- Rajiva Shanker Shresta
Once upon a time his and my family used to be the next door neighbours
close to each other at Chaukhambha Varanasi till early 1950s when I was moved
to Gangtok for my studies and soon my parents followed to Rhenock from
Kalimpong with Indo-Tibet trade that came to an abrupt end and to our family trade as well. One Sunday noon
there I saw Durgadai dissecting a frog at his home and learnt he was keen
pursuing to become a doctor.I too got interested to be a doctor, which inspite
of a Government of India scholarship in 1963 it could not materialize as a
medical seat for me could not be provided by the Department thus spoiling a
valuable year. This made me re-join Darjeeling Government College for my B.Sc.
Honours and M.Sc. in Zoology with Dr. BishwapatiDasgupta as the Head of the
Department and later Principal there. He had already four PhDs in 1967-68 and
we were inspired to pursue our studies towards a PhD through dissecting toads,
earthworms, rats, guinea-pigs, pigeons, mosquitoes, gnats and silverfishes
besides burrowing through latest research papers and scientific journals. He
even recommended and certified me being good for teaching job as a profession.Years
after we were in the Government jobs, another teacher Dr. Mohitosh Banerjee came
visitingus in Gangtok and encouraged to pursue a PhD for ourselvesinspite of
being absorbed in our respective field. Neither I nor Tanka Ram Sharma could
fulfill the dream but Dr. Surendra Kumar Pradhan, a year junior to me in M.Sc.
who joined Sikkim Government College achieved this feat to become the Principal
and retire from there. Dr. Diwakar Pradhan who heads Nepali Department in the
Banaras Hindu University had mentioned me once how profusely we get such
Doctorates aplenty each year these days compared to a very few to accomplish
and achieve the rare feat that is now 50 years ago! Only solace for me was that
I could acknowledge Dr. Dasgupta for my first ever book SaralJiwaVigyan,
a high school level biology textbook for Rashtriya Prakashan of Birgunj,
Nepal with Nepali terminologies for scientific terms soon after my BSc (Hons.)
in 1967.
Jai Smarak Samman
Recognizing his immense potentials Durgadai was brought in the advisory
body and this association with the Sahitya Akademi infused fresh blood
in his endeavor for the benefit of readers. Knowing his life-long contributions
to the language, literature and the society, he was our naturalchoice as the
most deserving and dedicated person to be honoured with the first Jai Smarak
Sammaninstituted and awarded in memory of our late father/founder of Rachna
Books when celebrating its Silver Jubilee in 2005.He could not be here in
the function held at the Nepali Sahitya Parishad Bhavanwith well-known litterateur
MahanandPoudyaland for the better. Very soon we had the opportunity to hand
over the award in a function held in Kathmandu, where I had some family
obligation to attend and learnt Durgadai to be there too. Grand old lady and a literary
figure Angoor Baba Joshi was the chief guest in this functionchaired by the
veteran litterateur Balkrishna Parajuly (who had edited Kashi Bahadur Smriti
Granth1996)that Ramesh Khakurel managed efficiently with his witty remarks
to entertain the audience that itself comprised of literary celebrities like
Modnath‘Prashrit’, Ratna Shamsher Thapa, Nagendra Prasad Sharma, TulasiBhattarai,
Mahesh Banskota, PushkarLohani, Ashok Banskota, Dibya Giri, Govind Prasad
Shrestha, Anand Prakash Nepal, Shailendra Prakash Nepalbesides
a host of enthusiastic youth that brings to mind instantly the names of the
literary-photographer Kumar Ale and the Newatech Subhash Prajapati now
in Seattle USA, the founder of www.nepalmandal.com who authored many books on the rich Newar
culture and tradition beforehand.Parajuly was kind enough to donate and oblige
us with some of his best works like Nepali LokgeetkoAlok and SamjhnakoKshitijma
for our newly launched Jai Smriti Shodh Granthalaya. It was quite
amusing to learn from the guests there in a lighter friendly teatime that such
awards were sponsored by the person honoured with the award money coming back
to him. Another one quipped that we run after the award to grab one but here
the award itself is running after the author to honour him! This we took as
compliment as the function was a grand success to gauge the depth and height of
Durgadai’s popularity away from his homeland.
Kashi Bahadur Shrestha Birth CentenarySeminar
Chip of the old block he is and Durgadai could pay best way tribute to
his late father on the birth anniversary in 2012. He could rope in the Sahitya
Akademi to organize Kashi Bahadur Shrestha Birth CentenarySeminarfor
two days amidst ahost of literary luminaries of the country when they all
converged to the Paradkar Bhavan in Varanasi on 14 and 15October and a
month later on 13 November at the Pragya Bhavan in Kathmandu Nepal jointly
with the Nepal PragyaPratishthan (Academy).This was a befitting reply to
a member in the Akademi who trying to malign the age-old reputation had
questioned the need for holding such a centenary in memory and honour of a
person whomhe alleged to be from Nepal. He had even attempted to benefit of his
position there to canvass and secure the Akademi award for his book when
the whole of the Nepali literary world was ashamed being unfortunate to be
deprived of the much coveted award that year – the black year to burden our
heart with!
