Rama Adhikari
Kathmandu, Nov 21
Nepal Srashta Samaj, a premier literary organization based in Kathmandu, convened a recital on Saturday, featuring about one and a half dozen Nepali poets writing in English. The event, chaired by Samaj’s chairperson, Poet Bidhan Acharya, was graced by senior poet Tulasi Diwasa as chief guest. Poets Ashma Aryal, Asmita Manandhar, Bhisma Uprety, Chet Nath Kanel, Gopi Krishna Dhungana, Ishwar Kandel, Keshab Sigdel, Krishna Chandra Sharma, Mahesh Paudyal, Manju Kanchuli, Pawan Aalok, Roop Singh Bhandari, Rajendra Salabh, Sarita Bhattarai, Sneha Saymi, Tulasi Diwasa and Bidhan Acharya recited their poems.
Senior critic and academic, Prof. Dr. Krishna Chandra Sharma, former head of the Central Department of English, Tribhuvan University, shared his reflections on the poems recited by the poets. Quoting the Vedas, he said, poets are the most respected people in the society. He appreciated the poets for keeping their creative flair going in spite of the pandemic, and suggested them not to stuff their poetic expressions with loaded theoretical jargons. Chief Guest Tulasi Diwasa appreciated the Srashta Samaj for the initiative, and stressed on the need to cross linguistic limits and go global in order to make voices audible to the universal audience. He said, one should ‘live’ poetry first to be honest to the genre, and avoid repetitions and mere emulations. Coming out with the poet’s own identity is the best way to earn a poetic personality.
The session Chair, poet Bidhan Acharya assured the poets that the Samaj will continue organizing similar events in the days to come as well.