Lamichhane, Neupane bag Padmashree award

The Khemlal Harikala Lamichhane Samaj Kalyan Pratishtan on Sunday announced to give away this year’s Padmashree Sahitya Samman jointly to Dhruva Sapkota for his novel Akalpaneeya and Amar Neupane for his work Paani ko Gham.

In his novel, Sapkota has portrayed the problems of refugees in Sikkim, Tibet and Nepal, while Neupane carried out the study of literature in Nepalgunj region.

The award carries a purse of Rs.1,50,000.

Earlier, litterateurs Ganesh Rasik, Bhanubhakta Pokharel and Krishna Baral were honoured with the award.

Full report here Himalayan Times

Lores of yore

The collection of Lepcha folk tales is aimed at giving a glimpse into the world of the fast vanishing tribe
Young author Yishey Doma in the acknowledgements section of her recently released book Legends of The Lepchas: Folk Tales from Sikkim (Westland and Tranquebar Press) writes “finally my mother and my late father — storehouse of folktales; if it weren't for you I wouldn't have grown up listening to stories.”

Listening to folk tales is an inevitable part of growing up in a Lepcha child's life. And for a tribe that shares such a deep bond with mother earth, it is only inevitable that nature stands at the core of every Lepcha lore. Soaked in nature, weaving various legends, myths, values and beliefs of the tribe are the stories told by Yishey in this book. The compact book adorning an image of Lepcha textile on its cover carries 22 stories, each accompanied by an illustration by Pankaj Thapa.

Remarkably, the stories chosen in this collection hold their own as individual tales but together they appear to be a set of tales, all connected with each other, leading one to another, collectively painting a picture of the history and the subsequent growth of the Lepchas. Yishey begins with “Children of the Snowy Peaks” which reveals how Itbu-moo, mother creator, gave birth to mountains, lakes and rivers and finally the first human being, ‘Fudonthing'. The next lore “The Death of Lasso Mung Puno” is about how the human race saved itself from the demon king.

Full report here Hindu

A tribute to P G Tenzing

It was not a very appropriate time to share a reading experience. And it did not turn out to be so either. Sheela Thomas, secretary to the Chief Minister, only took some time off to talk to about P G Tenzing, a friend who always followed his heart - when he crash-landed into the Civil Services at age 22, when he waded through the bureaucratic labyrinth relying on his own instincts to function as a beacon light, when he junked the cozy IAS moorings to set off on an Enfield Thunderbird for those miles he had to go before he slept.

“The book is a reflection of the man he was, someone who took life head on and made inconveniences and difficulties seem like enjoyable escapades. A journey on a bike all around the country will not be all about fun, but he talks about things like the bike needing a repair as if it was part of the fun he was on the look out for.”

The Sikkim-born Palden Gyatso Tenzing, an officer in the Kerala cadre, happened to get acquainted with Sheela Thomas when they served as sub collectors in the neighbouring sub-divisions of Chengannur and Adoor. They became family friends who visited each other whenever they had a chance. When he was posted in Thiruvananthapuram in 2005, he chose to live in the same apartment as that of the Thomas family. “His voluntary retirement came as a bolt from the blue, many of us friends tried to dissuade him saying that it was a loss to the Civil Services and the State.”

Full report here New Indian Express

Remembering Adikavi

AdiKavi Bhanu Bhakta Acharya is the most highly renowned and famous of poets who wrote in the Nepali language. He was born on the 13th of July, 1814 in Chundi Ramgha of Tanahu district in Nepal and was educated at home by his grandfather, Krishna Acharya.

AdiKavi Bhanu Bhakta Acharya wrote a great many poems. His ‘Ramayan’ became very popular among the Nepali people. He translated the Ramayan from Sanskrit to Nepali so  beautifully that every Nepali could remember the whole volume of Ramayan by heart.

AdiKavi Bhanu Bhakta Acharya
Adikavi Bhanu Bhakta is considered to be the first poet to write in the Nepali language. Poets before him in Nepal usually wrote in Sanskrit. So, Bhanu Bhakta Acharay is called Adikavi (early poet) of the Nepali language Apart from this, after Bhanu Bhakta, the Nepali language gradually started to become standard and refined.

Full report here Voice of Sikkim

Bhanu Purashkar choice correct, says Singtam organizations

The Sawney-Bardang block committee of All Sikkim Schedule Caste Welfare Association has termed the decision of the Nepali Sahitya Parishad (NSP) to bestow ‘Bhanu Puraskhar 2010’ to Chief Minister Pawan Chamling ‘Kiran’ as a ‘correct choice’.

