: आशापति ताम्रकार) (1904–1942) was a pioneer optician

Optician

An optician is a person who is trained to fill prescriptions for eye correction in the field of medicine, also known as a dispensing optician or optician, dispensing...

 of Nepal

Nepal

Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...

. He imported and dispensed spectacles, and was trained in ophthalmology

Ophthalmology

Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is a specialist in medical and surgical eye problems...

 and orthoposcopy when such specialists were practically unheard of in Nepal.

Early life

Tamrakar

Tamrakar

Tamrakar is a caste from the Newar community of the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal. The name Tamrakar is derived from the Sanskrit words "tamra", meaning copper, and "aakar", meaning shape or to give shape....

 was born in Maru at Kathmandu Durbar Square

Kathmandu Durbar Square

Kathmandu Durbar Square, or Basantapur Durbar Square is the plaza in front of the old royal palace of the Kathmandu Kingdom. It is one of three Durbar Squares in the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal, all of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.-History:...

 to father Pranpati and mother Hera Laxmi. His father was a herbalist

Herbalist

An herbalist is:#A person whose life is dedicated to the economic or medicinal uses of plants.#One skilled in the harvesting and collection of medicinal plants ....

, and he trained under him and joined the family business of dispensing herbal medicines.

Tamrakar's first wife died leaving him a son Rampati. In 1927, he got married a second time to Moti Lani Tuladhar

Tuladhar

Tuladhar is a caste from the Newar community of the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal. The name Tuladhar is derived from the Sanskrit words tula and dhar , thus meaning scale-bearer or in general, merchant. Tuladhars belong to the Uray group which includes Kansakar, Tamrakar, Sthapit, Bania, Sindurakar,...

 who bore him a daughter Hira Shobha.

Medical practice

Tamrakar's firm Ashapatti & Son, which was based in his home, imported spectacles from India. Subsequently, he imported an edging machine and also made reading glasses. In 1935, he travelled to Kolkata

Kolkata

Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...

 and enrolled at United Optical Service at 54 Bowbazar

Bowbazar

Bowbazar is a neighbourhood and police stationin central Kolkata, earlier known as Calcutta, in the Indian state of West Bengal...

 Street to receive training in ophthalmology and orthoposcopy.

Besides being an optician, Tamrakar was engaged as a herbalist and compounder. In 1939, he went to Kolkata and served briefly as a dresser in the wards and operation theater of Campbell Medical School and Hospital, which has since been renamed Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital. He also worked as an anesthetist at Bir Hospital

Bir Hospital

Bir Hospital is the oldest and one of the busiest hospitals in Nepal. It was established in July 1889 by Bir Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana. It is located at the center of Kathmandu city. The hospital is run by the National Academy of Medical Sciences, a government agency since 2003.The hospital...

 in Kathmandu.

Later years

Tamrakar contracted tuberculosis

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...

in his later years for which treatment was not available in Nepal in those days. He died at his home in 1942 at the age of 38.