This I am starting from where I had ended my article previously – readied and sent for its publication on the International Day of Older Persons. I did not then know that the article would be connected to the efforts of the senior citizens though I had concluded it with a note, “Just a co-incidence or is it innovating a trend this International Day of Older Persons, we see neighbouring Nepal roped in four seniors in an ad on the television for the forthcoming Constituent Assembly Election there…..”

As we were dispersing after yet another family get-together sprinkled with updates on issues as usual hardly mattered with as such, host my cousin Ravi handed over me a book he received from a guest staying at his Rhenock House recently, thinking I might be interested and do justice to it - thus passing it on I would make the best use of it though not concerning the Newars, the subject I like to write about. I thanked him and shared that a similar kind gesture (from an acquaintance who was here in Gangtok for the Indrajatra Sikkim 2011) few months back while at Kathmandu gave me the opportunity to know the Newa American Dabu and to contribute an article Connecting the Dots covering the events and gatherings during my this soujourn there last June for their annual souvenir Chicago Newa to commemorate the Nhu Dan Nepal Samvat 1134 Celebrations at Chicago, Illinois, USA.


                                                                  In Youth - days are short and years long                                                                                                                                     But in Old age - years are short and days long.
                                                                                           Pope Paul VI

Thinking local
October 1, 2013
Literary pursuits of the Newars in Sikkim 
Bhuwan Prasad Pradhan
In Tribute on his Birth Centenary                
- Rajiva Shanker Shresta 

Of the authors no more amidst us the name of Bhuwan Prasad Pradhan (1913-1999) comes instantly to my mind. His poems in Nepali mostly appeared in the Kanchanjungha (Editor Kashi Raj Pradhan 1958-70) while some English poems were published in the Sikkim (Editor Kaiser Bahadur Thapa 1970-71). Both were fortnightly brought out from Gangtok that filled the void in the literary sphere here and his writings left an indelible mark in the life of the people in Sikkim and outside. Bhuwan Prasad Pradhan was the first poet and writer here who wrote both in English and Nepali.

Grateful to his ancestors, viz. Taksari Chandrabir Newar and brother Laxmidas Newar, Bhuwan Prasad Pradhan has left us recorded the early history of modern Sikkim and for the contributions made by them. Based on the knowledge as a child he had from his grandmother before her death in 1937, Bhuwan Prasad Pradhan gives a short life sketch for a glimpse of the contributions of Laxmi Das Pradhan in Sikkim in Sikkimma Swargiya Laxmi Das Pradhanko Yogdan – Ek Jhalak (1993). Dedicating this to his ancestors, he acknowledged the support given by Prince Wangchuk Namgyal, Chief Minister Nar Bahadur Bhandari and all his near and dear relatives and of being inspired and encouraged by reading Sunanda Datta Ray’s Smash and Grab. On behalf of the publisher, Sikkim Bolchha Prakashan, Nar Bahadur Bhandari wrote of being pleased to present this booklet which was a brief account of an unforgettable chapter by the author out of devotion and loyalty to Sikkim that depict a bright era in the history of Sikkim. He also narrated in a simple and easy manner that after the foundation of Namgyal Dynasty was laid in Sikkim, the land of aborigine Lepchas, how the Newars invited found entry here and the role they played in the economic upliftment of the common people and their habitat. He hoped that this booklet would help in promoting communal harmony amongst the Sikkimese to show India and the world an outstanding example of kindness and like the Greek and reach the message of Udyogi sada Sukhi ,i.e.,  “Prosperity through Industry”.

Further dwelling upon the author, Bimal Chandra Rai, Member Sikshak Sahitya Sansthan of Namchi in his preface Dui Shabd finds historical fact presented in an easy way. The contribution of Laxmi Das Pradhan and his descendants to Sikkim had been praiseworthy. In fact, Taksari Late Chandra Bir Pradhan and Taksari Laxmi Das Pradhan were the prominent amongst the great personalities who initiated the process in making of modern Sikkim. Historians on Sikkim have not brought out this aspect to light. So, we can rest assured that this booklet would help bringing to light the facts fast vanishing from our memory.

