KATHMANDU, MAY 24: For those who know the legendary Janakavi Durgalal Shrestha, it is not just his poetry that comes to mind—it is also his impeccable handwriting. So elegant were the letters he inscribed on the blackboard while teaching Nepali at Kanya Mandir School that his fellow teachers, who taught after his class, would struggle to wipe them clean—almost unwilling to erase their artistic beauty.
The nonagenarian Shrestha stopped teaching several decades ago, but the same graceful script has been reborn—not on a dusty blackboard, but in the digital world. Renowned Nepali font designer Anand Maharjan has crafted a new digital typeface, aptly named the ‘Durgalal Shrestha Font’ paying tribute to the poet’s extraordinary penmanship and his contribution to Nepal’s literary and educational heritage.
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The font was officially inaugurated by Kathmandu Metropolitan City Deputy Mayor Sunita Dangol at a special event on Friday that brought together educators, typographers, literary figures, and cultural enthusiasts. Speaking at the launch, Deputy Mayor Dangol said Shrestha’s handwriting was as beautiful as his poems, both in Nepali and Newari languages. She emphasized that his script should be protected as a valuable heritage and that, with the help of new technology, the essence of literary icons can continue to live on in new forms.
Font developer Maharjan, known for his commitment to preserving Nepali scripts and aesthetics, said the project was born out of admiration. The process of creating the font was meticulous. Maharjan studied Shrestha’s old notebooks, blackboard photographs, and handwritten manuscripts to ensure authenticity. Since Shrestha had different writing styles for a number of letters, Maharjan decided to create three separate fonts under the Durgalal Shrestha Font family.
Shrestha, born in July 1935, is a prominent Nepalese poet known for his contributions to both Nepal Bhasa and Nepali literature. Recognized as a progressive writer, he was honored with the title Janakavi (People’s Poet) by the Nepal Bhasha Parishad in 2003. In 2010, he received the prestigious Jagadamba Shree Puraskar for his six decades of literary work, including melodious songs, poems and children's literature that enriched Nepalese literature in both his mother tongue and Nepali.
With the launch of the Durgalal Shrestha Font, his influence now enters a new chapter. Schools, designers, and publishers can now use the font in educational materials, posters, and digital content—ensuring that Shrestha’s legacy continues in both form and function.
