Rama Adhikari, TGT
August 7
International Society for Nepali Literature (INLS) has resolved to organize Nepali poetry contest annually. As resolved in a meeting of the central executive of the organization held under the chairmanship of its President Prakash Poudel Maila, the contest shall be organized to observe the birth anniversary of Rashtrakavi Madhav Ghimire. President Maila informed the press that the event is directed at encouraging poets who are passionately engaged in poetic pursuit. “It’s true that the Society organized many competitions in the past as well, but the planned competition will be both well-managed and long-term. This shall be a true tribute to poet Ghimire,” he said.
Gita Khatri, Chair of the Board of Trustees, INLS hailed the announcement as a new initiative. She said, “Such an event will help us unify Nepali writers scattered all over the globe. This decision from the central executive will play a crucial role in this direction.”
An organizing committee to oversee the preparation and organization of the event this year has been constituted under the coordination of INLS Senior Vice President Govardhan Pooja. Other members in the committee are General Secretary Sarwagya Wagle, and members Dr. Renuka Solu, Pramod Saragng and Maheshwar Sharma.
For the first competition of this series to be organized this year, poets from across the world have been notified to send their poems by September 6, 2021 to insl.poemcontest@gmail.com. Following specifications have been announced with regard to the competition:
- The poem should have a maximum of 200 words.
- One contestant can submit only one poem. Entries arriving after the due date shall be summarily rejected. The decision of the jury shall be the final one.
- Together with the poem, the contestants should send a brief bio-note, a passport size photograph and contact number.
- From the entries, poems for recital will be shortlisted.
- The final event will be organized alongside the birth anniversary of Rashtrakavi Madhav Ghimire through ZOOM.
- The winner shall be awarded 500 US Dollars, while the first and the second runners-up shall win 300 and 200 US Dollars respectively, accompanied by a citation.