Bhanu Jayanti in Namchi

Namchi, 13 July [IPR]: The 200th birth anniversary celebrations of Adikavi Bhanubhakta Acharya was observed here today with Zilla Adhakshya [South], CL Gurung, as chief guest, accompanied by DC (South) Prabhakar Verma, ADM (South) Kapil Meena, SDM (HQ) Samdup Bhutia, SP (South) Sonam Gyasto Bhutia, NMC (Vice Chairman) NH Ansari, NMC councilor Tarkeshwar Prashad nodal officials from various departments, members of Zilla Parishad, school students and general public.

The celebration started with the garlanding of the Bhanubhakta statue here followed by a shova yatra till Namchi Community Hall where a cultural competition programme was held.

Dalman Pir Mukhya was felicitated with the Shiv Kumar Rai  Puraskar and Dhan Nirav Pradhan with the Agam Singh Tamang Prathiba Purakshar.

Bhanu Jayanti celebrations begin with various competitions

GANGTOK, 08 July:  An inter-school debate competition was held on Monday under the banner of Nepali Sahitya Parishad as part of the celebration of the 200th birth anniversary of Bhanu Bhakta Acharya and the three winners of the competition will be awarded prizes during the main function of the Bhanu Jayanti celebration on 13 July, next week.
The winners of the debate competition are Vivek Pradhan in first position followed by Anirush Luitel and Merilena Tamang in second and third positions respectively.
State level open poem recitation competition was also held on the day which saw 18 participants. Gopal Pathak of Rhenock was unanimously chosen as the winner of the competition followed by  Arjun Rai of Samay Dainik in second position and Khusboo Chettri of Rhenock in third position. The prizes will be awarded during the main function to be held on 13 July.
Similarly, inter-school Ramayan Paath competition was also held wherein nine schools reached the semi-final round which will be held on 12 July. Amongst the semi-finalists are Deorali Girls Sr. Secondary School, West Point Sr Secondary School, PNG Sr Secondary School, Tashi Namgyal Academy, Sichey Seconday School, Tadong Sr Secondary School, Pelling Sr Secondary School and Namthang Secondary School. The final round of the competition will be held on 13 July.

2-day celebration planned for 200th Bhanu Jayanti

GANGTOK, 20 June: This year marks the 200th birth anniversary of poet Bhanu Bhakta Acharya and the state will be hosting a grand two-day Bhanu Jayanti celebration.
A press release informs that Sikkim Legislative Assembly Speaker, KN Rai who is the working president of the organising committee of the Bhanu Jayanti celebration, chaired a coordination meeting of the committee on 19 June.
At the meeting, various sub-committees on such events of the celebration such as Ramayan Path, Lok Kabita Path, Shobha Yatra, cultural programme and publicity were constituted. The celebrations will play out on 12 and 13 July.
On the first day, local artists will present a cultural programme while the main programme will be held on 13 July.
The Bhanu Puraskar will be awarded on the second day along with a performance by noted folk singer from Nepal, Shambhu Rai.
The meeting was also attended by Ministers GM Gurung and Somnath Poudyal among others.

Learn from Bhanubhakta and bring communities together, CM appeals

CHAMLING ANNOUNCES ANOTHER SIKKIM BHRAMAN, THIS TIME OF SCHOOLS
GANGTOK, 15 July: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling will undertake a new ‘bhraman’, this time touringthe State to visit schools and interact with the students. Making this announcement during the final day of the Bhanu Jayanti celebrations, the CM underlined that the State has been developing physically [infrastructure-wise] but is still lacking when it comes to adopting a positive mindset and thinking.
The CM was present as the chief guest on the final day of the three-day 198th Bhanu Jayanti Samaroh 2012 at Mannan Bhawan on 13 July. The occasion was marked with various cultural events and included a Sobha Yatra earlier in the morning.
On the occasion, Nepali Bhasa Sewa Shree award to former Chief Secretary, PK Pradhan, Nepali Bhasa Patrakarita Shree to Wangchuk Bhutia, North District Correspondent of NOW!, Nepali Kala Sangeet Shree to Madhusudan Lama, Nepali Kala Natya Shree to Thaman Naubagh, Nepali Kala Chitrakala Shree to Hem Khawas and Nepali Sahitya Srijana Shree to Chandra Dulal were also presented by the CM.
Speaking further on the topic, the CM said, “I have no personal agenda and just want to work more for the people of Sikkim and especially for the student community in the state”. He mentioned that despite the priority given to the sector, education in the state still remains “certificate oriented” so now he hopes to make education “life oriented” for students of the state.
Speaking on Bhanu Bhakta Acharya’s contributions, the CM said that it was the poet who made Nepali the language of the masses which not only helped in communication but also brought the community together. People should understand and evaluate his contributions and continue the work which he started towards the unification of the Nepali community, the CM added.
He rued that complacency has set in within the Nepali speaking community which it needs to shake away and urged all to think seriously on the issue.
The CM also mentioned that sections of the educated in the state have been raising poorly informed bogeys and that some politicians were taking advantage of the situation. He urged the heads of different communities to lead the society on the right path in order to strengthen the Sikkimese society.
He further stressed on refraining from giving a communal twist to issues and stated that until the Sikkimese did not have the capacity to use their rights and deliver on their responsibilities, the social justice and empowerment institutionalized by the government would be useless.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Bhanu Jayanti Celebration Committee president, Road and Bridges Minister, RB Subba informed that the celebration also sought to get the younger generation in touch with their roots with respect to their culture, language and tradition.

