A daylong first literary symposium in Diaspora organized to promote Bhutanese-Nepali literature jointly by the Organization of Bhutanese Communities in America (OBCA), Bhutanese Community of Connecticut, and Bhutanese Creative Group of Springfield Massachusetts completed Saturday Hartford City, Connecticut by honoring at least three litterateurs.
Those honored in recognition of their contribution towards the Bhutanese-Nepali literature included the Bhutanese Gazal writer Seru Rai ‘Udash’ from Georgia, BNS Editor and Founder of Bhutaneseliterature.com Ramesh Gautam from Norway, and Ruhai composer Ashok Rai from Texas.
Meanwhile, BNS, in a congratulatory note sent to its editor Gautam this morning, stated that the news agency was very proud to have him in the team. “we are very fortunate to have you in our team,” reads the note.
The program that was chaired by Padam Bharati started by lighting candles followed by a welcome speech by one of the OBCA Board of Directors Dilip Dahal, and a cultural dance by young Bhutanese artists. Singer Govinda Phuyel was chief guest of the symposium where Karna Gurung, JN Dahal and Aita Rai, among others, were some of the guests.
The symposium also featured Kathmandu-based litterateur Dr Govinda Raj Bhattarai, Ramesh Gautam from Norway, and Prakash Dhamala from Adelaide of Australia via Skype.
The program continued with speeches from Ghanashyan Khadka, President of Nepalese Association of Connecticut, and former OBCA chairperson DJ Khaling from Atlanta, Georgia.
OBCA Treasurer Aita Rai told Bhutan News Service that the program was organized to promote, preserve and protect the Nepali language, culture and literature. He also announced that OBCA’s next program would be to organize an interstate soccer tournament.
Meanwhile, President of Bhutanese Community of Connecticut Rup Bharati said, “The Bhutanese culture, tradition and literature are at the stage of isolation. This kind of program will encourage the youths to learn, preserve, and pass the unique assets to generations.”
The Global Bhutanese Literary Organization (GBLO), Bhutanese Creative Connection, USA, White Himal Television, Bhutan Lekhak Munch, Gajal Munch Bhutan, International Nepali Literary Society New York Chapter, Bhutaneseliterature.com, Rubai Munch Bhutan and Bhutaneseartist.com contributed towards making the symposium a grand success, informed one of the organizers Karna Gurung.
The program was mixed up with cultural dances, speech and presentations from various literary person.
Around 150 individuals attended the event that also saw release of ‘Trikon’ – a collection of Nepali Ruhai by Dharmendra Timsina ‘Tshitij’, JN Dahal and DP Dulal.
(Bharat Tamang and Nanda Lagoon from Scranton, PA also contributed to this report)
