Welcome to Ghimire Foundation

Madhav Ghimire, born on October 22, 1919, is the National Poet of Nepal. His childhood was spent in a far remote village within the Lamjung District of the Himalayas. He grew up on top of an isolated mountain playing in nearby cowsheds and rice terraces, a difficult life made much harder when his mother died by the time he turned five years old. Like so many people who live in rural areas of the country, she died at age 25 because she had no access to healthcare. Later, his father would die from a fall and his first wife would die of Typhoid.

By the time Madhav reached the age of 14, he crossed the high mountain passes and ran away to the capitol, Kathmandu, with a hope for better education. He had no money, no family or friends, and no clue what he would do once he arrived. Nevertheless, he managed to gain admission into one of the elite schools based on his academic potential and interest in writing. He began writing poetry during these years, producing one poem that became the national anthem of the country.

After completing his education, Ghimire returned to the village of Gaunshahar in the district of his childhood in order to become head teacher for several years. He wanted to help provide educational opportunities for the children that he was not afforded during his own youth. After an absence of many decades, Madhav Ghimire returned to this village in 2006 with our foundation staff in order to award the first scholarships to children there.

Ghimire has produced 21 literary books, as well as edited one of the major journals in his field. He was elected to the Royal Nepal Academy of Literature in 1957 and eventually became Chancellor. Even at age 90, he still writes poetry every day, creating what he considers his masterpiece volume. "We cannot expect our work to make tangible changes in society,” Madhav Ghimire said, “but down through the years it should be able to give the human spirit that conscience, courage, and foresight to make those changes possible.”

It is because of his inspiration that Madhav Ghimire’s portrait hangs prominently in many schools throughout his country and also why he is the perfect model for our work to educate the most neglected girls of Nepal.

Additional biographical details can be found at:

http://www.spinybabbler.org/literature/personalities/madhav_ghimire.htm

LIKE MAN DIVINE

A thousand petals bear the flower’s bonds;

Far slender should be the bonds of the heart.

And yet bound up for life in may love’s bonds;

I still see nothing sweeter in the heart.

                        --Madav Prasad Ghimire