Bhandari turns down Bhanu Puraskar; Saddened Nepali Sahitya Parishad says no one will be conferred the award this year

GANGTOK, 06 July: Former Chief Minister, Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee president Nar Bahadur Bhandari has turned down the Bhanu Puraskar 2012 of the Nepali Sahitya Parishad. While his name was announced as the recipient of this year’s Bhanu Puraskar yesterday by the NSP, Mr. Bhandari, while speaking to NOW! today, said that he has no intention of accepting the award and that he had informed the NSP selection committee when they had called on his earlier to inform him of his selection. The Nepali Sahitya Parishad, in the meanwhile, informs that it is ‘saddened’ by Mr. Bhandari’s decision. When asked whether another person would be named for this year’s award, an NSP office bearer informed that organization has decided to suspend the award for this year – no one will be receiving the Bhanu Puraskar this year.
Speaking to NOW! over the phone, Mr. Bhandari disclosed that members of the selection committee had visited him earlier to intimate him of the decision to award him with the Bhanu Puraskar. “I had told them then itself that I would not be accepting the award,” he said.
He further related that his name should not have been declared without his consent especially since he had already intimated his decision to the committee members. “But they went ahead and announced my name without my consent,” he said adding that he had not communicated his decision officially.
The Nepali Sahitya Parishad general secretary, Jagdish Sharma, when contacted, explained that the Parishad had nominated Mr. Bhandari for the Bhanu Puraskar 2012 in recognition of his contributions towards Nepali language and literature. He said that the Parishad is not aware of the reasons behind Mr. Bhandari’s declining the award, though he stated that the NSP was saddened by it.
As a result, it has been decided that the Bhanu Puraskar will not be conferred on anyone this year, he added. This will be for the first time since the award was instituted that the Nepali Sahitya Parishad will not be conferring it on any one.
As to the reason behind why he was declining the award, Mr. Bhandari said that his condition for accepting the award is the recognition of the identity of the Gorkhas with the fulfillment of the demand for Gorkhaland.
On the years of struggle for the recognition of Nepali language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, Mr. Bhandari said that it was a struggle and victory of the people. “The credit should go to the people, not me,” he said, adding that he did not want to engage in cheap politics referring to the announcement of his name for the award.
He also said that he would not like to receive anything from this SDF government which had several cases of corruption allegations pending against it. He also explained that the Bhanu Puraskar had been instituted during his tenure as the Chief Minister of Sikkim for persons of high literary merit so “…it would not look nice for the creator of the award to be receiving it”.

