Krishna Bhusan Bal

Krishna Bhusan Bal (Nepali: कृष्णभूषण बल; 13 March 1948 - 25 June 2012) was a Nepalese poet known primarily for simplifying poetry for its readers at a time when poets were inclined to grandiloquence. Carving emotions into words is considered to be one of Bal's most intricate qualities. Bal's personality is often compared to a poem, indifferent to race, caste, religion, and politics.

Bal was born on 13 March 1948 at his maternal home to Hem Bal Tamang and Sharda Ghising Tamang. He was the eldest, having two sisters born after him. His father remarried after the death of his mother. Though his sisters stayed with their father, he stayed at his late mother's house as Tikaram Tamang until his graduation from elementary school.

Tikaram, although considered to be an average student by his teacher, Lagna Prasad, showed great interest in literature and extra-curricular activities. After completing his basic level education from Rabi Campus and Durga Higher Secondary School, Tikaram was schooled at Karfok Vidya Mandir by Nar Bahadur Lama. Later, Tikaram moved to Ilam Bazar, where he worked as the chief of the committee. There, he started writing and publishing poems with the name of Krishna Bhusan Bal.

Having finished his basic level education from Ravi Bazar, Ilam, Tamang moved to Biratnagar. In the process of becoming Krishna Bhusan, Tikaram passed his SLC from Kathmandu, where he aspired to become a policeman. However, upon suggestions from some friends, he passed the Public Service Commission examinations and enrolled to get his Bachelor of Arts degree while working at Nepal Rastra Bank. Later, he started writing and publishing poems under the name of Krishna Bhusan Bal, which he considered to be his road to fame.

The Full Moon by the River Bank

Looking into the mirror
of emerald meadow of waters,
the moon has flashed a fruity chuckle.
Tickled at the gentle touch of breeze
the water spreads wavelets,
and the entire moon appears to be a neonate,
swinging in a cradle.
The waterbirds as if to jab their beaks through the moon,
fly out of sight fluttering their wings.
The trees across the river
still stand still as if to shoulder the entire era.
The lamps flickering in the houses big and small,
on either bank, are adorned like the stars.
The horizon getting narrowed gradually
has descended to stick to the hill on the bank.
The moon now crossing the yonder region of waters,
has come down to rest atop me.
I wonder from where gathered has
a flock of sheep-like clouds.
As if a furry pashmina the clouds pulled over them
the sheet of the full moon spread on the meadow of waters.
Probably the switch to turn on and off
each sparkling moment is in the hand of these clouds.

Tikaram moved to Ilam Bazar, where he worked as the chief of the committee. There, he started writing and publishing poems with the name of Krishna Bhusan Bal. His first poem, Ma Yuvak Hoon, was published in the Saugat daily based in Ilam.

Bal had to bear torture from his father and his stepmother after his mother died when he was barely 5; thereby, adding to his struggles. At the age of 17, Bhushan moved to Kathmandu. Three years later, he moved to Biratnagar where he stayed for the rest of his life.

The publishing of Sadak Kavita Kranti in 1979 and Bholi Baasne Bihana in 1984 established his status as a revolutionary poet of the Nepali language. Bal, along with Gopal Prasad Rimal and Bairagi Kainla, was considered to be one of the most revolutionary Nepalese poets by renowned critic Krishna Chandra Singh Pradhan.