Thinking local
From my own turf - 5
Furthering the Journey so far
Getting the Message across
Rajiva Shanker Shresta
It is Spring here to make me feel renascent – being reborn, springing into being reborn or vigour says its meaning to understand the word and that what I felt when we had the Book Preview held on the auspicious day of Holi Punhi/Purnima afternoon on Tuesday at Rachna Books at Gangtok. The occasion was not only to present our new book The Newars World-Wide Connecting the Dots Sikkim to the society I immediately belong to. To grace the ceremony was the Newar Icon Sikkim, one and the only one Keshab Chandra Pradhan as the Chief Guest in the august gathering that had young leader from our family as one of the most promising figure in the political arena that the Newars in Sikkim lacked. We had Bikram Pradhan, Area MLA/Chief Whip, who represents our home constituency Chujachen that also covers Aritar - otherwise more associated with Rhenock famous for The Chandra Nursery, to be the Guest of Honour. The day’s programme was compered in an excellent manner by none other than Dhiraj Pradhan, the person always with us in our efforts. Many know him for having presented the first milestone of the Rachna Books when we had the screening of the CD Rom of our book Vikasko Goreto : Grameen Proudyogiki way back in 2001 in a function held in the Nepali Sahitya Parishad Bhavan followed by another to celebrate its Silver Jubilee with Rachna Katha Anushthan in 2005. Both the functions were then graced by a galaxy of celebrities – the first one was to celebrate the personalities in Sikkim who excelled in the field of science and nature and whose works found place in the book translated by this author. The later effort was to bring before the society the promising young writers not only from Sikkim but from the whole country and neighbouring Nepal to participate in the Rachna Silver Jubilee Story-writing Competition to showcase and represent the contemporary writing and many of them have now established themselves as writers to reckon with in the society. This time around we had a cross section of well-wishers from our society who could make and be witness to the curtain raiser for the Book Preview of The Newars World-Wide Connecting the Dots Sikkim being launched during the Second WNO Convention 2016 USA at Baltimore on 26th March.
From my own turf to be with the fellow Newars from the heartland Nepal without expecting much but yet to bring for them the message of goodwill and solidarity was what all transpired within and inspired us to travel all the way to their homeland. It is not only matter of own interest but we were there to reach the message that we should all raise to the occasion to preserve, protect and promote our culture, tradition and heritage well before we have to face the plight our language suffered. It is not only in respect of the Newars in Sikkim that we lost it but also others too could face soon the same fate if not properly taken care of well in time if not be aware and care.
"There are only two forces that unite men" Find out who said it and what the author found Uniting for the Newah Cause and Civilization ~ ~ ~We bring with the Goodwill from the Newars in Sikkim - 'The Newars World~Wide Connecting the Dots Sikkim'. Trying to reach and re-connect with our friends and relatives in NEPAL with BOOK LAUNCH 14 Chaitra Sunday 27th March 200 pm at the Asha Safu Kuthi, Kulanbhulu/Raktakali in association with the Elohan Publications at Kathmandu following the Grand International Launch during the Second WNO Convention 2016 USA at Baltimore on 26th March. Earlier it was blessed by my seniors in the family on 23rd March as seen in the pictures here!
My postings on Facebook could bring a quick response from one of the most dedicated soul from the Newar heartland, who was not only the first person to book a copy of the book for himself to purchase and to get it he was quick also to respond willing to host the show in Kathmandu. This meant he would arrange the local logistics for organizing such an event right from the Chief Guest, Special Guest and also Key Note Speaker for making it a historic day to commemorate the Second WNO Convention 2016 USA. It was in Nareshbir Shakya of the Elohan Publications to come forward with warm hands of co-operation in solidarity with my efforts. People back home in Sikkim must be knowing him well for he was there as the then general secretary of the Nepal Bhasha Mankah Khala headed by the well-known human rights activist Dr. Padma Ratna Tuladhar and some 30 members as the delegates that comprised mainly of artistes in its cultural troupe. We wanted to be with them to cherish the memory almost 20 years old when they were in the capital on invitation of the Government of Sikkim to celebrate 50 Years of India’s Independence that the Department of Cultural Affairs and Heritage then headed by Jayshree Pradhan organized in 1997 to start with the year-long functions throughout this Himalayan State like elsewhere in the country. It was this writer in July next year to take over from her to continue and conclude with much fan-fare with adequate fund of Rs. 40.00 lakh especially provided by the Government of India. Fortunately for me it went off well to an overwhelming crowd in the cultural evening with artistes invited from Nepal aas well to dance all the night till wee hours to the music provided by the Carnival Band from Darjeeling. We had declared at midnight the year-long celebrations to have concluded by bursting of crackers out at the Paljor Stadium distributing packets of sweets that the Chamber of Commerce had organized for us. It was late Rosabell Namchyo known and respected didi since my school days in neighbourhood of the Happy Valley we stay, who was the Emcee who well managed and compered the show so well. For long time thereafter people enjoyed its video recording was repeatedly shown on SangramTV till the NayumaTV came in its place.
When we visited Naresh Bir we could know from him that for the Book Launch Nepal this Sunday we have the Newar Icon of Nepal Padma Ratna Tuladhar to be the Chief Guest and Lakshmana Rajbanshi as Special Guest while Naresh Bir Shakya to chair the function being held at the landmark Asha Safu Kuthi. For the Key-note Speaker on this occasion, he had requested Hiranya Lal Shrestha, former Nepalese Ambassador and Chairman of Foreign Relation and Human rights Committee of Parliament. Eminent educationist, writer of repute and a known face in Sikkim Lakshmana Rajbanshi, president of the Bakhan Dabu would also grace the occasion with a host of litterateurs. Asha Safu Kuthi is located near the Chwasa Pasa Chhen, another hub for Newar writers in the capital. Rajbanshi with Raja Shakya and a number of story-writers from Bakhan Dabu was in Gangtok for the Indrajatra 2011.
Reports of the Second WNO Convention 2016 USA started off well on Friday and about the second day were pouring in the press. It would be nice getting them too connected over the Skype to see the live telecast of the Book Launch Saturday night, which seems not possible. It is but natural to be quite exciting to know how my friends would find it as there could be any presentation without the author. It is, as such, best left with the readers there to make best out of the occasion.
As I said last week, I need not say much as it is but natural to nurture expectations from this new book to look forward from our esteemed readers and by the readers also from the book. "T’s the good reader that makes the good book." Ralph Waldo Emerson opined, all agree without doubt!
Disclaimer: This is author’s personal account of memories updated to cherish and treasure often on a detour here and there en route to share the joy of the journey called life. Some names, quotes, places and events mentioned are just to connect with and no malice whatsoever intended. He can be reached at [email protected]