NB Bhandari announced for Bhanu Puraskar 2012

NEPALI SAHITYA PARISHAD ANNOUNCES NAMES OF NEPALI SEWA SHREE AWARDEES AS WELL
GANGTOK, 05 July: The 198th Bhanu Jayanti Celebration Committee 2012 of the Nepali Sahitya Parishad has announced the name of former Chief Minister, Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee president Nar Bahadur Bhandari for the Bhanu Puraskar 2012 for his contributions towards Nepali literature and language.
Mr. Bhandari’s name was announced by the 198th Bhanu Jayanti Celebration Committee, Road and Bridges Minister, RB Subba, today during a press conference here at Nepali Sahitya Parishad.
On the occasion, he also announced the names of the awardees in different fields: Nepali Bhasa Sewa Shree award to former Chief Secretary PK Pradhan; Nepali Bhasa Patrakarita Shree to Wangchuk Bhutia, North District Correspondent of NOW!; Nepali Kala Sangeet Shree to Madhusudan Lama; Nepali Kala Natya Shree to Thaman Naubagh; Nepali Kala Chitrakala Shree to Hem Khawas and the Nepali Sahitya Srijana Shree to Chandra Dulal.
Addressing the press conference today, the Minister informed that after long deliberations and discussions, the five-member selection committee shortlisted the names of the awardees. Speaking on Mr Bhandari’s selection for the Bhanu Puraskar, he highlighted Mr Bhandari’s contributions towards the recognition of Nepali language by placing it in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution which happened during his term as CM in 1993. Mr. Bhandari’s contributions towards “Bhasa Manyata” cannot be ignored apart from his role as a writer and poet as well, he said.
The Bhanu Puraskar includes an Anga Vastra, Tamra Patra, certificate and cash prize, while the Bhanu Shree Puraskars also have Anga Vastra, Tamra Patra and certificate but no cash prize.
Literary Secretary, NSP, Biru Bangdel, further informs that the celebration committee has tried to include all four districts in the state-level Bhanu Jayanti celebrations lined up for Gangtok. He informed that the first event of the celebration, the Junior High School level Painting Competition was held today at Gangtok, which saw the participation of 10 schools from all four districts. On Friday, a debate competition is scheduled between Gyalshing Government College and Namchi Government College.
Mr Bangdel adds that on public demand, the committee has also included open poem recitation and Ramayan recitation competitions, which are scheduled to be held on 09 and 10 July. Bhanu Jayanti falls on 13 July
Likewise, eleven schools have confirmed their participation in the inter-school Folk Dance Competition scheduled to be held on 11 July at SDF Bhawan.

Bhanu Jayanti to be celebrated with 3-day mega event this year

EVENT TO SHOWCASE ‘MELTING POT OF SIKKIMESE CULTURE’
GANGTOK, 01 July: The 198th Bhanu Jayanti celebrations this year is being planned as a mega event with festivities, literary seminars, competitions, award ceremonies, cultural extravaganzas and gala entertainment for three days ( 11 to 13 July) in the capital.
At a press conference organized here at Nepali Sahitya Parishad Bhawan, Minister RB Subba who is the president of the organizing committee told reporters that the state level Bhanu Jayanti celebrations this year is being organized with an objective to generate more awareness and attachment towards the concept behind the celebrations.
The three-day event spread across different venues in the capital is being considered as an event that will ‘ignite’ the feeling of brotherhood and unity between the three ethnic communities in Sikkim with the culture and traditions of the Lepchas, Bhutia and Nepalese being highlighted at par throughout the celebrations.
“This year the other ethnic communities have also stepped up to make the celebration a fusion of Sikkimese culture. Unlike other years when Bhanu Jayanti was being branded as a celebration of only the Nepalese community, this year the celebrations will be a melting point of actual Sikkimese culture,” stated the Minister.
It may be informed that this year a mixed bag of cultural progarmmes have been lined up with the participation of a Darjeeling based dance and drama troupe and renowned singers and musicians from Nepal which include Swaroop Raj Acharya, Ram Chandra Kafle, Hemanta Rana, Sushma Shrestha and Bimla Rai.
“We have formed more than 14 sub-committees that will look into the different sections of the three-day celebrations. This year we have also added new features to the existing programme that include the addition of awards to the existing Bhanu Puraskar in various categories and also for the toppers of the board exams and competitions at all school levels,” informed the Minister.
He said that previously the celebration committee gave away awards only to the students who had performed exceptionally in Nepali language but this year the toppers in different languages will also be awarded.
Competitions have also been categorized at different levels with debate for college students, the senior secondary schools competing for the title of the best speech, while the secondary schools will compete in the poem competition and the junior high school students will compete in the drawing and painting competition.
Like always, there will also be the title of the best folk dance performing cultural troupe which has also been categorized in the open category and a category for schools. Similarly, organizations can also participate in the Ramayana Path recitation competition which is also the highlight of the programme.
The inauguration of the three-day event as informed will begin from the newly constructed ‘Manan Kendra’ at the new Secretariat Complex which is scheduled to be inaugurated by the Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling on 11 July. On 12 July, the organisers have lined up a number of seminars and deliberations on “Sanskriti Ko Fulbari- Sikkimali Chinari” which is also this year’s theme for the celebrations.
Dr. Ghansyam Nepal will be the main speaker at the seminar in which participants from all over the country and abroad will be presenting papers.
The second day apart from the seminars will also host the grand musical extravaganza. On 13 July which is the final day of the celebrations, the Governor, BP Singh and the Chief Minister will start the day’s activities with the garlanding of the statue at Bhanu path which will be followed by a mega Shova Yatra which will proceed to the venue in front of the Tourism department where a programme will be held. After the rally the congregation will head to Manan Kendra where the programme will conclude after a great line-up of events.
It may be informed that the cultural competitions will be organized at SDF Bhawan, By-pass and only the winners of the competition will be allowed to perform at the final day’s programme at Manan Bhawan.

