Rama Adhikari, TGT
Kathmandu, Nov 15
International Nepali Literary Society (INLS), Central Executive and its different chapters have commemorated poet Laxmi Prasad Devkota on the occasion of his 112th birth anniversary by organizing various events. The Central Executive of the Society observed the occasion by inviting Devkota’s son, poet and professor Padma Devkota, together with critic and translator Professor Dr. Govinda Raj Bhattarai, and Japanese researcher and translator Haruhito Nozu on November 14. Organized under the chairmanship of INLS President Prakash Poudel, the event organized on ZOOM was also marked by recitals from various poets, including Dipsi Bhatta, Durga Rizal, Sudipbhadra Khanal, Sabina Regmi and others.
Similarly, INSL New Hampshire Chapter commemorated the event under the chairpersonship of the chapter’s vice president Rama Neupane. The event was graced as Chief Guest by professor and critic Dr. Hem Nath Poudel, Academic Council Member and Head of the Department of Poetry, Nepal Academy. On the occasion, poet and critic Mahesh Paudyal spoke on various dimensions of poet Devkota’s life and works. Chief Guest Poudel delivered a detailed speech centered on Devkota’s exceptional poetic skills and thematic horizon, and named him one the greatest talents of Nepal. Hosted by poet Ishwari Bhatta, the event also featured various poets, including Padam Bishwakarma, Gobardhan Puja, Rajendra Shrestha, Maheshwar Pant, Lal Gopal Subedi, Hari Maya Adhikari, Batu Neupane and others, who read out their creations. Earlier in the event, General Secretary Hari Kumari Gurung presented the annual progress report of the chapter while Din Premy presented the annual financial report, as the event also was the annual general assembly of the Chapter.
Similarly, INLS Missouri chapter organized a virtual seminar cum recital as part of its regular series, Zoom Chautari. In the event dedicated to Poet Devkota, INLS Board of Trustees Chair, Gita Khatri, expressed her good-wish, and recited her poems. Poet and critic shed light on the cosmopolitan and transnational character of Devkota’s writing, and foregrounded the inclusive nature of his creations. INLS General Secretary Sawagya Wagle expressed INLS’s organizational commitments to promote Devkota and his writing internationally. In the event hosted by INLS Woman’s Committee Coordinator Urmila Doshi, writer Balaram Panthi delivered the welcome and introductory speech. Singer Kailash Kayastha presented a song penned by late poet Devkota, while poets Lal Gopal Subedi, Rama Joshi Dulal, Prakash Pandey, Latika Joshi, Lalita Doshi, Sita Aryal, Anju Ghimire Anjana Neupane, Basaudev Bhandari and others paid their homage to the late poet, and read their verses to commemorate this exponential literary achievements.
Earlier on November 7, INLS Kansas Chapter had organized a similar event. Korea, Boston, Portugal, North Carolina, Florida, the UK chapters also remembered the exponential poet with similar events. On all these occasions, various speakers expressed their impressions on Devkota’s writings, and paid their homage to the legendary poet. Poets recited their creations, while singers and musicians presented musical items. INLS Board of Trustees’ Chair Gita Khatri, Trustees’ Vice President Padam Bishwakarma, incumbent central President Prakash Poudel, Vice President Govardhan Pooja, General Secretary Sarwagya Wagle and Treasurer Krishna Giri lent leadership to these events and guided the organization with their visionary ideas and impressions.