KATHMANDU: Veteran Nepali sculptor Balkrishna Tuladhar, celebrated for some of the country’s most iconic public monuments, passed away today at the age of 91.
Born in 1935 in Kathmandu’s Yatkha Tole, Tuladhar leaves behind a rich artistic legacy that shaped Nepal’s visual and historical public memory. He is survived by four sons and three daughters.
Tuladhar was the sculptor behind the notable statue of King Tribhuvan at Shahid Gate, along with the statues of martyrs Gangalal, Dashrath Chand, Dharma Bhakta, and Shukraraj, works that remain central to Nepal’s national symbolism.
His contributions extend further across Kathmandu Valley and beyond. He crafted the six-soldier statue at the military pavilion in Tundikhel, the Tribhuvan statue at Banepa Chok, and the half-bust statue of Ganeshman Singh at Shobhabhagwati. The renowned statues of the literary trio, Laxmi Prasad Devkota, Lekhnath Paudel, and Balkrishna Sama, also reflect Tuladhar’s artistic excellence.
Tuladhar’s death marks the end of an era for Nepal’s sculptural heritage, with his works standing as lasting reminders of the country’s political, cultural, and literary history.
Comment