202nd Birth Anniversary of Nepali Kavi Bhanubhakt Acharya celebrated
Darjeeling
The President of India Mr. Pranab Mukherjee today asserted that the unity in diversity is our strength. He said that despite so much ethnic, cultural, religious and linguistic diversity, we never tried to impose uniformity since we knew that how disastrous doing so could be.
Mr. P Mukherjee was addressing the 202nd Birth Anniversary Function of Nepali Adi Kavi Bhanubhakt Acharya at Chowrasta in Darjeeling today. It was organized by the West Bengal Government’s Information and Culture Department.
Speaking on the occasion, the President said the great poet composed his poems in Nepali but his message was for entire humanity. His appeal transcends the boundaries of geography and time. He was delighted to have this opportunity to pay homage to the foremost poet of Nepali language.
He said that Acharya Bhanubhakta was instrumental in bringing various princely states of Nepal of his time together through his message and thus creating a modern Nepal. Mr.Mukherjee said that the bonding between India and Nepal remains unique.
Praising the people of Darjeeling for having nurtured different cultures and identities, the President said unity in diversity was India’s strength. He complimented the efforts of the State government to support different cultures. He called upon the different communities to work with one common purpose and contribute to the development of the region.
In his speech, the West Bengal Governor Mr.Keshari Nath Tripathi said that the form, the respect and the status accorded to the Nepali language by Adi Kavi Bhanubhakt Acharya was unique.He asserted that the work of taking the Ramayana, respected and worshipped in every Hindu household, to the masses in their own language has been a great job of him indeed.
Speaking on the occasion, the West Bengal Chief Minister Miss Mamata Banerjee announced holding the meeting of the State Cabinet in Darjeeling hills too from time to time. She also announced creation of three more Development Boards in the State for various Schedule Castes of the hills.
Earlier, the President felicitated the Sahitya Academy Awardees for Nepali language.He also gave away financial assistance to A number of beneficiaries on behalf of the State Government.