Bhanu Jayanti Celebration Committee convenes meeting

GANGTOK, 08 Dec: A meeting of the 196th Bhanu Jayanti Celebration Committee was convened on 07 Dec at Nepali Sahithya Parisad Bhawan, chaired by the president, NSP, BK Roka. The meeting was attended by all the members of the committee, informs a press release issued by the publicity secretary, Hemant Giri.

GYALSHING HOSTS THE ADI KAVI’S DESCENDANTS FOR BHANU JAYANTI

The 197th Bhanu Jayanti celebrations at Gyalshing, West Sikkim, on 13 July had special guests - 15 descendants of Bhanubhakta Acharya who had been invited over for the occasion from Nepal. On the day, the Chief Minister inaugurated the Nepali Research Centre at Gyalshing, developed at a cost of Rs. 8.22 crore, and which also houses the world’s largest statue of Bhanubhakta. [shared by ST gyatso]

CM inaugurates world's largest statue of Bhanu Bhakta, dedicates Nepali Research Centre to the people

GYALSHING, 14 July: The 197th Bhanu Jayanti was celebrated here on an international scale yesterday with the Chief Minister inaugurating the the world’s largest statue of Bhanu Bhakta housed in the Nepali Research Centre developed around it. 
The event was jointly organized by the Cultural Affairs & Heritage Department, the Bhanu Jayanti organizing committee of Gyalshing and the West Sikkim Sahitya Prakashan.
The foundation stone for this Centre [and statue] was laid on 05 December 2004 and work started in 2006. The complex spans across an area of 8,685 sq. ft. was built at the cost of Rs. 8.22 crore and work completed on February 2010. 

Speaker broaches development of Sikkim as hub for Nepali learning

BHANU PURASKAR CONFERRED ON PRADHYUMAN SHRESTHA
GANGTOK, 14 July: “Nepali is a very strong and beautiful language and today is an important day for the Nepali-speaking community,” said Speaker, KT Gyaltsen, while addressing the 197th Bhanu Jayanti celebrations here at the Tashi Namgyal Academy auditorium, yesterday.
He went on to state that Bhanubhakta was not just a poet but also a consummate scholar who had a positive mindset with farsightedness, and above all, was an ocean of knowledge and wisdom.

Bhanu Jayanti greetings from Governor and CM

GANGTOK, 12 July [IPR]: On the occasion of Bhanu Jayanti, Governor BP Singh has extended his warm greetings to all the people of Sikkim.
“Bhanubhakta Acharya was a great scholar who made an everlasting contribution to Nepali literature. Scholars are the torch-bearers in every society. They deserve our respect. The younger generation in particular needs to be guided by these renaissance persons. I hope the Sikkimese people continue to celebrate the contributions of great scholars like Bhanubhakta, for such is the mark of a progressive society,” the Governor conveys.
Similarly, the Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling and Mrs. Tika Maya Chamling have also extended their warm greetings and best wishes to the people of Sikkim on the auspicious occasion of Bhanu Jayanti.

Sikkim Pratibha Pratishthan prepares for Bhanu Jayanti celebrations in Pakyong

GANGTOK, 05 July: Sikkim Prativa Prathisthan [SPP], Pakyong, in its preparation for Bhanu Jayanti celebrations has constituted several sub-committees to look after various events.
The celebrations will be presided over by senior litterateur, Mahananda Poudyal, and Gnathang-Machong area MLA, LM Lepcha will be present as chief guest on the occasion, informs a press release.
The celebration will start with a Sobha Yatra from Bhanu Vatika followed by a programme at St Xavier’s School auditorium, which will have Ramayan Path, poetry recitation competition, folk song and dance competitions and debate competition, it is informed.
According to the release, folk song and dance competition is open and audition will be conducted on 08 July at St Xavier’s School and selection test for poetry competition will be held at Puspanjali School on 09 July.
The organizing committee has invited all to take part in the celebrations to make it successful.

Pradhyuman Shrestha to receive Bhanu Puraskar

GANGTOK, 03 July: Pradhyuman Shrestha of Dentam in West Sikkim, a senior litterateur and editor, has been selected for this year’s Bhanu Puraskar. His name for the prestigious award was announced by the Nepali Sahitya Parishad yesterday. The award will be conferred on Bhanu Jayanti which falls on 13 July.
Mr. Shrestha will be presented with shawl, a citation, Tampatra and Rs. 21,001 in cash. Thus far, 25 persons have been felicitated with this award, an NSP press release informs.