Contents

CONFERENCES

3. The Centenary Conference with the focus "Mahakavi Devkota: Our Centemporary" took place at Apex College, Baneshwor, from February 24-26, 2009 (Falgun 13-15, 2065). A total of 45 participants formally registered for the conference in which 17 papers (3 in Nepali and 14 in English) were presented. Besides the papers, Litterateur Rajeshwor Devkota, Professor Madhav Prasad Pokharel and Professor Krishna Gautam spoke on the spiritual dimension, the language, and the genres of Poet Devkota respectively. A pannel discussion was also conducted on Poet Devkota's "The Lunatic."

2. The Devkota Centre held its Second Annual Conference from November 23-24, 2007. Poet Laureat Madhav Prasad Ghimire inaugurated the event as its Chief Guest. A total of 13 papers (seven in English and six in Nepali) were presented during the conference. The major focus of the conference was "Birds in Devkota's literary works." A total of 87 scholars attended the conference.

An audio CD containing Mahakavi Devkota's "Rastriya Gaan" (National Anthem) put to music by Bhupendra Rayamajhi and sung by Bhibhu Koirala, Pradeep Niraula, Shiva Pariyar, Sheela Bista, Manisha Pokharel, Sumitra Niraula, and Srijana Gajurel was released by Poet Madhav Prasad Ghimire during its Inaugural Session.

1. The Devkota Centre held its First Annual Conference from June 9-10, 2006. Litterateur Rajeshwor Devkota inaugurated the event as its Chief Guest. A total of 11 papers (seven in English and four in Nepali) were presented during the conference. A total of 68 scholars attended the conference. ^top

SEMINARS ON DEVKOTA RESEARCH

1. On Thursday, the 21st. of August, 2008 (Bhadra 5, 2065), Devkota Centre invited some fifteen scholars to a brainstorming session at Kavi-Kunja. The purpose was to discover various ways of promoting Devkota scholarship. The group decided that it would meet about twice every month to study Devkota. Since these scholars come from various campuses of the capital, they will also suggest and encourage their students to conduct research on the works of Poet Devkota. On this occasion, this group also discussed the poet's "A Fling On the Past," a poem that is also concerned with the status of foreign languages in Nepal.

2. On Thursday, the 18th. of September, 2008 (Ashwin 2, 2065), Devkota Centre held its second seminar in the series on Devkota Research. The group discussed "A Fling on the Past" in more detail. Padma Devkota suggested a list of books to be read on the life and works of Mahakavi Devkota. Then, the group discussed some tentative topics for theses. The seminar ended with the decision that Padma Devkota will collect and provide a handout of tentative thesis topics that students may want to write their research on.

MONTHLY PROGRAMMES

MONTHLY PROGRAMMES (2010)

37. A school level national poetry competition was organized by DSRC on Friday, the 18th. of June, 2010 (corresponding to the 4th. of Ashad 2067) at Nepal Academy, Kamaladi. From a total of forty-one competitors, five students were awarded a cash prize. The first prize won Rs. 7,000; the second prize won Rs. 5000 and the third prize won Rs. 3000 each. There were three third prize winners. The prize winners were also gifted with the publications of DSRC in addition to a Centenary T-Shirt.

The prize winners were: First, Shreya Acharya, Class 8, Nightingale Higher Secondary School, Lalitpur; Second, Sarita Dhakal, Class 9, Shree Shramik Secondary School, Hetauda; Third, Sagar Gharti Magar, Class 9, Pashupati Mitra Secondary School, ; Third Himal Pokharel, Class 4, New Environment English Secondary School, Manigram, Rupendehi; and Third, Pradeep Bhandari, Class 10, Tulasi Meher Memorial Higher Secondary School, Hetauda.

The judges were Professors Koshraj Neupane and Prabha Bhattarai.

MONTHLY PROGRAMMES (2009)

31. A total of 85 people attended the Poetry Symposium jointly organized by Mahakavi Laxmi Prasad Devkota Study and Research Centre and Nirjhar Vangmaya Prathisthan at Universal College, Maitidevi Chwok, on Saturday, February 7, 2009 (Magh 25, 2065). Poet laureate Madhav Prasad Ghimire was the Chief Guest of the symposium chaired by Professor Dr. Durga Prasad Bhandari..

