generally, a poet is like the Buddha and writing poems is a type of Bipasyana i.e. Meditation. A poet, like the Buddha, with his/her newfound eternal truth gotten by his/her meditative writings can have an amazing power of shaking a man's heart. A stanza of a poem can change our way of life and can fill with internal power and unfathomable energy." ~ (from Pahilo prem ra Priya Kabitako Atmakatha: Ghar Farkiraheko Manis).
After listening songs, studying stories and poetries like "Arko Sanjh Parkhera Saanjhma, Ghar Farkiraheko Maanis" written by the poet Ramesh Kshitij, a saintlike personality, his die-hard fans have formed a club named "Fan Club of Ramesh Kshitij" in 2012 (2069 BS). Similarly, the fan club organized for him a solo program of poem recitation known as "Kshitijkaa Kabitaa harusanga Haami" on 9 February 2012 (27th Magh 2069), at hotel Ratna Inn in Dharan, Eastern Nepal., It was probably the first time in Nepal that this type of solo programme of poem recitation could be held by his fans that were not associated with any literary organizations.

## Interviews

* Kshitij Ekdamai Najikko Sathi ho, क्षितिज एकदमै नजिकको साथी हो
* Ma Sachha Kabitabadi Kabi, म सच्चा कवितावादी कवि, कलम, Sourya Dainik, Saturday, 8 December 2012
* Kabitama Dubda Dhyanma Basejasto Laagchha, कवितामा डुव्दा ध्यानमा बसेजस्तो लाग्छ, Blast Times, Thursday, 28 January 2013
* Fan Club of Ramesh Kshitij, फ्यान क्लब अफ रमेश क्षितिज, Sourya Dainik, Saturday, 18 May 2013

## Notes (articles)

* Sabdavanda Kehi Para, शव्दभन्दा केही पर (Anuvuti), Kantipur, Saturday, 13 October 2012
* Oh Kabita My First Love, ओ कविता माई फस्र्ट लभ, Kabi Sambaad, Saptarang, Naya Patrika, Thursday, 11 October 2012
* Tokyoma Ek Din, टोकियोमा एक दिन, Nagarik, Saturday, 5 January 2013
* Dharan Pugda, धरान पुग्दा (Anubhuti), Kantipur Koseli, Saturday, 16 February 2013
* Katha (Story), Sourya Dainik
* Silvia, Sanjh ra Samunra, सिल्भिया, सांझ र समुद्र, Annapurna Post, Saturday 15 June 2013
* Naya Aabiskaarko Khojima Kabita, नयां आविष्कारको खोजीमा कविता, Koseli, Kantipur, Saturday, 10 August 2013
* "Dashain Samjhe Tihar Samjhe, दशैं सम्झे तिहार सम्झे"- Ramesh Kshitij, Nagarik, Saturday, 5 October 2013
* Kabita bhaneko kuntha ho : Kabita-sambad Ramesh Kshitijsanga, कविता भनेको कुण्ठा होइन : कविता–संवाद रमेश क्षितिजसँग, Naya Patrika, National Daily,Monday, 7 October 2013