गनथनकै गन्थन
 - राजीव शङ्कर श्रेष्ठ

गत ५ जुलाई २०१३ अवसर थियो हाम्रा श्रद्धेय भीमराज प्रधानजु र बिन्दुमती प्रधानजुको विवाहको ५० औँ वर्षगाँठ अनि स्थान गान्तोकको होटल मेफेयर रिसोर्ट एण्ड स्पा – सबै आफन्त अनि परिजन र केही मित्रजन भेला भएका थियौं यस सुखद भेटघाट र सौहार्दपूर्ण रमाइलो वातावरणमा | प्रारम्भिक हार्दिक बधाई र मङ्गलमय शुभकामना टक्र्याउँने क्रममा एक उल्लेखनीय विषय थियो आफ्नो श्रद्धा अनि आत्मीयता प्रकट गरी श्रद्धेय केशवचन्द्र प्रधानजुद्वारा यी वरिष्ठ युगलप्रति समर्पित विशेष सुनाखरी प्रस्तुत गरेका थिए| संयुक्त राज्य (बेलायत)-को रोयल हर्टिकल्चरल सोसायटीबाट यसको वैधता र नामकरण पंजीकृत  भएर पत्र हिज मात्र प्राप्त भएको कुरा उहाँले मलाई जनाउनु भयो र यस विशेष उपलब्धिको लागि हर्ष र उल्लासको  त्यो रमणीय क्षणलाई त्यस सुन्दर सुनाखरीसँग उहाँको एक फोटो खिच्ने अनुरोध गर्दै एक अविस्मरणीय घटनालाई आफ्नो फेसबुक मार्फत् सर्वत्र खुशी बाड़्ने अवसर छोप्छु| प्रसाद स्वरूप त्यो वर्षगाँठ केकको मेरो हिस्सा अलिक पर बसेर हेरिरहेकी आफ्नी श्रीमती रञ्जनासित बाँड़ीखानपुग्दा  त्यहाँ एक गजबको आनन्दमय स्थिति उत्पन्न हुन् गएको थियो अनि कसैले हाम्रो फोटो खिँचीदिए पनि हुन्थ्यो, असल हुने जस्तो अहिले लाग्छ| यो एक आपसी प्रेम र सद्भावनाले परिपूर्ण रमाइलो समारोह भएको थियो|

सबै आआफ्ना टेबलमा भेला भई ‘कौला’(भोजनअघिको अल्पाहार)का साथ गफ-सफ र सुख-दु:खको कुराकानीमा तल्लीन थिए| सिक्किम सरकारका भूतपूर्व मुख्य सचिव सोनाम वाङ्दी आफ्नो ‘लिटिल नलेज’(अल्प विद्या) - श्रृङ्खला अन्तर्गत् नकली नोट प्रकरणबारे संस्मरण सुनाएर हामीलाई मनोरन्जनका साथै अमूल्य जानकारी दिइरहेका थिए| यस्तैमा मेरा छेउ बसेका दिनेशप्रसाद प्रधानजुलाई अरुणकुमार प्रधानजुले आफ्नो कोटको खल्तीबाट एक कागज सुटुक्कै निकाल्दै गम्भीरतासाथ केही भन्छन् तर म केही सुन्न सक्दिनँ र यो ती दुई बिचको निजी मामला होला भन्ने लाग्छ| त्यस पछि हामी सबै भोजन तर्फ लाग्छौं |

यहीबिच मेरो अरुणकुमारजुसित फेरि भेट हुन्छ र उत्सुकतावश सोध्छु अघि दिएका कागजबारे| संक्षेपमा त्यो नाम्चीका अवकाशप्राप्त प्राचार्य बालकृष्ण श्रेष्ठजुको एक पुस्तकमा हाम्रा श्रद्धेय सी. डी. राईजुले भूमिकामा हाम्रा पूर्खाबारे केही गम्भीर टिप्पणी राखेको जानकारीदिँदै – त्यो हाम्रो ‘रचना पुस्तक’मा पनि बिक्रीमा रहेको होला भन्छन्, तर सो नभएको जनाउँदा - मलाई पनि एक प्रतिलिपि पठाइ दिने कुरा गर्छन् | यस कुराले मलाई खुबै प्रभावित गर्छ र म घर फर्केपछि आफ्नो ‘जय स्मृति शोध ग्रन्थालय’मा भएका बालकृष्ण श्रेष्ठजुका तीनै पुस्तकहरु – “बालकृष्ण श्रेष्ठका प्रारम्भिक रचनाहरु”, “श्रेष्ठका आँखीझ्यालबाट सिक्किमका वरद् पुत्रहरू” (दुवै २००२) अनि “सिक्किमका नेवार जातिका संक्षिप्त ऐतिहासिक टिपोट” (२००९) हेर्छु तर कहींकतै सो प्रसङ्ग भएको पाउँदिन| अन्तिम पुस्तकमा भने एक ठाउँ “रिनाकका स्वर्गीय जयशंकर लाल श्रेष्ठ र उनका पुत्र श्री आर. एस. श्रेष्ठ आई. ए. एस., जसले नेवार जातिको विभिन्न पुस्तकहरु लेखेका छन् ...” वर्णन गरेको पाउँछु, धन्यवाद!
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फोटो-परिचय
सिक्किम नेवार गुठीका मुख्य संरक्षक श्री केशवचन्द्र प्रधान आफ्नो नवीनतम सुनाखरी “रिन्कोलेलियो केट्लिया भीमराज-बिन्दु एनिभर्सरी जोय्”सित