Poems were read in thirteen languages: Nepali, English, Limbu, Urau, Tajpuria, Sherpa, Gurung, Tamang, Rai, Maithili, Urdu, Hindi, and Sanskrit. Among poets who recited their poems were Abdul Salam Khan, Angdawa Sherpa, Basanta Lohani, Bunu Lamichhane, Dilli Limbu, Dipak Kumar Shah, Ganesh Bahadur Gurung, Kali Prasad Rijal, Lalgopal Subedi, Madhav Prasad Ghimire, Manoj Mukti, Mohan Lohani, Nawaraj Karki, Nepal Prasad Sangden, Radhika Limbu, Ramesh Khakurel, Rameshwor Raut Matridas, Ramkishan Urau, Shyamdas Vaishnav, Sanat Kumar Vasti, Shreehari Fuyanl, Sirjana Gole, Taramani Rai, Tejendra Tajpuria, Thakur Sharma, Tikaram Adhikary, Tulsi Diwas, Udaya Singh, Venimadhav Dhakal, Vishnuraj Atraya, Yadav Bhattarai, and others.

32. Four hundred people benefitted from a Free Health Camp organised jointly by Mahakavi Laxmi Prasad Devkota Study and Research Centre and National Research and Development Centre in the precincts of Adarsha Shaula Youbak Uccha Mahavidhyalaya, Bungmati, Lalitpur on Saturday May 9, 2009 (Baisakha 26, 2066). Suresh Thapa co-ordinated the event in which Dr. Anjani Kumar Sharma (Senior Surgeon), Dr. Arjun Dev Bhatta (Senior Urosurgeon), Dr. Sanjeev Dhungel (Senior Physician and Cardiologist), Dr. Sunil Kumar Sharma (Senior Surgeon), Dr. Krishna Chandra Devkota (Senior Chest Specialist), Dr. Sunil Raja Manandhar (Pediatrician), Dr. Santosh Shakya (Endocrinologist and Diabetologist), Dr. Rajesh Shakya (Dermatologist), and other health specialists offered their services free of cost. The Free Health Camp also dispensed necessary medicines to patients free of cost.

33. On Tuesday June 24, 2009 (Asar 9, 2066), Devkota Centre conducted a book release program in the Tourism Board Lecture Hall, Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu. Poet Madhav Prasad Ghimire released The Lunatic and Other Poems, a bi-lingual collection of thirty Nepali poems of Laxmi Prasad Devkota with English translations by the poet himself. Speaking on the occasion, Poet Ghimire lauded the Centre's activities and emphasized the need to make more Nepali literature accessible to the English-speaking world.

On the same occasion, Professor Dr. Basudev Tripathi released the special Centenary Issue of Devkota Studies 6, which contains several memoirs and a poem in addition to its regular research articles. He spoke about the poetic growth of Poet Devkota and highlighted the importance of the poems published in Indreni.

34. On Saturday July 4, 2009 (Asar 20, 2066), Devkota Centre organised a Cultural Mega Event at the Nepal Academy Hall. Eighteen of Devkota's lyrics were put to music and sung by professional artists. Below is a complete list of first line of songs, singers, musicians, titles of poems and their source (in Nepali):

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Guest Ambar Gurung commented that this was indeed a genuine celebration of Poet Devkota in whose presence he had sung a song as a young boy. Devkota had then encouraged him by saying that he should continue singing for his future was bright. Ratna Shumsher Thapa, the co-ordinator of the programme, said that the programme was going to be a unique experience not only because Devkota's poetry had been put to music but also because the audience was going to relish the decency, modernity, and originality of Nepali songs. Speaking from the chair, Padma Devkota said that the purpose of this event was also to bring out a live album of Devkota's lyrics so that good literature could be more easily internalized by the public.

Mr. Ramsharan Karki, Director of Radio Nepal, offered to air one of these eighteen songs daily through Radio Nepal. He also offered to record the album in the studio of Radio Nepal.

The entire event was broadcasted live by Ilam FM.

35. On August 29, 2009 (Bhadau 13, 2066) Devkota Centre organised a Blood Donation Camp in the precincts of Asha Mandir Boarding School, Shastrimarga, Maitidevi, to commemorate the Centenary Year of Poet Devkota.

36. On Friday, November 13, 2009 (Kartik 27, 2066) Devkota Centre held Closing Ceremony of Mahakavi Devkota's Centenary Year. Litterateur Rajeshwar Devkota was the chief guest on this occasion. Ratna Shumsher Thapa released "Janmadekhi Sunyasamma" (a listening book CD consisting of thirty-three of Mahakavi Devkota's poems read by Khagendra Nepali and published by Waves Etc. Ltd. London) to the public. Similarly Professor Jagannath Sharma Tripathi released Mahakavi Laxmiprasad Devkotaka Khandakavyaharu to the public. This anthology contains ten long narrative poems of Mahakavi Devkota with promise of including more in the next print. The seventh issue of Devkota Studies too came out on this occasion.

Padma Devkota who chaired the event said that although DSRC had organized only ten events during the Devkota Centenary Year, other events planned during this year would continue being held in the near future.

