KATHMANDU, July 13: The 212th birth anniversary of the pioneer poet of Nepali literature, Bhanubhakta Acharya, is being celebrated today by organizing a variety of programs across the country and abroad.
Among many noble creations, Bhanubhakta is revered for his Nepali translation of the Ramayana, a Hindu scripture originally written in the Sanskrit language. He is also recognized as having unified modern Nepal through language, literature, and culture after King Prithvi Narayan Shah united the country geographically.
Born on 13 July 1814 in the village of Chundiramgha in Tanahun, Bhanubhakta has many other creations, including 'Badhushikshya,' 'Prashnottar,' 'Bhaktamala,' 'Ramgeeta,' etc. Critics and well-wishers alike gather in various events today to offer respect to Bhanubhakta and hold discussions and reviews on his ideas and creations.
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The statue of national icon Bhanubhakta in front of Ranipokhari in Kathmandu will be garlanded after an early morning procession today. Bhanu Jayanti is also celebrated by reciting the Ramayana, which was translated into Nepali by Adikabi Acharya.
Tribhuvan University Associate Professor Gyannishtha Gyawali, who is studying and researching Bhanubhakta, says that it is fair to call Bhanubhakta Adikabi, or pioneer poet, as he made a significant contribution to linguistic unity by translating a text like the Ramayana into the Nepali language.
Poet Acharya passed away on 11 October 1868. Bhanubhakta's birth anniversary is also celebrated in countries and places where there are many Nepali speakers, including Bhutan, Myanmar, Darjeeling, Sikkim and other parts of India.
Meanwhile, in a message on the occasion, President Ramchandra Paudel has said that every Nepali should reflect on the historical fact that Bhanubhakta helped establish linguistic unity among Nepali speakers around the world.
“Bhanubhakta has an incomparable contribution to the promotion of Nepali language, literature, and culture by making Nepali language the language of the people and making it more advanced,” the President has said in the message.
The President has mentioned that Bhanubhakta's Ramayana is a work that promotes the Nepali script and helps in using religion, duty, loyalty, service, etc. in human life.
He has also called for developing the birthplace of Bhanubhakta as a historical and cultural site, while wishing that the day would inspire all of us to love, respect and protect language and culture and deepen the feeling of mutual trust, love and unity among all Nepalis.
