| Native Name: | हृदयचन्द्रसिंह प्रधान |
| Native Name Lang: | ne |
| Birth Date: | 26 January 1916 |
| Language: | Nepali |
| Nationality: | Nepali |
| Birth Place: | Maruhiti, Kathmandu |
| Birth Name: | Chandra Prasad |
| Genre: | Poetry, Fiction |
| Notable Works: | Ek Chihan |
| Occupation: | Writer, Civil service |
Hridaya Chandra Singh Pradhan (1916-1960 AD; 1972-2016 BS) (Nepali: हृदयचन्द्रसिंह प्रधान) was a poet, writer and social worker of Nepal. He wrote against the ill customs and corruptions against the Rana regime.[1]
Pradhan was born in 12 Magh 1972 BS (1916 AD) in Dhokatole, Maruhiti of Kathmandu. His mother was Surya Maya and father was Surya Prasad. His birth name was Chandra Prakash Pradhan. He had an elder brother and a younger brother. His elder brother died a few months after the birth.[2]
Pradhan was raised in his maternal family at Naradevi, Kathmandu due to poor economic condition in his paternal home. However, at the age of 12, he accompanied with his father in his job at Raniganj.[3]
Pradhan could not receive any formal education in his childhood. At the age of 18, he started self-studying. In an attempt to become a writer, he requested Lekhnath Paudyal to teach him poetry. It is believed that Lekhnath Paudyal insulted him, referring to his illiteracy and his background as a Newar who even could not speak clear Nepali language. Later he mastered Nepali and Hindi languages and wrote books in those three languages.[3]
He served as a clerk (Nausinda) and head clerk (Mukhiya) in government offices. He also went to Kolkata as a Mukhiya for two years.
Pradhan was married to Rukmini Devi in 1994 BS (1938 AD) and had four daughters and a son.
Because of this lack of education in childhood, he established a primary school at Chhetrapati in 1997 BS (1941 AD). Pradhan became active in the uprising of 2007 BS (1951 AD) against the Rana regime. He was jailed for the involvement and was set free only after the end of the regime. In jail, he was infected with tuberculosis and had to undergo a surgery. Seven of the ribs were cutout during the surgery. He was later hospitalized in Ranchi. During his stay in Ranchi, he wrote various books. He died on 10 Magh 2016 BS (1960 AD).[3]
Pradhan published his first work Bhatrisneh (Brotherhood) in Sharada magazine. He founded Nepal Sahitya Parishad (Nepal Literature Council) in 2003 BS (1947 AD). He worked as writer in the government publication named Nepali Bhasa Prakashini Samiti (Nepali Language Publication Committee) in 2007 BS (1951 AD). He also worked as an editor for Sahitya Srot (2004 BS/1948 AD), Jagaran Saptahik (2007 BS/1951 AD), Janchetna Pakchhik (2010 BS/1954 AD) and Nepal Dwaimaasik (a Newari magazine) [3]
Some of his works are listed below.