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MONTHLY PROGRAMMES (2008)

23. January 12, 2008. Padma Kannya Campus, Bagbazar: Members of Devkota Centre met to discuss Poet Devkota's "A Call."

24. January 31, 008. Kavi-Kunja, Maitidevi: Litterateur Jagadish Shumsher Rana spoke on the relevance of Poet Devkota today.

25. Saturday, March 22, 2008 (Chaitra 9, 2064). IACER, Baneshwor Heights: Associate Professor Kosh Raj Neupane of Tri-Chandra Campus, Tribhuvan University, spoke about his impressions of Poet Devkota's personality and brought in facts, legends and myths connected with the poet to highlight his point.

26. Saturday, May 10, 2008. ( Baishak28. 2065) Thirty-one members of Devkota Centre discussed "Birth Anniversary" by Mahakavi Devkota. The group appreciated the tension of the poem between things the poet feels strongly that he has yet to accomplish and the life that he has spent joyfully.

27. Saturday, June 14, 2008. A group discussion on Mahakavi Devkota's poem "Varsha" was held at IACER, Baneshwor Heights.

28. Saturday, September 13, 2008 (Bhadra 28, 2065). Twenty-nine members of Dekvota Centre met at Kavi-Kunja, Maitidevi, at 4:00 pm to discuss Mahakavi Devkota's short story titled "Teej." Ms. Sangita Yadav presented an initiation paper that focused conflicts and tensions in the story to show how a normal and hard working person, under soical and familial pressures, becomes a neurotic. During the discussion, Professor Mohan Prasad Lohani highlighted the bitter social reality that reduced the cultural significance of teej and also pointed out the insensitivity of the wife towards Ramakanta Kafle, the protagonist of the story. Dr. Durga Prasad Aryal talked about how autobiographical elements are present in the story. Mr. Mohan Bahadur Kayastha opined that it is not the culture of teej that is corrupt, it is society itself that is corrupt in the story. He also disagreed with Ishwar Baral, an emininent critic, when he said that he found the story complete in itself. Basanta Lohani commented on the social, economic and conventional/traditional aspects of the story. Sharad Chandra Thakur, Mahesh Poudel, and Dikshya Pokherel (Devkota) also commented on the story.

29. Wednesday, November 12, 2008. (Centenary Event No. 1.) Devkota Centre organised a programme at Kavi-Kunja, Maitidevi to commemorate Poet Devkota's One Hundredth Birth Anniversary. After the inauguration of the event, the poet's "Rastriya Gaan" was sung live. Then, his eldest daughter, Savitri Regmi, and his granddaughter, Sushma Sharma, Kali Prasad Rijal, Ratna Shamsher Thapa and others recited their poems. Poet's Devkota's "Aakshyapika" and "Janmotsav" were also recited in the course of the event. The poet's taped voice was played and so were his songs. The speakers on this occasion were Madhav Prasad Ghimire, Madan Mani Dixit, Modnath Prasit, and Basudev Tripathi. Over eighty-five people attended the function chaired by the president of Devkota Centre.
Poet Madhav Prasad Ghimire emphasized the need to preserve the Mahakavi's residence and called upon the government to be seriously concerned in this matter.

30. Saturday, December 13, 2008 (Centenary Event No. 2.) Sculptor and academician Thakur Prasad Mainali inaugurated a solo art exhibition by young artist B.K. Nar Bahadur titled “Mahakavi Devkota: In Colours and Forms” in the Lumbini Gallery of the National Association of Fine Arts (NAFA). This exhibition is scheduled for December 13-18, 2008. According to Mr. Mainali, this is the first time that an association like DSRC has promoted an individual artist's creation and brought together art and literature in Nepal. Otherwise, individual artists had been organising their own solo exhibitions. Other speakers during the inauguration were art critic Madan Chitrakar, young artist B.K. Nar Bahadur, and the president of DSRC.

A collection of 20 paintings on the life and works of Mahakavi Dekvota are currently on exhibition at NAFA. Entry is free.

MONTHLY PROGRAMMES (2007)

14. January 13, 2007. Kavi-Kunja, Maitidevi: Professor Ghanashyam Kandel, Chairman of the Central Department of Nepali, Kirtipur, Tribhuvan University, spoke on the poetry collection "Dhangro" (This is not Poet Devkota's work, but an important work of Nepali literature.)

15. February 10, 2007. Padma Kannya Campus, Bagbazar: Members of Devkota Centre met to discuss Poet Devkota's short story titled "Memshahebsanga" ("With the Memshaheb").

16. March 10, 2007. Kavi-Kunja, Maitidevi: Devkota Centre organized a talk programme by Poet Bhavani Ghimire and Professor Harsha Narayan Dhaubadel. Both the speakers highlighted the special qualities of the literary output of Poet Devkota while they recalled cherished moments with the poet.

