115th birth anniversary of Mahakabi Devkota being observed

KATHMANDU, Nov 12: Mahakabi Laxmi Prasad Devkota's 115th birth anniversary is being commemorated today with various programmes.

On this occasion, the Modern Kanya Multiple College has organised a literary programme in Kathmandu. Devkota was born in Dillibazar, Kathmandu on Kartik 27, 1966 BS on Laxmi Puja, the third day of Tihar, Hindu's second biggest festival behind Dashain. This year, Laxmi Puja is being observed on the second day due to alternation in dates according to the lunar calendar. 

In the programme, participating senior litterateurs evaluated Mahakabi as a great talent and humanist poet, highlighting his contribution to the enrichment of Nepali literature.

Saying other writers have been inspired by his eternal creations, senior poet Tulasi Diwasa mentioned that Devkota was a great common poet for the people with all kinds of ideas, and from all communities and regions.  

Similarly, Ram Prasad Dahal, the founding chair of the college, said Mahakabi Devkota was a humanist poet. "Mahakabi Devkota was a writer, who did not want to make people 'a god' and vice-versa."

Ram Prasad Panta, chairperson of the Dayitwa Wangmaya Pratishtan, portrayed him as a romanticist poet. 

In the programme, participating poets, Anita Koirala, Krishna Bause, Sandhya Pahari, Renuka Kandel, Parbati Bhandari, Nikisa Shrestha and Susmita Koirala recited poems on Mahakabi Devkota. Pahari was honoured for her contribution to the literary sector. 

On the occasion, 'Manakamana', a collection of poems, by Upendra Raj Sharma Kafle was launched. The college students, Isha Gotame and Kashika Raya performed a cultural show reflecting the Tihar festival.