Now with Parasmani Smriti Puraskarbagged which is to be handed
over to him on 26th February in a function to be held at the RamkrishnaRangmanch
in Kalimpong, I am wondering if Durgadai could make it also possible for the Nepali
Sahitya Sammelan, Darjeeling to honour him with the Diyalo Puraskar
that is waiting him since it was declared in 2012. I had suggested him to be
there for this during the launch of our Sharad Chettri Smritigranth in
June last year making it convenient as well to hand over the Madan Smriti
Samman to the veteran litterateur Krishna Singh Moktan in his capacity as
the chair of the Vidya-Dharma PrachariniNepali Samiti that organizes the
function for the Balchandra Palace Trust with another doyen of the
Nepali literary world Kamal Dixit.
Uday BachauAbhiyan
Towards the turn of the century, his visits here and again seeking
financial support from the Government after Durgadai brought out ten issues of
the revived Uday and to collect the payment of copies of Kashibahadur
Shrestha Smrititgranth supplied brought him near to frustration. Around the
same time MuktinathUpadhayayBaralin his article Nepali Prakashan KehiGanthanin
the leading news-daily SunchariSamachar while narrating the ills that ails
to mar the Nepali literature posed us a question whether the responsibility of
continuing with theUday kept alive was the responsibility only of its
editor Durga Prasad alone. Entirely agreed and finding it to be the opportune
time I thought why not take up the matter forward and pass it on and address it
to the learned readers themselves. Best to set an example by precept, I became
the Patron myself from the Life Membership obtained previously and approached
the then Speaker Kalawati Rai for her support to the movement launched by me to
save the 36 old magazine – Uday BachauAbhiyan. She not only readily
accepted to be the Patron but also subscribed Life Membership to the Sikkim
Legislative Assembly Library.It was through the support of late Udaichand Pradhan who
ceaselessly worked to promote the Uday roping in many of the literary
figures to make our Darjeeling list respectable. While it was through kindness of wellwishers
like Gopi Chandra Pradhan, Surya Shrestha and K. B. Hingmang there and Pradyumn
Shrestha and Tika Dhungel here who extended their support to keep our efforts
continued and to our dream alive.
Durgadai is a perfect example of the popular maxim
‘Simple living high thinking’ and this I can write here sharing an aspect of
his life - devotion to his Guru. He had been disappearing to the Ashram
sometimes near Ranchi and even in Nepal for months together. I could know the
reason thereof only when he reached Gangtok in October 2006 to give me with his
love and affection a copy of the YogikoAtmakatha, the Nepali version of the
famous work of ParamhansYoganandAn Autobiography of a Yogi that is
translated in 21 languages the world over – this one was from Durgadai. Happy
to get it, I try to find and see his name in the book but lo, no name or
mention of him anywhere therein. Finding me surprised, he enlightens me the
reason - the toil was his Guru Dakshinahe offered to the YogdaSatsang
Society of India!
Sahitya Akademi has decided its Nepali Literature Award this time
to MankaRahar ra Laharharu to an octogenarian M. B. Pradhan for his
brilliant travelogue – a welcome new trend honouring an elderly in recognition
of his lifelong contributions to the language, literature and society in turn.
Such an award too early in one’s life often bring no further contributions
sometimes as the winner is satisfied with his achievement: instead of boosting
his spirits it boosts his ego only. Elderly people who have devoted their whole
life have now something to look forward. Otherwise, the only hope was the Madan
Smriti Samman awarded by the Balchand Palace Trust in functions organized
by the Vidya-Dharma Pracharini Nepali Samiti in Varanasi each year to such literary figures with lifetime
dedicated service. Nepali Sahitya Adhyayan SamitithatM. B. Pradhanheads
- decides to award Paras Mani Smriti Puraskar this year to septuagenarianDurga
Prasad Shrestha, who is the editor-publisher of Varanasi-based literary
periodical Uday.This he deserved in view of his lifelong contributions
to the Nepali language, literature and society not only in the country but in
neighbouring Nepal rather the world over. This also means recognition to the Uday
for its role in continue building up the Nepali language and literature for
three generations now since it first appeared in 1937 to last 83 issues till
1957 thereafter to 151st issue last August since Durgadai took the
cudgels to revive and republish continue the good work his father started.
Durga Prasad being thus recognized, this year his
75th Birthday seems to augur well with two of the works being
brought out by the Sahitya Akademi. One is a biography Kamala
Sanskritayan: EkJiwaniwhile the other is his Hindi translation of his
father’s classic work Basant soon after Kashibahadur Shrestha :
Vyaktitva au Krititvathe papers obtained during the Kashi Bahadur
Shrestha Birth Centenary Seminar in 2012compiled and edited by him for the
same organization last year.He has thus proved to be worthy son of a worthy
father and paid for the blood he owed to his father.
On the occasion of his birthday, let us wish him a
long life full of good health, zeal and vigour to reach new heights in the
coming days that would benefit us - the readers and the posterity as well for
long time to come.
The author can be contacted on shrestars@gmail.com or at
‘Rachna’, opposite Manan Bhavan/Secretariat, Gangtok, Sikkim.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Readers are invited to comment on, criticise, run down, even appreciate if they like something in this blog. Comments carrying abusive/ indecorous language and personal attacks, except when against the people working on this blog, will be deleted. It will be exciting for all to enjoy some earnest debates on this blog...