Bhanu Jayanti celebrates the Adikavi and contemporary litterateurs

GANGTOK, 13 July: Chandra Das Rai has been conferred with the Bhanu Puraskar today on the occasion of the 200th Bhanu Jayanti Celebration here at Manaan Kendra. He has recieved this award for his role in the establishment of APATAN Sahitya, a pioneering literary institution of Sikkim in the Sixties.
A former bureaucrat and a veteran journalist and former politician, Mr. Rai has worn many hats in his 90 years thus far. One of these featured him playing an instrumental role in the formation of APATAN Sahitya Parishad, an involvement which earned him the Bhanu Puraskar on this significant 200th birth anniversary of the Adikavi.
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Rai reminisced about the activities undertaken during the initiation of Bhanu Jayanti celebrations in Sikkim. He also extended complements to the leaders for their contributions made towards the recognition of Nepali language.
Also on the occasion, the Bhasa Sewa Sri Samman was conferred on Binita Rai, Sahitya Sri Samman to Binashri Kharel, Sangeet Sri Samaan to Jagadish Sharma, Chitrakarita Sri Samaan on Homnath Mishra, Patrakarita Sri Samman to Rudra Kaushik and Natya Sri Samman to Bimal Kafley.
Likewise, Aruna Shankar of Singtam Senior Secondary School was felicitated with a certificate and cash prize for scoring the highest marks in Nepali in CBSE class XII examinations while Ravi Ranjan Prasad of Tashi Namgyal Senior Secondary School received the Tulsha Devi Memorial Award.
The awards were handed over by the Speaker KN Rai, who is also the working president of the celebration committee, Minister Tulshi Devi Rai, former Chief Minister, Sikkim Sangram Praishad president NB Bhandari and former Speaker, Kalawati Subba.
Speaking about the contributions of Adikavi Bhanunhakta, the Speaker encouraged the people to take inspiration from the life of the Adikavi and contribute more substantially towards the society. He also suggested that instead to just reciting the Ramayana, one should practice its lessons and teachings.
Mr. Rai also suggested that the Bhanu Jayanti celebrations be promoted and organized as a tourism event as well to showcase the art, culture, traditions and culinary specialties of the region to the world.
He highlighted that doing so would also attract the younger generation towards their language, culture, traditions and value systems. He urged everyone to work in the closer coordination in this regard.
“Everyone has to be responsible to make the society healthy and creative so the literary people shoulder the greater responsibility to teach the language, literature, culture and traditions to the young,” he stressed.
On the occasion, renowned literary figures from different states and neighbouring Darjeeling hills also felicitated Chief Minister Pawan Chamling for having successfully returned to helm the government for the fifth consecutive term and for his contributions towards the development of the state. The felicitation was received by the Speaker on the CM’s behalf.
Likewise, they also felicitated the former CM NB Bhandari for having successful led the state for 15 years from 1979 to 1994.
The programme also featured cultural performances by different clubs and students. The chief guest and other guests also released “Bhanu Smarika” and other books.
The function started with the welcome address by treasurer, Kuber Bhandari and concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by general secretary, Parasmani Dangal.
Earlier, the daylong programme began with the garlanding to the statue of the Adikavi by Governor Shriniwas Patil at Bhanu Udayan.
From there, a rally was taken out represented by various organizations, schools and institutions.