Stating that Chamling had given valuable and selfless service to Nepali literature, the organization president Nandu Dutraj said that the selection process was done in a democratic and transparent manner.

Similarly, the monthly literary forum, ‘Basibiyalo’ has endorsed the decision of NSP to award the Chief Minister with the Bhanu Puraskhar 2010.

Full report here Voice of Sikkim

NSP to confer Bhanu Purashkar to Sikkim CM

Chief Minister of Sikkim Pawan Chamling will be conferred with the prestigious Bhanu Purashkar by Nepali Sahitya Parishad during the Bhanu Jayanti celebration on July 13.

The award is being conferred to Pawan Chamling ‘Kiran’ for his outstanding contribution in the promotion and development of Nepali literature, informs a press release issued by Nepali Sahitya Parishad.

Poet ‘Kiran’ started writing at the early age of 17 including ‘Vir ko Parichay’ and several others. Some of his writings are Antaheen Sapna Mero Bipana, Mo ko Hun, Mero Sapana ko Sikkim, Damthang Hijo Aja and others.

Established in 1985, the Nepali Sahitya Parishad has been conferring this award to encourage writers who have contributed for the promotion of Nepali language and literature. About 24 literary figures have received the award so far.

Full report here Voice of Sikkim

Nagaland poetry competition celebrates region's writers

The 5th Nagaland Poetry competition 2010 in celebration of 175 years of Assam Rifles and 25 years of the Poetry Society India, organized by coordinator North East Region (NER) Poetry Society India (PSI) and Assam Rifles took place on Monday at 16th Assam Rifles with state Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and Nyeiwang Konyak, Minister of School Education and SCERT gracing the events as chief guest and the guest of honour respectively.

The theme of competition is “Friends of the Hill People” and a total of 2,346 entries were received, out of which 1127 were male entries and 1219 female entries. The ten top winners of the poetry competition recited their poems. Addressing the gathering, Rio lauded the Assam Rifles for completing glorious 175 years of existence and for creating many memorable milestones and also building trust with the north east people. Congratulating the Assam Rifles for the service to the people, he said that the AR not only provided security to the people, but were also involved in carrying out many welfare programme for the people. On the AR slogan “Friends of Hill people”, the chief minister said that the tribal people, especially the Nagas were straight forward and stated “If you are his friend, he will give his life for you and if you are his enemy, he will take your life”. The chief minister also said that the Assam Rifles should live with their slogan Friends of the Hill people in the years to come and wished them a bright future in service of the nation and for the people of Northeast.

On the poetry competition, he said that literature and music played an important role in promoting peace in the world and encouraged the budding poets and award winners to use their God given talents to the fullest. He further congratulated all the award winners and released the book The Voices of North East Poets. The chief minister also felicitated six poets of the region - awards winners Mamang Dai from Arunachal Pradesh, professor Streamlet Dkhar from Meghalaya, Head of Khasi department NEHU Shillong, professor L. Khiangte from Mizoram, head of Mizo department from Mizoram University, Bijay Bantawa from Sikkim, Editor of Snowline Magazine, Kalyan Gupta from Tripura, director of art and culture, Tripura and Raghu Leishangtiem from Manipur, Seike Academy.

Full report here Nagaland Post 

Sikkim town felicitates senior poet

The town of Singtam in Sikkim celebrated and enjoyed the 23rd Basibiyalo program that was held at East Point SSS premises with noted personalities from Sikkim Nepali literature participating in it. The Basibiyalo programme conducted and organised under the leadership of Mohan Pradhan “Neeraj” is the talk of the town with all age of life participating in it and its success story had also been appreciated beyond Singtam. Mohan Pradhan “Neeraj” is the major factor behind the program.

The personality attending the function included Raj K Shrestha, Dhruva Lohagan, Deo Kumar Dumi, Lalita Karkidoli, Amar Baniya Lohoro, Arjun Piyush, BB Rai, HN Sharma, Ganesh Rai, Bishnu Rai, Radha Pradhan and others. The Chief Guest Dhruva Lohagan lighted the diyo that was followed by the introductory poem recitation by Jayashree Chettri. The poet to follow after her included Prakash Subedi “Khamdungea”, Radha Pradhan, Amar Bania “Lohoro”, Arjun Piyush, Dev Narayan Sharma, Bhupal Kaushik and Prahlad Poudyal. The entertainment aspect of the day long programme was also given preference with noted singers Deu Kumar Dumi and Lalita Karkidoli singing in front of the gathered audience and with RP Sharma and Kaziman Sunar performing stand-up comedy and miniatures respectively. Dance items by Yankee Tamang and Singlila Academy School, Singtam were also highly appreciated by the gathered audience.

Full report here Voice of Sikkim