17. April 7, 2007. Universal College, Maitidevi: Members of Devkota Centre met to discuss Poet Devkota's "Nayan Jamana" ("New Moeurs").

18. May 12, 2007. IACER, Baneshwor Heights: Professor Dr. Durga Prasad Bhandari gave a talk on his interpretation of two poems of Poet Devkota: "To a Beautiful Prostitute" and "To a Beautiful Chyamini."

19. June 9, 2007. Litterateur Laxman Prasad Lohani gave a talk on Poet Devkota. He recalled some of his cherished moments with the poet.

20. July 14, 2007. Kavi-Kunja, Maitidevi: Mr. Bhanu Ghimire presented a paper that compared Devkota's "The Wish of Shah Jahan" with Rabindra Nath Tagore's "Shah Jahan."

21. September 15, 2007. Kavi-Kunja, Maitidevi: Poet Krishna Prasad Parajuli gave a talk on Poet Devkota's contributions to children's literature in Nepal.

22. December 15, 2007. Kavi-Kunja, Maitidevi: Devkota Centre organized a special programme to discuss the coming Poet Devkota Centenary Year.

MONTHLY PROGRAMMES (2006)

6. January 7, 2006. Padma Kannya Campus, Bagbazar: Mr. Satya Mohan Joshi gave a talk on his own epic Arnikoko Swetachaitya. He recited portions of the epic and also recalled his visit to China.

7. February 25, 2006. Padma Kannya Campus, Bagbazar: Mr. Hriseekesh Upadhyaya spoke about Poet Dekvota's international themes with a special focus on the poem titled "Asia."

8. March 18, 2006. In this programme jointly organized by Devkota Centre and Hari Sanskritic Kendra, Mr. Ammaraj Joshi and Mr. Hriseekesh Upadhyaya initiated a discussion of Litterateur Rajeshwor Devkota's Dabali, a novel that seeks a spiritual unity of humankind. Professor Dr. Vasudev Tripathi appreciated the novel as a thought provoking one and explained the central conflict, which is that between the recognition of duty and the desire for freedom.

9. July 15, 2006. Padma Kannya Campus, Bagbazaar: Mr. Shailendu Prakash Nepal initiated a discussion of Poet Devkota's "The Lunatic."

10. September 16, 2006. Padma Kannya Campus: Dr. Manfred Treu gave a talk on "Poet Devkota and his epic Shakuntala." Dr. Treu is a specialist in Shakuntala literature.

11. October 21, 2006. Shastri Marga, Maitidevi: Devkota Centre and Shastri Marga Community jointly commemorated the 98th. Birth Anniversary of Poet Devkota. A portion of Savitri Satyavan was performed by Vinod Manjan, Gyatri Bista, and Rameshwar Raut Matridas.

12. November 11, 2006. Kavi-Kunja, Maitidevi: Members of Devkota Centre met to discuss Poet Devkota's "To a Beautiful Chyamini." Professor Dr. Rameshwor Prasad Adhikary spoke on "The Devkota I Knew."

13. December 16, 2006. Kavi-Kunja, Maitidevi: Devkota Centre organized a discussion programme on how best to go about in trying to conserve Devkota's house where he was born and the house which he bought in Maitidevi.

MONTHLY PROGRAMMES (2005)

1. June 25, 2005. Kavi-Kunja, Maitidevi:A programme was organized to introduce the goals and objectives of Devkota Centre. Professor Dr. Chuda Mani Bandhu spoke about the life and works of the poet and also suggested a things that Devkota Centre could do in the future.

2. September 10, 2005. Padma Kannya Campus, Bagbazar: Dr. Mahadeva Awasthi spoke on "The Art of Poet Devkota's Long Narrative Poetry." According to him, there are thirty-seven long narrative poems of Devkota.

3. October 8, 2005. NIC, Dillibazar: Professor Dr. Keshav Prasad Upadhyaya spoke on "The Plays of Devkota" with special reference to Savitri-Satyavan and Krishi Bala. According to him, there are two other earlier works in Nepali based on the story of Savitri and Satyavan, but these need to be properly studied.

4. November 12, 2005. Padma Kannya Campus, Bagbazar: Members of Devkota Centre met to discuss Poet Devkota's "The Swallow and Devkota." Ammaraj Joshi interpreted the poem from an ecopoetic perspective. Professor Dr. Chuda Mani Bandhu pointed out that in this poem Devkota saw the need to improve one's homeplace, nation, and even the world. Professor Dr. Shreedhar Lohani explained the means and goals of creativity through words like "beak," "mud," and "house."

5. December 10, 2005. Padma Kannya Campus, Bagbazar: Professor Krishna Gautam spoke on "Poet Devkota's Epics."

Last update:June 21, 2010

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