Biography of a Calligrapher

Bal Gopal Kapali is one of the Calligraphers in Nepal who has been teaching his Calligraphy art for the past 8 years. Around 550 students have already mastered calligraphy art from him. Currently, he is taking special classes in Thamel, Bhagwan Bahal.

Kapali was born on March 18, 1951 and has worked as a book designer in Janak Education Material Centre (Janak Sikshya Samagri Kendra) for three decades.

In 1979 Kapali met famous American Calligrapher Frank Elliott, and studied calligraphy with him. Elliott was in his personal visit to Nepal and had organized an exhibition (about his Calligraphic Work) in Kathmandu. Kapali's took a three months calligraphy course from Elliott. Kapali describes his Guru Elliott as a skilled man who could write beautifully.

Kapali has designed many logos, emblem and trademark for national and international organization. He got the first prize in the nation wide poster competition that was organized by the Nepal Airlines in 1975. He got Gorkha Dakshin Bahu 4th and National Education Award.

Kapali, also a sanyasin of Osho, says after being a sanyasin his calligraphy has become more creative.

In 1985, he went to Japan for a training course organized by UNESCO. The director of the program requested him to stay in Japan and to teach Japanese about Calligraphy. Kapali denied the request and said," I am more interested to teach Calligraphy in Nepal and then only I will teach Japanese."

Now, he and Abhisekh Kapali, his son, are teaching students about Calligraphy. More than 550 students have already participated in their special courses.